@@6foot8jesuspilledpureblood82 Raised well despite her parents and immediate family being batsh't insane. +1 upvote for being contrarian and edgy though.
I totally agree with you about empathy and understanding. When I was a young atheist I used to say all kinds of disrespectful mean things about religion or religious people. All that gains you are more strident enemies and might eventually make you an angry person. If you just talk with people though everything changes. You find common ground, make friendships and earn the respect of people who might not normally offer you respect. You just have to be willing to let things go and not take the bait if your talking with someone who is afraid or mistrusting of people with your view point. If you do that more often than not you will find people open to listening.
I remember being in a line blocking these people at a church service for a soldier KIA. They were across the street hollering at his family as they entered the church. Felt sympathy for their kids they didn't have a choice.
Brilliant interview! As I formulated questions in my head, you asked them. Ms. Phelps-Roper, I am so happy for you. While I don't know you or know of you previous to this interview, I felt in your words and expressions the weight of hundreds of pounds of rocks lifted off your chest. And I am so thankful you shared a portion of your life. Hopefully your truthful, genuine, heartfelt, and humble words will reach another family member who, rather than deflect them and/or twist them into a debate, will elect to absorb them, think about them, and find the courage to act on them. All, yes, ALL religions, regardless how well-meaning, are cults. Creationism definitely exists: Humans created the concept of god. Then other humans used this concept to control others for the purpose of power, greed and wealth. The world would be a far better place if religion never existed. PS. This is the first youtube video I have watched that was over 15 minutes long let alone almost 40 minutes! PPS. Mr. Packman, thank you for acting rather than whining. Thank you for listening and trying to understand rather than yelling and pointing fingers.
@@spaghettimonstersjudgingyo504 it's not creepy..she married the man. And I'm certain he didn't slide into her DMs on romantic stuff outright. It was just a joke.
Beautiful story, from an outstanding woman. What a story of faith in humanity, compassion over polarisation, and the power of free media and speech to bring people together across ideological boundaries. There aren't superlatives enough to describe the part at the end of the interview about her and her husband getting together, David a life could be defined as good with just one of those incidental acts of connection. You can be proud of everything you achieved with the DP show even if it was just that
An intelligent and inquisitive woman with a natural tendency towards intellectual honesty (which not everybody has). The beginning of the end was actually before she came across the inconsistency. It was when she began to meaningfully communicate with outsiders.
I am also related to Phelps, being named after a Phelps on the mother's side of my family (my father is Jewish). I used to have an anthology of the Phelps family history. Indeed, many of them were devout Christians. There was Emma Phelps, who sang-'Oh, Happy Day' (later a number one hit for Edwin Hawkins Singers) as she lay dying on her deathbed. I, Thomas Phelps (Karp), visited my brother on his deathbed just last March, and I read to him from 1 John 3 & 4. Standing beside me at the time was my earliest childhood friend, Jonathan, who was working for Prince back in '84 while he had 'Purple Rain'. I think I'm going to go listen to some of those tunes right now!
Holy shit this is so crazy I remember watching her at like 15 or 16 thinking this is so sad her parents only raised her to think one way. I cant wait to watch this. I've been waiting so long to her side of the story !!!
@@spaghettimonstersjudgingyo504 Seventh-Day Adventist. The first time I ate shrimp I was expecting to die because of the bible curse on the shrimp. But somehow I survived. Since then I've eaten crab and lobster and pig without any noticeable ill effects but I'm in my 70's and there's still time for the hammer to fall.
@@hermenutic I think your good. I would put money on the fact that those sins were placed in the bible because ancient peoples had no idea what trichinosis or parasites were. Besides if I'm wrong and god is real I feel completely justified in not lying to myself and being honest. If god wants to toss you or I in the pit for that it's his prerogative I guess. LOL The shellfish sin is one of my personal favorites. The other is wearing mixed fabrics. So basically if you wear shoes your going to hell if don't repent. Curious how you never see a people protesting those who eat crustaceans right? It's always about sex in some way as if any unrepented sin can't get you tossed into hell either way.
@@spaghettimonstersjudgingyo504 The hypocrisy and idiocy of religion is evident to me. However I do believe there is a mystical / spiritual connection to the experience of existence based on the concept of Logos as first mentioned by Heraclitus about the time of Buddha and Lao Tzu, 500 or so years prior to Jesus of Nazareth. and his contribution of the kingdom of God. My position is the result of the logical outcome of the transcendentalist thought of the 1800's . So I accept the notion of something making the ball start rolling. I call that the "God Concept" Others call it evolution. The origin of existence is a mystery that came from the 'big bang'. What 'banged'? There is no answer to that. Our physics cannot decipher it, but it must have been. That is a mystery, isn't it? I think of that mystery as 'God''.
