The Most Hated Family in America- Continued

Evangelicalism isn't a new concept, especially among the white middle class in Midwest and deep south. The founder of the church, Fred Phelps, originally hails from Meridian, Mississippi. Geographically speaking, there is nothing surprising so far. Where else would an American religious hate group spring up than the heart of the Bible Belt? But what does Westboro have in common with a group like the Taliban? For this we need to consider politics and culture, especially the culture of hate. Research suggests that hate comes not from economic unrest, as previously thought. Instead hate comes from fear of loss of control which is then expressed in anger. This makes sense with regard to both parties. Westboro derives their existence from a specific interpretation of the Bible, and any other interpretation poses a threat to their cultish system. Theroux noted more than once that Fred Phelps seems to have a lot of anger, and he uses it to preach fire and brimstone from the pulpit like Jonathan Edwards before him. Though I don't know much about the Taliban, their  hatred is well known, and they even preach against similar issues as Westboro, because (even though neither side might want to believe it) the Bible and Koran really aren't that different from each other. Unfortunately for both the victims of Fred Phelps and those of the Taliban, the anger rarely stays contained to preaching. Nate Phelps, son of Fred Phelps, has claimed in the news that his father's anger and hatred boiled over into the family in the form of physical abuse. The physical violence of the Taliban cannot be denied either. These causes and manifestations of hate are central to the power of each system. The point Theroux makes about the Westboro Baptist Church is that beneath this collective sheath of hate presided over by the fear of one man, there are still individuals who may never lose their sense of right and wrong or their sense of individuality though it may be difficult or even dangerous to express it. However, to those with courage, no door will ever be completely closed. And this point is just as true in Afghanistan as it is in Topeka, Kansas.

~ETN