Is he a real person?
I always thought they were some kind of street theater or performance art. Sort of like Andy Kauffman wrestling.
I have long suspected they were a lefty ‘troll group’ trying to make Christians look bad. Buncha pukes.
“Is he a real person? I always thought they were some kind of street theater or performance art. Sort of like Andy Kauffman wrestling.”
Your assessment is more accurate than the media’s.
Fred Phelps was a crusading civil rights attorney. In mid-life he decided to pick up a divinity degree and open up a “church”. His church consists of his family, most or all of whom are also lawyers. They engage in very public, very objectionable, displays of speech and promptly sue the hell out of anyone that violates the civil rights of the “church” members.
Phelps has been known to make campaign contributions to crusading liberal democrats, has publicly and vocally supported liberal policies and politicians, hell he even campaigned for Al Gore.
However, most of the American public and the American media would rather view these persons as devout fundamentalist Christians demonstrating their deeply held religious beliefs; as such a view of the Westboro folks reinforces the anti-Christian bigotry and preconceived biases of the majority.