This is an incredible interview! The breakdown of how this cult works brings deep understanding of how her as a child was cleverly calculated brainwashing! So happy for Meaghan and her new path! Wishing you happiness to you and your new family.
Glad to see that people are supportive of someone who came from a place that is filled with hate and is now on the other side of it rather than hold that against them. ✌️
The fence she is talking about is near the intersection of Gage Ave. and 12th Street. I was in Topeka not to long ago, and passed right by their homes. Nice!
It's so good for Megan, who changes herself to respect freedom of speech - avoiding her cult mama and her remaining sis Rebekah! I get the fact she was far too emotional during an interview Louie Theroux, and I feel sorry for her. But things has to change better for what she now believes - is her decision and live in a new world for the last 6 years. They never made contact with Megan and their other ex-member of the Westboro, cos it's...goodbye forever, no sorriness and never wanna see us again for not obeying commandments. What a brave woman she is!
I remember seeing her on the Tyra Banks shows years ago before she left the church.... the transformation is like night and day. Good for her. It's tough to leave a cult when your entire family is part of it and you're pretty much on your own if you leave.
The WBC won't ever see God's love and God's kind forgiveness of others. That's why members always have to hide that they're leaving. Also, why the brainwashed ones shun the doubters.
A member of a hate cult gets to know a critic on Twitter, dreams about him, leaves her cult, and they get married years later? That’s a truly extraordinary love story! What a remarkable journey Megan has taken, from hatred to reason.
She should take a religious philosophy class, they are very interesting and so many points of view. It maybe valuable to her continuing journey of her life
Stuff like this is why I watch you David! I love your reporting. I just don’t like how you talk about Trump in 2/3 of the videos and don’t focus on other interesting topics/events such as this. Keep this up. This is good stuff!
So glad she got out. I remember looking at her on a documentary and she was just a kid. I felt so bad that at the time she had no clue they were brainwashing her. Now help others get out because your dad is one crazy fuck.
Just read her book. Very happy for her leaving and finding love. Her story triggers my own emotional turmoil over the indoctrination of biblical teaching. It is a dangerous book imo. I'm struggling to find myself and live free of the mind control.
Oh, for sure. How brave and loving she is now. All her life, they taught her she was right and going to heaven. No one else was going, only the Phelps and WBC member. They picket the funerals and the families of soldiers KIA.
The video where Anonymous took over the WBC website was my introduction to the David Pakman Show. David getting caught between Anonymous and Shirley Phelps Roper was kind of funny.
Lauren Drain is probably the most successful WBC escapee. I hope that her other family members will be able to get out. Her sister Taylor, in particular, has a timid undertone about her.
@Brian Cliffdogg, poor girl. I heard that Steve Drain started out as a liberal and a documentary filmmaker. He spent time at the WBC doing a documentary and was somehow transformed. Seeing him in that interview shortly after he cast Lauren out was scary. He looked to be utterly consumed with hate for his own flesh and blood....all because she dared to question church doctrine. Sadly people outside of that so-called church have done much worse. Parents who were indoctrinated into Fundamentalist Christianity have actually murdered their own children because they preferred having a dead child than a gay son or lesbian daughter.
Coming from someone who saw "The Most Hated Family in America" when it was new, this is the outcome I was hoping for back then; people in the Phelps family dropping out left and right and calling bullsh*t on their doctrine. Louis Theroux FTW. It's a wonder why John Oliver hasn't invited Louis on the show and revealed that he is indeed his twin brother...
Very eloquent and happy she got out. Just a bit sad she decided to champion J. K. Rowling of all people. I get the impulse from her closing statements but an incredibly wealthy and influential public figure attacking a tiny, besieged community and inciting hate against said community really isn't the person that needs her help.
This is fascinating. It just reminded me that you always need to take other people seriously. Westboro people are not evil. They just have totally different sense of truth and justice. If we mark them as stupid and evil, we do the same as they do to the gays. (that doesn't mean we have to accept what they are doing/saying though)
There is only ONE reality. This tRumpian 'alternative reality' bs . . . . is just that . . BullShit! These people know right from wrong . . . they chose to go down the wrong path. I cut some slack to kids who are born into this nightmare . . . but once they get into higher education . . . away from their F'd up family - - I believe they are accoutnable for their decisions and actions.
@nyancyan 83 I suppose you can type in westboro vs anonymous. I remember watching this awhile back! This is what Megan was speaking about. The dude this lady was speaking to on this old video would be her husband
Some of the comments are not very nice toward the grandfather, and his demise especially. Hateful comments mirror this church, pray for them instead. Leave judgement to the Lord.
