I worship Stan Lee as if he were a god. So, I guess I'm destroying America and the world in general?

Hey, I have a solid representation of Chick tracts and Crusaders comics in my collection. I'm safe, right?

Westboro Baptist Church should fight any church of Jediism.

I talked to Batman about a subject similar to this.

Hobbcore: "Batman, who would win in a fight you or God?"

Batman: "What, are you dense? Are you retarded or something? Who the hell do you think I am? I'm the GODDAMN BATMAN."

Hobbcore:...I walked right into that one...

They are just mad that my fiction has better art, better stories, and less plotholes

As much as these guys repulse me, I would love to see what would happen if they tried to pull this shit at an especially spirited Twihard gathering. Talk about an unstoppable force of stupidity meeting an immovable object of rabid fangirl devotion.

I am a devout, daily-practicing Christian and this is making me facepalm hard enough to cause black eyes for my unborn grandchildren. These morons are the ones who spoil religion for the rest of us.

Aren't these the guys who picketed Matthew Shepard's funeral, and so on? Even many of the most crazy fanatics (of the Christian variety) disavow them when possible. Honestly, I'd rather they bother people at Comic Con, who are there to do something fun and aren't terribly disenfranchised, then people at funerals or fighting for actual, legal rights. But that's me.

Right there with you brother, I simply call him "The Creator"

Looks to me like they are just bible "fan-boys and fan-girls", trying to get everyone to try out their nerdy thing. What's worse, it's actually more annoying, because if you don't try it, or don't like it, then you are a satanist or something.

First off, HELL YES I"M GOING. I have gone every year for 20 years now and this guy sure as heck isn't gonna change that. I would also like to reference the following page from secret invasion #6: http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/preview2.php?image=previews/marvelcomics/secretinvasion/6/SECINV006_int-27.jpg

Isn't there a rock concert near by they protest! For fucks sake I was kicked out of confirmation class for having a brain at the age of 13. They did the whole the church says abortion is bad thing then asked us what our beliefs were pro abortion or pro life the 'catholic' choice. I brought up the gray area and the teacher (county sheriff) went ballistic and kicked me out after he asked me who was gonna fix the problems of the world if god didn't, I said batman.
Guess I'm goin to hell. If any of yall go first save me a spot by the AC

Man.... I will never understand these types of religious people. Most of the religious folks I've met basically believe that God wants you to be good to others and lead a happy life, but some people focus on stupid, insignificant shit like this that's doing nothing but making people happy? And the way it seems to me, nerds are given a lot of shit in life anyway, so wouldn't that make us kind of like God's Chosen People? Just sayin'.

The Westboro Baptist Church has long ago given up any semblance of serious religious protest. All they (The whole 'church' is mostly just the extended Phelps Family) do is court controversy and media exposure in any way possible. They even picketed soldiers' funerals! It's basically a scheme to get people to assault them so they can sue. We should ignore them.

These guys usually go after homosexuals and dead soldiers. They must have gotten bored with that if they're coming after nerds now. They could be feeding the homeless or taking care of the sick, you know the stuff the Bible says we should be doing.

I've said it before and I'll say it again; we need to convince people at SDCC to carry around Batman trades and quote them with fake verse numbers while preaching about the awesomeness of Batman. Give them what they want, and troll them in process.

if these people protest this like they did the funeral in Winnipeg a couple years ago for the kid that was beheaded on the bus, then i wouldn't worry as they no showed.

Jesus fans are even crazier then Sonic fans.

Westboro Baptist is not even close to the views of your typical church. Please do not be confused. They purposely display themselves in the most outlandish way inorder to incite hate and hopefully violence. You should check out the lawsuits that they have filed.

It's an impossibility to enjoy fiction without believing those characters are the creators of the universe which we must acknowledge through prayer and worship.

Funny, you just described my definition of organized religion.

Oh, and am I the only one who looked at that picture and thought to myself: "Rom would never say that"?

Religion: Trying to rid the world of everything fun since 2,000 BC.

These people are so far from ACTUAL Christians that it's absurd to consider them religious at all. It's a money-making scam in a completely real sense: They tell X that 'God Hates Them' or something even more vile and offensive, then make attempts to get someone to throw a punch... then sue like there's no tomorrow. It has nothing to do with religion, save that it's a convenient excuse. They're stretching any possible meaning of the bible so they can be offensive and get away with it. It's using the freedom of religion as a shield to do despicable acts for monetary gain.

