Does free speech exist ? Not according to the US Supreme court, which once famously declared that it did not extend to someone shouting " fire " in a crowded theatre.
This raises the curious case of the Westboro Baptist church - with a congregation of about seventy five members, most of which come from one extended family - which claims to speak for God.
This church contends that God hates Gays - and that the war dead from Afghanistan is God's punishment for the US allowing Gays to serve in the military. As a result, they offensively denigrate those dead soldiers at family funerals.
This raises another situation that applies to churches generally. Each church adopts the stance that they - and they alone - are the custodian of God's wishes. They usually extend that further - with the claim that after death it will be their members who will be welcomed into Heaven - and everyone else will go to Hell !
Now there is a problem with postulating God's attitude on all matters moral. Either God has a lot of opposing views on morality - or some of these churches have got it wrong !
Most people would find this Westboro mob's action at funerals offensive, but surely it is not just a matter of free speech. If you barge into a private birthday party you may face charges of trespass - and if you are asked to leave church property - and refuse - then other laws apply.
Just as well God is tolerant about those who claim to be his spokesperson. Otherwise there might be a lot of churches with egg on their face !
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