God doesn't hate anything. You don't understand the nature of God if you think he hates. God is not a separate thing like a person. A person is made of ego, which makes us uniquely different and seperate. If God can see through every living creatures eyes in the entire universe and understand all of it completely, then God IS everything in the universe. Now the Holy Spirit is the energy of love, forgiveness, all good things. Did Jesus go around telling everyone who his Father "HATES"??? Hate is the energy from the dark side of the universe. That is what we call Satan. In order to have a polarity and balance in the universe is why that part exists. NOBODY is hellbound. They may spend what seems like an eternity purging those evil things that have built up in themselves and they will be taught true understanding and will be forgiven. Do you think a God of true love would create all these people throughout history only to have a small percentage of them able to eventually make it to a peaceful place of understanding? I'm thinkin a only small percentage go STRAIGHT to heaven. If you think you're worthy of that, then you're 100% NOT one of them. If you have true understanding youll know ALL of us fall short of being worthy to stand in the presence of the creator. And that's only the creator of THIS universe. HIS or HER creator is a thing too. It's FAR too complex for us to understand. That's why all of these religions based in love were made. Not one is completely right. Drink some ayausca and meet the plant spirit and the spirit of mother earth to receive understanding in this life. He put the tools here. The true evil has demonized this Holy spiritual medicine.... I thought this video was supporting that hateful church... My bad. Btw... All of what I said are theories. I have no idea what is the absolute truth. We're not meant to know it, thats for sure. Anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sell you something
Scientist from Duke University and London Universities tested the D.N.A of the Lemba Tribe the Igbo people in South Africa and found the Y Chromosome which was found in 50% of the Igbo people traced back to Ancient Israel while the Y Chromosome only showed up in 3% of the Jewish Population.
When you have a church like Westboro; you will find they are Biblically unsound; like there antisemitism etc. when you see people acting unbiblical it's because of their false interpretation of Scripture. There are many reasons why people have unbiblical interpretations, and in most cases it's because of their sin. Self righteousness, self promotion, self notoriety, etc. If you preach the gospel to the lost world it better be because you fear for them and want them to be set at liberty from their sins.
DID YOU SPEND TIME TENDING THE SICK, BABYSITTING FOR A SINGLE MOTHER WHO CHOSE TO KEEP HER CHILD BUT WHO HAD TO WORK, DOING SIMPLE TASKS AROUND AN ELDERLY PERSONS HOUSE THAT THEY WERE PHYS/MENTALLY UNABLE TO DO, DID YOU VOLUNTEER IN AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY PROGRAMS FOR LATCH KEY KIDS, WERE YOU A VOL IN HOSPITALS, DID YOU VOL IN 'SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT' ACTIVIST GROUPS, ETC, OR WERE YOU IN BIBLE STUDY TO ARGUE AGAINST UR NAY-SAYERS? DO THE WORK OF CHRIST!!!!
Why is it a shame she's like her mum?? In looks, yes, in attitudes and beliefs there's no comparison! ! I'd love to have a wonderful bone structure like Megan.
I just don't have such fond "forgiving" feelings about her as many here do. I think it boils down to the fact that she excuses the miserable hatred of her past and her current family because of their "beliefs". That's a cop-out. Hate is Hate. She is an intelligent woman and comes from an educated presumably intelligent cult family. They know right from wrong regardless of whatever bullshit they "believe". I hear so many comments lauding what Megan is doing now. Maybe I'm not aware of some special thing she is doing . . . but . . . if it's just that she is finally acknowledging that she used to be wrong - and writing a money-making book about it . . . . I'm not sure I understand how that is so f**king noble. She needs to spend the rest of her life apologizing for her past and making amends in every way she can . . . including perhaps using the proceeds from her book to do so.
She’s not excusing it, she’s explaining it. “They know right from wrong despite whatever bullshit they believe” - that’s the point though, they don’t. The point to explaining their belief systems in detail is to explain WHY they genuinely believe they are doing good - ‘spreading the message of god’. The reason it’s important is because the sustained, positive interaction is what deradicalized her. She’s spent the last 8 years apologizing for her actions, and I’ll imagine she’ll continue to do so. What is it that you want? Do you want people to be better, or do you want vengeance?
She literally walked away from the only family she’d ever known and loved and entered into a world that loathed and held her in contempt (understandably). That took a great deal of courage and she continues to show how much she has changed and still deals with judgment and criticism in interviews and criticism with a lot of grace and humility.