I think it was Zappa who said "If there is a hell, its fires wait for them, not for us."
I've loved the con since its humble El Cortez Hotel days. While I'm not a violent person, any prick that tried to get in my face about it would regret it.

While I no longer follow the path, I had a very strict Christian upbringing (mostly from my father, who's even done non-Westboro related picketing). He was absolutely fine with comics. Granted, he would check the content first. This usually meant no Image or Dark Horse stuff, but Marvel & DC were always good to go. Heck, even my little brother who's still at home is turning into a geek. He runs around dressed up like a Jedi. My dad thinks it's "silly", but no reason to be alarmed. It must be a slow year for WBC. After this, they're picketing Justin Bieber. Dead fucking serious on that one.

Ugh. This is a non event. There is literally no event or cause these people won't protest. They degenerated into self parody long ago. "god hates nerds"? Really. They should be ashamed of themselves. Nerds aren't even controversial. These people literally hate everything: gays, Jews, blacks, America, soldiers, and now by far the least threatening group yet: nerds. By posting this you're just giving these pathetic attention whores what they want. They were always despicable, but now its just sad. And how is fred phelps not dead yet? The mans as close to a walking corpse as anyone I've ever seen.

So millions of barrels of oil are spilling into a gulf they believe the lord created and they are protesting nerds in capes? I can't wait to see how the awesomely crazy Comic-con crowd handles these yahoos!

I won't be happy unless some dudes dressed as Sailor Moon dance and grind in front of them.

I think one of my favorite moments from a con was 2-3 years ago at Fanime. A Christian group came to protest. For some reason there was a guy cosplaying as Jesus at the con. It was fantastic; they had no idea what to do with him.

*sigh*

As a Christian nerd, this makes me sad. It helps to know that these guys are effectively a cult and associated with Christianity in name only...

Wait so all the nerds are going to hell? Then why in the name of fuck would I want to go to heaven?

(Angels would never get any of the references in Venture Bros.)

This really doesn't surprise me. Westboro Baptist Church is so batshit insane, they'll tell anyone they're going to hell. Seriously. Call their hotline. There's an endless list of options to press to hear these assholes yell at you for any reason you possibly think of. Jews, Buddhist, other Christians, priests, soldiers, patriots, homosexuals, it goes on and on. They have no limit as to who they hate. Why not pick on geeky kids and adults who like to read Batman?

Good thing the entire congregation is only around 30-or 40 people. Jackasses.

"The destruction of this nation is imminent - so start calling on Batman and Superman now, see if they can pull you from the mess that you have created with all your silly idolatry."

To this I reply:

The destruction of this nation is imminent - so start calling on GOD now, see if HE can pull you from the mess that you have created with all your silly idolatry. Something tells me you'll get the same response either way.

Face it. The only reason Batshit Baptist Church is doing this is for the publicity. And of course it worked.
I encountered the functionally-similar Campus Crusade for Christ's lackeys at U of I at Urbana-Champaign with my girlfriend many moons ago. They were haranguing all and sundry as is their wont. We proceeded to sing the "True Faith Hymn" to them ("we are sinking deep in sin, won't you come and push us in" etc - it's great, look it up!). I am proud to say we actually shocked them speechless for a few moments. All they could do was default to pointing at us and telling us we were going to hay-ull. Best heckle ever!

As a long-standing member in the Sons of Batman,I can state with 100% accuracy that my god can beat up their god. Does Jesus know Krav-Maga? Batman does. And as the prophet Miller said,in The Book of Our Lord The Dark Knight Returns,

"You don't get it, boy. This isn't a mudhole... It's an operating table. And I'm the surgeon".

Amen and Hiyo Goddamn Silver!!!!

This is just sad. This right here is my problem with organized religion it creates some of the craziest people on the planet. I have no problem with you believing in a higher power but when you get other people just as or more crazy than you are and get in a group and decide to force your beliefs on others is when you should be dick punched

You know if people just ignored Phelps and his batshit insane family/congregation, they would eventually go away.

