This a very interesting interview with Nate Phelps, the son of the leader of the extremist Westboro Baptist Church, Fred Phelps. You will probably be familiar with the WBC as the wavers of the “God Hates Fags” signs, as well as the picketers of abortion clinics and the funerals of homosexuals and soldiers. Recently they picketed the funeral of Heavy Metal legend Ronnie James Dio to the outrage of the international Metal community. The group is also Anti-Jewish, Anti-Islam, and mostly Anti-Christian (save for their own fundamental-Calvinist view of Christianity).


Westboro Baptist Church Wiki

Nate, who is an Atheist and an advocate of Gay Rights reveals a lot of interesting things to the Pod Delusion pod-cast about growing up in Fred Phelps’ hate-filled world, as well as his siblings, how he escaped his father’s grip, his own personal world view, and his new book. The interview is a very interesting look into the mind of the religious hate-monger from a person with years of personal access to him.

The interview is located between approximately 14.20 and 27.20 minutes in the pod-cast:



British Journalist and documentary film maker Louis Theroux made a documentary on Fred Phelps and the WBC a few years ago that exposes the culture of hate that surrounds them which you can see on Atheist Nation.

The WBC are disenfranchised from (I think) every other movement of protestant Christianity in the world. Even the most primitive Baptist congregations are quick to distance themselves from them and they are widely considered to be a cult:

“Westboro has been labelled as a cult by the website apologeticsindex.org as well as by anti-cult figures such as Rick Ross. Westboro's theology differs considerably from mainstream Christianity by espousing that individuals will be given eternal damnation for any number of sins. The members justify their messages, which they acknowledge to be alarming and hurtful, because the messages are intended to turn people from their current paths which will cause them to be sent to hell.” - Wikipedia

They are also banned entry to the UK.

Current.TV Article

This is a transferred post from my previous wordpress blog published on: May 17, 2010.

It has emerged that legendary Heavy Metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio has died as a result of his recent battle with stomach cancer. Dio, born Ronald James Padavona, was known for his work within such classic Heavy Metal bands as Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath / Heaven & Hell, and his own solo band Dio.


Dio's passing is a major blow for the world of Heavy Metal. Recently Dio had been collaborating with his former Black Sabbath band mates under the moniker Heaven & Hell - the result of which had been 2009's commercially and critically acclaimed 'The Devil You Know'. Dio's voice onstage was distinctive and powerful (despite receiving no vocal training) - his voice offstage was friendly and good humoured which has secured him a spot as one of Metal's most loved characters.



Prior to his fame as a Heavy Metal front man, Dio's career in music can be traced back to the late 1950's with bands such as The Vegas Kings (1957–1958), Ronnie & The Rumblers (1958), Ronnie and the Red Caps (1958–1961), and Ronnie Dio and the Prophets (1961–1967). But it was first as a member of Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow where he first captured our ears, before solidifying his place as one of Metal's greats by steering the Ozzy Osbourne-less Black Sabbath back to success with the phenomenal album 'Heaven & Hell'. Dio's solo career was one of the most prolific in the genre. From his 1983 opus 'Holy Diver' to 2004's 'Master of the Moon' he and his band always seemed to be touring and delighting legions of Metalheads.

Then last November it was announced he was suffering from stomach cancer. There was very little news after that but things began to look bad when Heaven & Hell announced they were cancelling all their Summer dates. And yesterday it was announced the Ronnie James Dio had passed away.

Dio's legacy to music is simply astonishing and well be very difficult for anyone to ever match.



RIP Ronnie James Dio