@@brennabreithaupt4224 with that twisted reasoning . . . then I'd guess you would support Lori Vallow/Daybell in the murder and dismemberment of her own kids . . . because of the wacked-out shit she believed. Well. . . to each their own . . . I guess
@@TomLloyd-18 so what? Shes a villain for taking her story and sharing it with the world to try and teach others the lessons from her experience? She was abused as well, she’s not now nor has she ever been the villain. She was a victim plain and simple. She did heinous things absolutely, and even as an adult but she did so because before she could ever think for herself she was indoctrinated/brainwashed. We’d all like to believe we would have done better but the scary and sad reality is that most of us would have done the same if those were our predominant influences. Unfortunately I think fewer of us would have risen above all of that to be who she is today. So shame her all you want, I don’t subscribe to your line of thinking nor do I fault her for turning her experiences into something positive by showing the power of kindness and the ability for people to change. That will do far more than throwing money at this problem.
@Joe Horn Romans 1:20 (NKJV) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
@Joe Horn Hebrews 11:1, 3 (NKJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
@Joe Horn see when someone dies then they will know that there is a God. But you cannot spend eternal life with him, eternal life is given to those who are alive and have faith in him. Now when they die, they will live with him forever.
She was curious. It's how she got out. As a child her curiosity was "forcefully" channeled into religion. She had to mature to find her own path and independently go where her curiosity lead her.
I love listening to Megan talk. Her compassion and love for others is so obvious and real when I see her.
Taylor Made
I agree this was very interesting and I love to hear and see different point of views
She is always so good. I know this episode is gonna be great. What a woman.
Because she was raised well.
@@6foot8jesuspilledpureblood82 Raised well despite her parents and immediate family being batsh't insane. +1 upvote for being contrarian and edgy though.
Megan is great! I've seen about 5 interviews with her, and she's always impressive. Good to see her on the DP Show.
She's a sellout who's betrayed the message for media fame.
She's gorgeous! So glad people were compassionate instead of yelling their beliefs at her. It obviously works.
She was hotter when she was in a cult.
@@chriscueva1866 😂 that's fucked up
I totally agree with you about empathy and understanding. When I was a young atheist I used to say all kinds of disrespectful mean things about religion or religious people. All that gains you are more strident enemies and might eventually make you an angry person. If you just talk with people though everything changes. You find common ground, make friendships and earn the respect of people who might not normally offer you respect. You just have to be willing to let things go and not take the bait if your talking with someone who is afraid or mistrusting of people with your view point. If you do that more often than not you will find people open to listening.
The Phelps family abandoned her just because of her change of thought. It’s so sad.
Same thing happened to Lauren Drain.
ìFåГt Mägîç yea it is
It's sad but completely in-line with their extreme take on scripture.
@QQminusSIt should also be mentioned that Sam Harris's view of the world is far too simplistic. He's blind in one eye but he doesn't know that.
@QQminusS Harris has been fooled by the veil of appearances. He sees only the material.
Wow, that was an incredibly interesting interview! She's delightful and smart and so interesting. Thanks, David, for having her on the show!
I remember being in a line blocking these people at a church service for a soldier KIA. They were across the street hollering at his family as they entered the church. Felt sympathy for their kids they didn't have a choice.
Brilliant interview! As I formulated questions in my head, you asked them. Ms. Phelps-Roper, I am so happy for you. While I don't know you or know of you previous to this interview, I felt in your words and expressions the weight of hundreds of pounds of rocks lifted off your chest. And I am so thankful you shared a portion of your life. Hopefully your truthful, genuine, heartfelt, and humble words will reach another family member who, rather than deflect them and/or twist them into a debate, will elect to absorb them, think about them, and find the courage to act on them.
All, yes, ALL religions, regardless how well-meaning, are cults. Creationism definitely exists: Humans created the concept of god. Then other humans used this concept to control others for the purpose of power, greed and wealth. The world would be a far better place if religion never existed.
PS. This is the first youtube video I have watched that was over 15 minutes long let alone almost 40 minutes!
PPS. Mr. Packman, thank you for acting rather than whining. Thank you for listening and trying to understand rather than yelling and pointing fingers.
The strength and bravery this woman had to hold while standing against her entire community is a massive feat of maturity. What a beautiful person.
Inspiring and humbling to hear Megan speak as always, but also stellar interview David!
As a former Jehovah's witnesses I can absolutely and completely agree! Cults.
kuddos for getting out.
Been there. There are many kind JWs, but no thank you.. Not for me. Ugh. Exhausting.
Great interview, love and respect to Megan.
Hats off to her husband for slidin into those DM's and scoring a wife out of it, that mans is a legend
Why you gotta take something nice and make it all creepy like?
@@spaghettimonstersjudgingyo504 Because it's an observation that I found amusing😆😘
@@spaghettimonstersjudgingyo504 it's not creepy..she married the man. And I'm certain he didn't slide into her DMs on romantic stuff outright.