Hey Fred,the Bible also says you shouldn't be a D-bag either. (Colossian 4:6)

I like to imagine the ghost of Shel Dorf, in a secret room atop the convention center. He views the picketing group from above, whispers "Release the furries!" and a secret door opens and out streams a mob of yiffing madness upon them. Phelps picks fake fur from his teeth until doomsday....

Pseudo-religious groups have always and will always give Christians and Christian nerds a bad name. We don't take it personally--most of us find it pretty damn funny--and we try to shrug it off. You non-Christians, keep a sense of humor about it and don't make the mistake of judging our religion based on a group of extremist heretics.

As fucking IF the bible wasn't the first Fan Fic ever made. Yup, you can pull morals from there, as easily as you can pull angel condoned rape, murder, genocide, sexism an a whole slew of other stuff. It's all in how you paraphrase your quotes, and more to the point, it's about context. Fucking zealots. Come on. Protesting nerds? Right. No grieving war widows to heckle you pathetic cowards? The Westboro crew is going to be in for a surprise when Zeus bitch slaps them to the underworld. Drink your kool ade, youre late for your spaceship, you fucking nuts.

Nowhere on issue 9 page 13 of Rom Spaceknight does it say "God Hates Nerds".

Epic Sign Fail

I've lurked on here for a while now, but this grinds my gears too much for me not to post something. Westboro 'church' consists of heretics and blasphemers who do not even believe the very basics of Christianity. They are rejected by every branch of Christianity. They have a thin Christian coating on the outside, but inside is a legalistic cult center concerned only with control.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to." -Matthew 23:13

Ok, Coke almost came out of my nose here - not a pretty picture when you're at work.
I was born and raised a Catholic. Now, I became an atheist many years ago, but I don't have the smallest recollection of any of my friar teachers saying shit like that; they were all about being good and helping people. My grandma still says every now and then I should have God in my heart, but that's as annoying as she gets. Now THESE people... shit. They're a disgrace to religion and human kind as a whole. It may sound a little bit harsh, but: they should be sodomized. By a black jew dressed up as the goddman batman. That would certainly help release the tension.

Oh I hope Buddy Jesus shows up. they are gonna LOVE him. :)

Sadly fred and his ilk are just exercising their freedom of speech and since they do not want any more heat for protesting at dead soliders funeral's they are now going after comic and sci fi fans. though right after they protest Al gore . if nothing else i give it five minutes before some comic fans dressed as klingons or some big powerful creature decide to try and have a discusion with Fred and co.

seriously, I now why these people do it, but, hey, dead people can't sue, right?

We may as well pray to Batman or Superman for help against Phelps 'n' Friends: we have about the same chance as they do for our chosen diety to come down from the sky and save our asses.

People like Fred Phelps make skeptics and aethiests' lives a lot easier.

Pay them no mind. Fred Phelps and his demonspawn kinder are just assholes.

Sadly this kind of idiocy isn't just confined to WBC. I've seen plenty of it growing up. However I grew up in Utah, so that's a whole different problem. And didn't a bunch of those 'Nerd Regret' entries consist of Christians treating Star Wars and stuff like it's Satanic?

I hope Robert Crumb makes an appearance and gives Phelps a copy of his comic book version of the Book of Genesis.

There's no need to "dis" any kind of religion when talking about WBC. They are one-of-a-kind, and it has nothing to do with Jesus.

They are A) fucking insane, and B) completely addicted to LAWSUITS.

If you are going to Comic Con, keep in mind that you should NOT engage WBC. Their style is to try to provoke and anger passers by, with the goal of pissing them off enough so that someone does something stupid (threatening them, stealing a sign, shouting out slander about them, etc), so that they can find a way to SUE.

So yeah, no religion there. Just 100% disgusting morons.

Wow, I just read the Wikipedia entry and boy, they don't like a lot of things.

"start calling on Batman and Superman now, see if they can pull you from the mess that you have created with all your silly idolatry."

Start calling on God now, and see if he can pull you from the mess that religion has created with all its silly idolatry. I'll wait.

(Apologies to non-batshit-crazy religious people in the audience.)

I assumed this was misposted, and was supposed to be in the previous post. Thinkgeek should get to work on the "G hates g's" and nerds t-shirt/bumper sticker. Include the Romans reference, or any other with appropriate comic value.

