I've got a lot of opinions on people moralising and trying desperately to prove their own moral superiority over others. As all Christians in the media I've seen always come across as. And everybody I've ever met wearing it like a badge.

But I don't think that is what Westborough Baptist church are about. I think they're just plain crazy. I do think their insanity is held under the arms by non-radical Christians, and has given them an outlet. Which isn't the fault of the Christian society either. This is just what happens when ideas get popular. The crazy people get their own crazy interpretation.

I've read a bit about them and as far as I can tell, that Church is just one family. Probably one or two vocal voices and the rest maybe not crazy, but enough of being outsiders from the rest of society to value the security of being part of that group.

Have you seen any of the interviews with that lady spokesperson.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UMP3AK5jwo

See her eyes. She's got crazy eyes. Being insane is an illness and quite a handicap in life. I'm not going to judge her or them for it. It's a shame. But I think it would a disservice to both us and them to take them seriously. Above all it would simply be a waste of time to get worked up about it. These people are on a different planet in a different dimension. It's not really a popular movement spreading the lands in USA is it? If they annoy you just pretend like they're talking about another planet. Let your fantasy work in your favour

edit: it can also be seen from the opposite side. They're not the craziest so the attention they get need to be analysed to. Because they do get plenty of attention. Are these the people we love to hate? Christians might love to hate them because it affirms their religious interpretation and their own moral stance. Atheists love to hate them because to them they represent Christians/religious people. And we're loving to hate them here aren't we? Loonies are important for us, since they allow us to affirm our sense of being a group, by not being them. We are us, the non-Westborough baptist church in the world, and we've got better morals haven't we? But of course, the truth is that we have no idea if we share any other moral values, but we still get a sense of sharing and belonging.