It was just a joke.
And a hot wife too. What a waste to lose that sexy fox to religion.
This is fascinating. I am so happy that Megan seperated from Westboro. She is so strong.
Beautiful story, from an outstanding woman. What a story of faith in humanity, compassion over polarisation, and the power of free media and speech to bring people together across ideological boundaries. There aren't superlatives enough to describe the part at the end of the interview about her and her husband getting together, David a life could be defined as good with just one of those incidental acts of connection. You can be proud of everything you achieved with the DP show even if it was just that
Fantastic interview. We need to hear from more people who've become disillusioned from cults/hate groups; especially now more than ever.
An intelligent and inquisitive woman with a natural tendency towards intellectual honesty (which not everybody has). The beginning of the end was actually before she came across the inconsistency. It was when she began to meaningfully communicate with outsiders.
I am also related to Phelps, being named after a Phelps on the mother's side of my family (my father is Jewish). I used to have an anthology of the Phelps family history. Indeed, many of them were devout Christians. There was Emma Phelps, who sang-'Oh, Happy Day' (later a number one hit for Edwin Hawkins Singers) as she lay dying on her deathbed. I, Thomas Phelps (Karp), visited my brother on his deathbed just last March, and I read to him from 1 John 3 & 4. Standing beside me at the time was my earliest childhood friend, Jonathan, who was working for Prince back in '84 while he had 'Purple Rain'. I think I'm going to go listen to some of those tunes right now!
Welcome into the light Megan~!
She been out for years now.
Holy shit this is so crazy I remember watching her at like 15 or 16 thinking this is so sad her parents only raised her to think one way. I cant wait to watch this. I've been waiting so long to her side of the story !!!
God bless to this women, her journey and her bravery for speaking her truth.
You know you’re right when you have to beat kids for questioning!
Excellent report. Was pleased to hear this young lady's experience. Had a parallel experience in another religious denomination.
JW?
@@spaghettimonstersjudgingyo504 Seventh-Day Adventist. The first time I ate shrimp I was expecting to die because of the bible curse on the shrimp. But somehow I survived. Since then I've eaten crab and lobster and pig without any noticeable ill effects but I'm in my 70's and there's still time for the hammer to fall.
@@hermenutic I think your good. I would put money on the fact that those sins were placed in the bible because ancient peoples had no idea what trichinosis or parasites were. Besides if I'm wrong and god is real I feel completely justified in not lying to myself and being honest. If god wants to toss you or I in the pit for that it's his prerogative I guess. LOL The shellfish sin is one of my personal favorites. The other is wearing mixed fabrics. So basically if you wear shoes your going to hell if don't repent. Curious how you never see a people protesting those who eat crustaceans right? It's always about sex in some way as if any unrepented sin can't get you tossed into hell either way.
@@spaghettimonstersjudgingyo504 The hypocrisy and idiocy of religion is evident to me. However I do believe there is a mystical / spiritual connection to the experience of existence based on the concept of Logos as first mentioned by Heraclitus about the time of Buddha and Lao Tzu, 500 or so years prior to Jesus of Nazareth. and his contribution of the kingdom of God.
My position is the result of the logical outcome of the transcendentalist thought of the 1800's . So I accept the notion of something making the ball start rolling. I call that the "God Concept" Others call it evolution.
The origin of existence is a mystery that came from the 'big bang'.
What 'banged'? There is no answer to that. Our physics cannot decipher it, but it must have been. That is a mystery, isn't it? I think of that mystery as 'God''.
Interesting. She's very intelligent. So glad she got out of that group.
Objectively one of the best people to talk about the organization
This is an incredible interview! The breakdown of how this cult works brings deep understanding of how her as a child was cleverly calculated brainwashing! So happy for Meaghan and her new path! Wishing you happiness to you and your new family.
The whole family are so beautiful and intelligent.
Agreed
Glad to see that people are supportive of someone who came from a place that is filled with hate and is now on the other side of it rather than hold that against them. ✌️
The fence she is talking about is near the intersection of Gage Ave. and 12th Street. I was in Topeka not to long ago, and passed right by their homes. Nice!
a very interesting and intelligently honest conversation. great talk ty for sharing
Great interview
Good interview
Glad to see she got out and has made a life for herself.
It's so good for Megan, who changes herself to respect freedom of speech - avoiding her cult mama and her remaining sis Rebekah! I get the fact she was far too emotional during an interview Louie Theroux, and I feel sorry for her. But things has to change better for what she now believes - is her decision and live in a new world for the last 6 years. They never made contact with Megan and their other ex-member of the Westboro, cos it's...goodbye forever, no sorriness and never wanna see us again for not obeying commandments. What a brave woman she is!
