In 'Unfollow', Megan Phelps-Roper offers a riveting account of her life growing up in the infamous Westboro Baptist Church, known for its extreme ideologies and public protests. As she navigates the confines of this insular community, she begins to question the beliefs that have shaped her existence. Through a series of thought-provoking interactions on social media, Phelps-Roper embarks on a journey of self-discovery and transformation. Her path to leaving the church is fraught with emotional turmoil and moral dilemmas, ultimately leading to a powerful exploration of empathy and understanding. This compelling narrative challenges readers to reconsider the nature of belief, identity, and redemption.
By Megan Phelps-Roper
Published: 2019
""Sometimes, the hardest part of being human is asking the question: What if I’m wrong?""
The activist and TED speaker Megan Phelps-Roper reveals her life growing up in the most hated family in America At the age of five, Megan Phelps-Roper began protesting homosexuality and other alleged vices alongside fellow members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. Founded by her grandfather and consisting almost entirely of her extended family, the tiny group would gain worldwide notoriety for its pickets at military funerals and celebrations of death and tragedy. As Phelps-Roper grew up, she saw that church members were close companions and accomplished debaters, applying the logic of predestination and the language of the King James Bible to everyday life with aplomb—which, as the church’s Twitter spokeswoman, she learned to do with great skill. Soon, however, dialogue on Twitter caused her to begin doubting the church’s leaders and message: If humans were sinful and fallible, how could the church itself be so confident about its beliefs? As she digitally jousted with critics, she started to wonder if sometimes they had a point—and then she began exchanging messages with a man who would help change her life. A gripping memoir of escaping extremism and falling in love, Unfollow relates Phelps-Roper’s moral awakening, her departure from the church, and how she exchanged the absolutes she grew up with for new forms of warmth and community. Rich with suspense and thoughtful reflection, Phelps-Roper’s life story exposes the dangers of black-and-white thinking and the need for true humility in a time of angry polarization.
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“"Sometimes, the hardest part of being human is asking the question: What if I’m wrong?"”
Unfollow
By Megan Phelps-Roper
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Megan Phelps-Roper is an American author and speaker known for her compelling writing on faith, family, and the journey of leaving a controversial religious background. Formerly a member of the Westboro Baptist Church, Phelps-Roper gained recognition for her memoir, "Unfollow: A Journey from Hatred to Hope," where she recounts her experiences growing up in an environment steeped in extremism and her eventual departure from it. Her writing style is characterized by its introspective and honest approach, illuminating the complexities of belief, identity, and redemption. In addition to her memoir, she is also an advocate for civil discourse and understanding across ideological divides.
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