I find it fascinating that most nerds, when motivated to facetiously worship a comic book character, invent religions centering around Batman as opposed to Superman (as evidenced by earlier comments in this thread). Indeed, with his God-like powers and invulnerability, Superman seems like he would be the ideal false idol. Furthermore, Batman's very title--the "Goddamned" Batman--makes him seem like God's opposite number.

Gadzooks! What devilish truth lies behind the iniquitous tendencies of the nerdiahs to worship a figure of such seemingly ill-repute!? Forsworn and etc!!

Fred and his congregation are based out of Topeka, KS. I used to work with some of the kids at Dairy Queen. They were nice kids. Disowned from the family because they didn't share the same views. You see them picketing stores and funerals all the time here.

Being a good Christian nerd, I looked up Rom. 9:13 (which I'm assuming means Romans), and it says thusly: "Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated"." Even going by the context of the rest of the chapter there's nothing in there about hating nerds. It's more talking about faith through mercy vs. works and what not.

Funnily enough, taking that verse alone as supposed evidence that God hates nerds, looking back you can see that of the two bros, Jacob was the nerd, usually staying around home and being a cook and what not, while Esau was the manly man with epic body hair who went off and did all the hunting. So yeah...

I saw a recent news story that made me chuckle. It appears the Ku Klux Klan, in an announcement on thier website, says they have no affiliation with the Westboro Baptist Church or Fred Phelps. They believe the church's views to be 'too extreme'. YIKES! When the KKK wants nothing to do with you, you've crossed a line buddy!

The Westboro Baptist Church are a bunch of inbred assholes (there are only around 90 of them and the just intermarry within the group). They seem to hate everybody to get attention. Fred Phelps is a child-abusing drug addict. (sorry for the incoherence, ever since they tried to picket the Greyhound Murder victim's funeral in Saskatchewan, they've been on my uber-crazy hate list)

I wonder how many people are going to cosplay as WBC? There could be signs like "Repent now or face Mephisto!", "In Hell all your favorite shows are on FOX!", "Because of the devil Han shot first!", etc.

"God Hates..." it always surprises me when these people say that. If God is so forgiving and loving- as he tells you to be... then why does he hate?

As a Christian, I'm happy to report that the Westboro Baptiste Church are about as righteous as Jell-O pudding pops. These people give all Christians a bad name, not just themselves, and need to be put down. Euthanasia would be my vote.

"But Ward," you say, "Euthanasia is meant for mindless animals."

"Exactly," I reply with a smile.

Hardcore Christians like this are fools, pure and simple. They're ignorant zealots and constantly come across as idiots. The Bible was written by man, not God, the same as comic books and any other religious texts. The Bible is full of many valuable lessons, but its most "devout" readers always seem to fail to understand its greatest messages of tolerance, forgiveness and kindness.

So hmm.
All nerds are going to hell.
That's a interesting view point.

Even more so when other men are condemning men.
That's even more astonishing when even Jesus says.

"Let Ye without sin, cast the first stone."

But I guess that is non-existent.
Using one thing from the bible to persecute others, and claim that you are above them.

Doesn't that also point out arrogance, blasphemy, and pride in such words by saying you, have the right to condemn another.

I believe Jesus was the being who taught us what love and acceptance is.
He loves us for our faults and accepts us for our faults.

I don't ever recall Jesus saying.
YOUR GOING TO HELL.

I can't seem to see the Son of God almighty, persecuting anyone in such a way.

So food for thought.
If Jesus didn't do it, and people still understood him, believed in him and followed him just by showing people love, accepting them, and showing them Gods work's thru his Love.

Why then do you show people hate,
It doesn't take a genius to figure out.
If you say your going to hell unless you believe what we believe.

That, that alone force's people to reject what you say cause of the anger and hate put into your actions.

What would you rather hear?
YOUR GOING TO HELL!

or

God loves, you for everything you are, and forgives you of all your sins.

Show people the love of Christ, and they will see God's love.
Show people the anger and the hate, and they will show you the same.

Most of these posts in this lovely little article are proof of that.

In simple terms.
Jesus spoke of love, and forgiveness.
Why can't you.