I remember seeing her on the Tyra Banks shows years ago before she left the church.... the transformation is like night and day. Good for her. It's tough to leave a cult when your entire family is part of it and you're pretty much on your own if you leave.
She should do audiobooks
She did narrate her own book! She has such a great speaking voice
That was fascinating. And even a little inspiring.
The WBC won't ever see God's love and God's kind forgiveness of others. That's why members always have to hide that they're leaving. Also, why the brainwashed ones shun the doubters.
This was such a great interview
A member of a hate cult gets to know a critic on Twitter, dreams about him, leaves her cult, and they get married years later? That’s a truly extraordinary love story! What a remarkable journey Megan has taken, from hatred to reason.
Are those Westboro people still around? Haven't heard anything from them in years.
Not out in public, they aren't. I'm sure there's still a few people in the cult, but they're not active anymore like they used to be.
Daddy Fred died
@@themajesticspider-man6116 Good!
With trump and the rise of evangelicals, they’ve definitely gone into the shadows, oddly enough they actually hate Trump
@@leviritter6279 hope it's warm for him in Hell
Thank you for this..
Respect!!!
That family gets no respect.
@@spunkmire2664 He means respect to the person who left that hateful cult
@@neonpixel27 I knew what he meant. I stick with what i said.
Good for her... gives me a little hope.
She should take a religious philosophy class, they are very interesting and so many points of view. It maybe valuable to her continuing journey of her life
For all the brainwashing this girl had done to her, it's a testament to her intelligence how kind and loving she really is.
shocking...thanks david and Megan - very educational
20:24
Jesus: God Is Love
Westboro Baptist Church: Hold my beer
2012 Westboro Baptist Church: We are here to demonstrate the hate of God
Cult45: Hold my beer
alarcon99
As long at it’s not on Sunday
Stuff like this is why I watch you David! I love your reporting. I just don’t like how you talk about Trump in 2/3 of the videos and don’t focus on other interesting topics/events such as this. Keep this up. This is good stuff!
So glad she got out. I remember looking at her on a documentary and she was just a kid. I felt so bad that at the time she had no clue they were brainwashing her. Now help others get out because your dad is one crazy fuck.
Just read her book. Very happy for her leaving and finding love. Her story triggers my own emotional turmoil over the indoctrination of biblical teaching. It is a dangerous book imo. I'm struggling to find myself and live free of the mind control.
It's great that she was able to get out of that. It's really hard to go against your family and the community you grew up in, she's very brave.
Oh, for sure. How brave and loving she is now. All her life, they taught her she was right and going to heaven. No one else was going, only the Phelps and WBC member. They picket the funerals and the families of soldiers KIA.
The video where Anonymous took over the WBC website was my introduction to the David Pakman Show. David getting caught between Anonymous and Shirley Phelps Roper was kind of funny.
Lauren Drain is probably the most successful WBC escapee. I hope that her other family members will be able to get out. Her sister Taylor, in particular, has a timid undertone about her.
@Brian Cliffdogg, arranged by her family, no doubt. Is he one of the Phelpses?
@Brian Cliffdogg, poor girl. I heard that Steve Drain started out as a liberal and a documentary filmmaker. He spent time at the WBC doing a documentary and was somehow transformed. Seeing him in that interview shortly after he cast Lauren out was scary. He looked to be utterly consumed with hate for his own flesh and blood....all because she dared to question church doctrine.
Sadly people outside of that so-called church have done much worse. Parents who were indoctrinated into Fundamentalist Christianity have actually murdered their own children because they preferred having a dead child than a gay son or lesbian daughter.
Loving thy neighbor through hateful deliverance, Not an example set by Jesus Christ.
I had a feeling she would leave one day while watching the documentary Louie theroux made and he would talk to here alone
I'm sorry I know we shouldn't be judging women by looks. But she is beautiful!
Coming from someone who saw "The Most Hated Family in America" when it was new, this is the outcome I was hoping for back then; people in the Phelps family dropping out left and right and calling bullsh*t on their doctrine. Louis Theroux FTW. It's a wonder why John Oliver hasn't invited Louis on the show and revealed that he is indeed his twin brother...
eyyy i recognise her from the louie documentaries, she went to university to be a lawyer i think,
They call me the fastest 'like' in the west!
oooh david! your like an honorary godfather now.
Very eloquent and happy she got out. Just a bit sad she decided to champion J. K. Rowling of all people. I get the impulse from her closing statements but an incredibly wealthy and influential public figure attacking a tiny, besieged community and inciting hate against said community really isn't the person that needs her help.
I remember these little girls from Westboro (and their hateful mom) on Howard Stern back 15-20 years ago , wonder if she was there.
Paul33 I remember seeing Shirley and some teenagers on Howard stern, I don't remember little girls though. But she was on the show.
I bet women who have had genital mutilation also consider they grew up in a loving home and community.
What kind of church is the westboro Baptist church, i've heard 100 times that name
Religious lunatics.
Pure... pure evil that is.
They're a cult.
@@ifartmagic extremist? Like how? Crusade type stuff? Planning of murder?
@@Glenningway what do they do?
"Casting stones" is also a metaphor for unconstructive criticism, so the "words" not "stones" argument is completely invalid.
When someone take a test and they fell do they just quit taking the test or they go back and study more to pass the test. Understand this parable.
36:00 i remember seeing that, it was fuckin' genius.
Really happy for you Megan! You have the greatest gift god could give, that of perspective.
Anyone else think Megan got hotter after she left?
Just a following up question. Did you read her book and would you recommend it ??
Yes, it's amazing. Absolutely worth it.
I really enjoyed it
This is fascinating. It just reminded me that you always need to take other people seriously. Westboro people are not evil. They just have totally different sense of truth and justice. If we mark them as stupid and evil, we do the same as they do to the gays. (that doesn't mean we have to accept what they are doing/saying though)
There is only ONE reality. This tRumpian 'alternative reality' bs . . . . is just that . . BullShit! These people know right from wrong . . . they chose to go down the wrong path. I cut some slack to kids who are born into this nightmare . . . but once they get into higher education . . . away from their F'd up family - - I believe they are accoutnable for their decisions and actions.
Haha I would love Megan to react to holy wars by megadeth to see if the lyrics resonates with her
Well done for escaping this horrible cult!
I remember watching the Anonymous Hack. Never did I imagine that the hacker would be speaking to his future mother in law!
@nyancyan 83 I suppose you can type in westboro vs anonymous. I remember watching this awhile back!
This is what Megan was speaking about. The dude this lady was speaking to on this old video would be her husband
Some of the comments are not very nice toward the grandfather, and his demise especially. Hateful comments mirror this church, pray for them instead. Leave judgement to the Lord.
How does she feel about guys now and does her current stance have Bible backing?
God doesn't hate anything. You don't understand the nature of God if you think he hates. God is not a separate thing like a person. A person is made of ego, which makes us uniquely different and seperate. If God can see through every living creatures eyes in the entire universe and understand all of it completely, then God IS everything in the universe. Now the Holy Spirit is the energy of love, forgiveness, all good things. Did Jesus go around telling everyone who his Father "HATES"??? Hate is the energy from the dark side of the universe. That is what we call Satan. In order to have a polarity and balance in the universe is why that part exists. NOBODY is hellbound. They may spend what seems like an eternity purging those evil things that have built up in themselves and they will be taught true understanding and will be forgiven. Do you think a God of true love would create all these people throughout history only to have a small percentage of them able to eventually make it to a peaceful place of understanding? I'm thinkin a only small percentage go STRAIGHT to heaven. If you think you're worthy of that, then you're 100% NOT one of them. If you have true understanding youll know ALL of us fall short of being worthy to stand in the presence of the creator. And that's only the creator of THIS universe. HIS or HER creator is a thing too. It's FAR too complex for us to understand. That's why all of these religions based in love were made. Not one is completely right. Drink some ayausca and meet the plant spirit and the spirit of mother earth to receive understanding in this life. He put the tools here. The true evil has demonized this Holy spiritual medicine.... I thought this video was supporting that hateful church... My bad. Btw... All of what I said are theories. I have no idea what is the absolute truth. We're not meant to know it, thats for sure. Anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sell you something
Scientist from Duke University and London Universities tested the D.N.A of the Lemba Tribe the Igbo people in South Africa and found the Y Chromosome which was found in 50% of the Igbo people traced back to Ancient Israel while the Y Chromosome only showed up in 3% of the Jewish Population.
@he11b1ade That still didn't stop the tracing of the D.N.A.
Her parents helped her pack. That had to suck so bad. So awkward.
13:14 The titmouse comment. :)
30:55 Welcome to the real world.
She says "you know" like two times every sentence
Can that type of brainwashing ever be fully undone?
When you have a church like Westboro; you will find they are Biblically unsound; like there antisemitism etc. when you see people acting unbiblical it's because of their false interpretation of Scripture. There are many reasons why people have unbiblical interpretations, and in most cases it's because of their sin. Self righteousness, self promotion, self notoriety, etc. If you preach the gospel to the lost world it better be because you fear for them and want them to be set at liberty from their sins.