Daniel Clatworthy.
-A Messianic Jew-

These are the christian people that make me want to hurl. I am no longer a strong believer in christianity because of christians like them.

Oh great, God hates nerds now too? Him and everyone else. You'd think that when you can't even get a date in high school you could turn to Jesus. Guess not.

Remember the book of Usenet 4:20: "Feedeth not the trolls."

I wish these idiots would protest something in my city just so I could show up with a whole legion of people and start playing vuvuzelas in all their moronic faces.

Well, I'd rather have the wingnuts protesting the things that I like than have them trying to incorporate them, as they did with Fun Fact: Klingons Are Uncircumsized article that Rob put up back in March Seen here: http://www.toplessrobot.com/2010/03/fun_fact_klingons_are_uncircumsized.php ).
I've always hated that particular pathetic ploy that they use to "win souls," as they say.
.
If you have to co-opt things from popular culture to get people interested in your religion and make it seem hip and relevant, you may want to reexamine said religion.

Ah yes, the Westboro Baptist Church.

They hate the entire nation of Sweden and every single Swedish person.

Fun to know, eh?

I believe that there is some part of the Bible saying "Judge not lest ye be judged"?

Selective Christians; treating the bible like a smörgåsbord.

Wouldn't they be classified as nerds since they obsess over the bible? correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the very definition of a nerd someone who enjoys something a tad bit too much?

i find this kid's sign to be inaccurate to his own cause.

Main Entry: nerd
: an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially : one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits

i'm no word-matitian, but i'm pretty sure this kid may have just clumped himself, his priests, and any other members of his church that regularly read and study the bible into his misguided attempt at vilification. if he's going to slander a group of people, he may want to be a tad more precise.

Shouldn't that read CROM 9:13?

A fat guy should dress up as Wonder Woman and try to hug the picketers, and someone else take video for documentation that all they were doing was trying to hug so if Westboro sues, they lose and everyone gets to laugh at them!

"..start calling on Batman and Superman now, see if they can pull you from the mess that you have created with all your silly idolatry."
-
I can't call Batman or Superman. I don't have a red phone or wristwatch that contacts them. I'll have to find Commissioner Gordon and Jimmy Olsen first.

Ffffff, of course, the one day I'm going, they're gonna be there. I'm going Thursday to see Danny Elfman, who by the way, is totally god.

If I'm not going for Batman, does that mean I don't go to hell? Oh, wait, I'm bisexual. Scratch that idea.

they're just jealous that our fiction is better then theirs

"Isaiah 2:8 Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made: 9 And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not. It is time to put away the silly vanities and turn to God like you mean it"

Yes, our land is full of idols, and we do worship the work of our own hands...one of which happens to be that guy mentioned in the Bible; funny how that works out, huh? :D

What These Pin Heads don't realize is that people who read comic books DO READ the BIBLE, and everything else. Their problem, the guys at the church, is that they don't understand what they read see;
Acts 8:30 (King James Version)
30And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
They'd have to say NOOOOOOO

Call Superman or Batman to drag the county out of a mess.....

Wouldn't it make more sense to call upon Thor? I mean, he is already a god and all that. Maybe that's just the nerd in me overthinking things?

Dear Mr. Phelps,

Please read the Bible a little more clearly. God does not hate the person, just the sin. And frankly? Taking a vacation is not a sin. Please take the time you're spending and please do one of the following:

- Feed the homeless
- Volunteer at a shelter
- Find a solution for world hunger
- Take an underwater-basketweaving class

Any of the above would be a more productive use of your time.

As a Christian, I think Fred Phelps is one of the most despicable people out there. His family is one of the worst out there and when his family has gone from this world, they will see the error of their ways. Their message is based on ideas that are complete opposites from Christianity. I also live in Kansas, where they are from, and I am ashamed that they live in my state.

God hates nerds? God is omniscient, meaning he knows everything. He knows everything about science, computers, comic books, and Star Wars. Hence: God IS a nerd. Your argument is invalid. Fact: Earth is just God's D&D playmat.

Hmmm...so I wonder what he would think of my church...since we actually meet in the back of a comic book store. A real church mind you...we don't actually worship the comic characters. ;)

Is this the same Arsehole preacher who made the girl APOLOGIZE for being RAPED and getting pregnant!?