*Now do "God Gave Us This Land" cult*
Everything and everybody is wrong, attacks, how exhausted she must have been.
DID YOU SPEND TIME TENDING THE SICK, BABYSITTING FOR A SINGLE MOTHER WHO CHOSE TO KEEP HER CHILD BUT WHO HAD TO WORK, DOING SIMPLE TASKS AROUND AN ELDERLY PERSONS HOUSE THAT THEY WERE PHYS/MENTALLY UNABLE TO DO, DID YOU VOLUNTEER IN AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY PROGRAMS FOR LATCH KEY KIDS, WERE YOU A VOL IN HOSPITALS, DID YOU VOL IN 'SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT' ACTIVIST GROUPS, ETC, OR WERE YOU IN BIBLE STUDY TO ARGUE AGAINST UR NAY-SAYERS? DO THE WORK OF CHRIST!!!!
Every bad guy, thinks they’re the good guy.
Bruh
Very pretty and outspoken. It's a shame she looks like a "prettier" version of her mom.
Why is it a shame she's like her mum?? In looks, yes, in attitudes and beliefs there's no comparison! ! I'd love to have a wonderful bone structure like Megan.
I kept forgetting that she wasn't talking about the Mormon church
Jews killed Jesus? Didn’t the Romans kill Jesus!? If there was a Jesus.
I just don't have such fond "forgiving" feelings about her as many here do. I think it boils down to the fact that she excuses the miserable hatred of her past and her current family because of their "beliefs". That's a cop-out. Hate is Hate. She is an intelligent woman and comes from an educated presumably intelligent cult family. They know right from wrong regardless of whatever bullshit they "believe". I hear so many comments lauding what Megan is doing now. Maybe I'm not aware of some special thing she is doing . . . but . . . if it's just that she is finally acknowledging that she used to be wrong - and writing a money-making book about it . . . . I'm not sure I understand how that is so f**king noble. She needs to spend the rest of her life apologizing for her past and making amends in every way she can . . . including perhaps using the proceeds from her book to do so.
She’s not excusing it, she’s explaining it.
“They know right from wrong despite whatever bullshit they believe” - that’s the point though, they don’t. The point to explaining their belief systems in detail is to explain WHY they genuinely believe they are doing good - ‘spreading the message of god’.
The reason it’s important is because the sustained, positive interaction is what deradicalized her. She’s spent the last 8 years apologizing for her actions, and I’ll imagine she’ll continue to do so.
What is it that you want? Do you want people to be better, or do you want vengeance?
She literally walked away from the only family she’d ever known and loved and entered into a world that loathed and held her in contempt (understandably). That took a great deal of courage and she continues to show how much she has changed and still deals with judgment and criticism in interviews and criticism with a lot of grace and humility.
@@brennabreithaupt4224 with that twisted reasoning . . . then I'd guess you would support Lori Vallow/Daybell in the murder and dismemberment of her own kids . . . because of the wacked-out shit she believed. Well. . . to each their own . . . I guess
@@mowsey321 she's selling a book. Let's see how she uses the proceeds from the book(s)
@@TomLloyd-18 so what? Shes a villain for taking her story and sharing it with the world to try and teach others the lessons from her experience? She was abused as well, she’s not now nor has she ever been the villain. She was a victim plain and simple. She did heinous things absolutely, and even as an adult but she did so because before she could ever think for herself she was indoctrinated/brainwashed. We’d all like to believe we would have done better but the scary and sad reality is that most of us would have done the same if those were our predominant influences. Unfortunately I think fewer of us would have risen above all of that to be who she is today.
So shame her all you want, I don’t subscribe to your line of thinking nor do I fault her for turning her experiences into something positive by showing the power of kindness and the ability for people to change.
That will do far more than throwing money at this problem.
Jesus Christ is the King of the Jews!
Westboro Baptist Church is kinda like the proto MAGA crowd.
Just because the Baptist Church has false doctrine does not mean God don't exist she was just following the wrong doctrine.
@Joe Horn who else can create a world so perfect, (attributes)
@Joe Horn his attributes that's what's perfect
@Joe Horn Romans 1:20 (NKJV) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
@Joe Horn Hebrews 11:1, 3 (NKJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
@Joe Horn see when someone dies then they will know that there is a God. But you cannot spend eternal life with him, eternal life is given to those who are alive and have faith in him. Now when they die, they will live with him forever.
Pretty disingenuous to say as a fundamentalist, "I was not an uncurious person". Still I'm glad she GTFO of that cult
She was curious. It's how she got out.
As a child her curiosity was "forcefully" channeled into religion. She had to mature to find her own path and independently go where her curiosity lead her.