Oooh... I absolutely HATE people who act this way over something like religion! Being a zealot is not the way to fix things. Especially other peoples choices and sitiuations!

Okay, it's official. I am going to fly to Comic Con just to troll the Westboro Baptist Church. I'm going to quote "scripture" from comic books (Miller 8:15, I'm the Goddamn Batman) and scream "YOU AIN'T GOT NO PANCAKE MIX!"

Warning! Entering "Venting B*tch" mode:

*facepalm* And once again, zealoting idiots make me ashamed of my own religion. I'm getting flashbacks to book burnings and the D&D controversy... in which they actually used a comic to explain why d&d is "evil". Grah!

What i probably hate the most besides the basic bigotry, is that they don't even bother to do research. Lots of people like something, they assume it's bad. I honestly wouldn't be surprise if they were just arguing about Thor and Hercules-- because zealots just LOOOOVE bashing other religions. But no-- they have annoy us even further by griping about all things Nerdy.

But If these idiots actually researched comics, they'd know that a few of these comic book heros are christian or catholic or whatever and actually fight in the name of God. And that the idea of a superhero like Superman being compared to a God has been brought up IN comics and usually ends with the hero explaining that he's just a person trying to do good.

And that's why some of us like comic heros. Thats why many of us buy the comics, dress up like them, and thank the artists and writers for doing what they do, etc. Because they're just a person trying to do good.

Not because we flipping WORSHIP them!

Okay, ya, some people probably do worship comics and everything about them-- I say, yet them! People have free will for a reason! Stop wasting peoples time reading your signs and do something actually important! *see Lynn's post above*

Exiting "Venting B*itch" Mode.

Sorry 'bout that. But really, there is only so much one can take before they have to scream thier feelings all over the internet.

won't they all be surprised when come judgement day, THEY would be the ones sent to hell for "causing pain and suffering to others", according to my religion. now THAT is why i love my religion: karma is ALWAYS in effect!

i can only smile at those zealots and say, "Have a nice day, assholes!"

Someone needs to troll them by dressing up as Northstar.

And on a completely unrelated note, their next stop is a Justin Beiber concert, which I find hilarious.

I think Phelps misses the whole point of Christianity. Christianity doesn't teach that God hates anyone. Infact it's the opposite. But rather, God hates the sin people commit... but at the same time is willing to forgive.

Oh dear. Basically the wbc will find
anyone they can to pick on. I will say that they really can be a bit...pathetic in person. I mean, yes their messages are pathetic, all that hate mongering but, take it from me,
They protested my high school's gay-straight-alliance
And seeing 5-7 people standing
outside a high school with
horrible signs held by their
children (yes the group was
at most 4 adults and the
rest their kids) is kind of sad in many ways.
they're all about shock value really
And just need to be quietly
Counter-protested or just ignored.
They really aren't worth the effort,
It's like debating a brick wall.
With lawyers.
And as a gay nerd does that mean I'm going to super-hell?

And it's okay, I think batwoman will save
sdcc from the wbc :p
(And pardon the fomat fail, toplessrobot is not mobile web friendly)

I'm a devout Roman Catholic, a comic book reader, a D&D player, and a video game nut. This guy is indeed batshit crazy. He does not speak for all of Christianity, I assure you.

Obligatory response stating the misguided nature of the above zealots; Nerd reference cleverly included.

A few words for the sane, honest, and good Christians who are as disgusted by Phelps as an avowed Secular Humanist like myself:

My Father is an extremely intelligent, rational, and tolerant man. He is also intensely religious and a Deacon of the Episcopal Church. A few months ago I asked him the uncomfortable question of how he can support a faith which, on the surface, seems to disavow everything he believes in. He told me a story about when he was a child in the 1960s during the Civil Rights Movement. He was raised Catholic and he recalls going to church at that time and listening to the Priest explain how it was basically the duty of all good Catholics to oppose Civil Rights and to pray for the downfall of Dr. King and his followers.

My Father recalls listening to the Priest and thinking to himself: "The God I believe in is so much bigger than this little man".

I'm not a believer, but if there is a God I'm certain he does not exist to be used by Phelps and other little men as a weapon of hatred.

Besides this topic being irrelevant as their is no hell, your a moron. Stop trying to make people angry over something as ridiculous as comic books and get a fucking life.

I only have one response to this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwyKrcCW_Dw

They're just pissed that Mattel rejected their idea for a Fred Phelps action figure with "I hate teh gay" grip.

So...what if you were a nerd AND a homosexual? It'd be like dividing by zero

I'm not a Person who's forpysical violence against others...
But those soulless SOB's should get a mayor beat down from all the people they ever harassed with there ridiculous un-christian BS. Aren't those the same people who tried to ruin the funerals of dead US Soldiers?

People should belife in what they want... (but without crapping all over others way of life). Problem is just most people are waaay to f*ckin' dumb.

Also: Optimus Prime died for our Sins (twice)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUxFiNlrDmA&feature=related

Verily I say unto thee convention goers: unleash the furries! Let them yiff in front of the WBC and they shall know true darkness as the abyss swallows them!

On the one hand, I would like to apologize on behalf of a crazy Christian and pass the classic disclaimer that the views expressed by Westboro Baptist are not representative of Jesus, the Bible, or (most) Christians. On the other hand I will avoid Comic-Con like a one of the plagues of Egypt because of patent pending Con funk. On the third hand (formerly belonging to a mannequin; currently superglued to the side of my chest) please tell me that no one thinks the trolls at Westboro are worth paying attention to for an informed theological perspective.

Heh. I would say this is completely groundless...except the one buddy I know that's going to San Diego was ostracised by his grandmother for "living in sin" with his girlfriend (major geek-hater, but for some reason she thinks this guy is "cool" and hates most of his friends. I can fake non-geek, so she tolerates me.)

He later married the girl, but grannie won't forgive him...and quite frankly, neither can most of his friends for entirely different reasons...

Wait a second... Everyone! Please. Just Give me a minute.

I've been trying to read through all this and I'm still very confused.

Are you guys seriously trying to tell me that Stan Lee is NOT a God??

BLASPHEMY!

Oh wow, they're not even trying anymore, are they?

I belong to a Halo costuming group that I'm sure that most of the group will be in thier Halo Spartan armor, sounds to me like a re-write of the movie 300. Plus you gotta figure there will be the 501st, the Star Trek fangroups, the superhero clubs, etc., etc. no butt kicking required just a lot of enforcement, plus most costumers like most of the 501st are either ex-cops or police officers already so there's a good chance the geeks will win in this battle of wits. I don't do church and frankly I don't like church, most of them have a collection plate, and some preachers I have seen driving around in some expensive car, now do you think the preacher got the money from God or do you think the preacher skims off the plate.

People are going to think Fred is in costume and it is all ironic.

Oh, Westboro. Is y'all for real? Are you even TRYING to get people to join your flock with shit like this? I am a believer in God myself, even though I haven't stepped into a Church in years(because I wanted to stay home and watch Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realms, of all thingss", but I don't think God confuses fandom with Idolatry. Again, this is merely an interpretation, I read most of the old Testament and all of the New one, and never does it state that liking stuff too much is Idolatry. I guess there are levels of liking stuff too much that could be offensive to God, but again, that's individual.

Sigh. I mean, you try and live a life of faith while balancing the needs of others and guys like the Westboro guys make all of us a target.

AWESOMESAUCE!!!11!1!

*Finally* nerds are as cool as gays, prostitutes, and evolutionary biologists!

We got street cred, peoples!

shit ... this NEEDS 200 comments so here goes:

I have this mental image of a nerd arguing Jedi philosophy with these jackasses, or at very least start screaming passages from the bible at them in Klingon.

.... Youtube, make my dream come true!

http://community.livejournal.com/christ_slash/

enjoy~!

"Since God created man, and man created The Transformers, The Transformers are like a gift from GOD, Randal!" - Elias, Clerks 2

Save time, diss all organized religion. Any group who thinks they know the best for everyone and makes a point of telling everyone else about this, should not be trusted.

Isn't it hypocritical to be dissing people for 'worshipping' made-up characters when God himself is a made-up character? Stupid.

So wait, even when I was a good Catholic girl who went to church every week I was already damned for liking Scifi??? Well, I feel loads better about converting to paganism. :)

Lord Jesus the savior has but one law and it would be nice to see these fanatical assholes actually remember that. Love thy neighbor, people, Jesus didn't give any exceptions to that rule.

Personally I think a group of cosplayers should schedule a "counter/mock protest" for the same time period and post up near these idiots. They could carry signs that say things such as "God Hates Protests, Austin 3:16". Best part, they shouldn't even look at or acknowledge the Phelps crew.

So...so you mean Optimus Prime didn't create the universe? Hasbro lied to me!

For what it's worth, when they talk about things like this being "idols" GENERALLY (the halfway sane christians at least) consider it to mean any non-god thing that you spend more time/energy/love on than god. So like, eating, presumably.

Not saying they aren't batshit tho.

im going to shoot this asshole in the face and see if he goes to heaven... if he is a true christen he will not be afraid but accept that he will be with god soon the stupid fuck

lol, religion.

These folks are absolutely WRONG. I looked up Romans 9:13. It says: "Just as it is written: 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.' " This has NOTHING to do with idol worship. Someone put the wrong verse on that poster.
I am a Charismatic Christian. I am also a Trekkie, Star Wars fanatic (Mandalorian Mercs, represent!), and avid gamer. These kinds of people are the leading cause of hate toward those of us who love Jesus. Not all "Christians" are like that, folks. Please don't let the ignorance and blind hate of some lead you to judge the rest of us.
If I had that Hello Kitty Sniper rifle, I would SO drive them out of there. BOOM! Headshot! Haha, kidding! Sorta.

"I've never been a praying man, but if you're up there, please save me Superman!"

all i can say is every religion has it's nut cases. there is an cult in India that forces people to murder them so they can me martyred to the goddess they worship!

This guy should take his need for attention, his need to feel that he's performed a Christian act for the day, and his self-righteousness, and then stand in front of a mirror and quote himself, to himself: "It is time to put away the silly vanities and turn to God like you mean it." Then he and his friends ought to try something positive and Christianlike: Toss the sign into the trash, set up a barrel there at the SDCC front door to collect food for the hungry--then put smiles on their faces, and voice a sunny 'Thank You for caring about others!' for everyone who drops something into the barrel.

Fucking bible thumpers, man. They put that shit on a pedestal, but degrade everything else. If God were real, he'd tell those loony fucks to suck the Devil's dick. "God" created man, imprinted ideas into man's brain. Man, in turn, turned ideas into imaginations, which then lead to everything we have today. Comic books and the bible are one and the same: works of fiction, from the imaginations of man, and woman.

"... And worship them they do."
Do I detect a little Yoda in their statement? Heretics yourselves you are... Yes

I can't make it to the Con this year, but would someone hand this guy a copy of "The Gospel According to Superheroes" by B.J. Oropeza (Foreward by Stan Lee!) and "Who Needs A Superhero" by Michael Brewer? And remind him that Superman is an analogy for Jesus. Then remind him that Jesus will quote Matthew 7:23 to him and the fools who said "God hates fags" too....

They're not interested in preaching scripture they're trying to be on TV. This group is filled with the biggest media whores since Paris Hilton. They tip off the press about their own protest, swindle their way into high profiled deaths of American soldiers through insult, and they appear on national programs every chance they can get. Attention mongers that is all they are! It's no surprise they'll be at Comic Con as cameras are going to be there. Stop giving these idiots the time of day and they'll eventually all fade away into who gives a shit.

Discussions about Religions usually interest me, but this appears to be less about religion and more about some idiots trying to anger others for some sort of personal or financial gain. What this seems to boil down to is that religious extremists are running out of actual things to try protesting, so why not make some shit up and see if they can make some coin in the process? Now as a Pagan, I can clearly state that extremist Christians are what turned me onto the path of Viking and Celtic beliefs, and why I have books written by Anton LaVey, sitting next to H.R. Giger's Necronomicon, which has Crisis on Infinite Earths TPB and The Boys volumes 1-7 on the other side of it, sandwiched between Amon Amarth and Skinny Puppy cd's- I guess in all actuality I owe Christian extremists for turning me into the Pagan/Industrial Musician/Geek that I am today, I owe them a hug.

As a level-headed, chill, REAL Christian... I'm facepalming at these people just as hard as the rest of you.