It seems that the members of the Topeka, Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church aren't very happy about the San Diego Comic-Con. According to them, it's a gathering of lost souls who are obsessively worshiping false idols like Batman:

Are you kidding?! If these people would spend even some of the energy that they spend on these comic books, reading the Bible, well no high hopes here. They have turned comic book characters into idols, and worship them they do! 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. 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.

Members of the church intend on staging a 45-minute protest during one of the least busy days of the convention in order to get everyone back on the right track

via http://gizmodo.com/5588219/god-hates-nerds

That guy holding the sign looks pretty cool. I'm sure he's a fine judge of who is and isn't a nerd.

They were just in Dallas protesting an AIDS support organization. My friends made some pretty entertaining signs in counter-protest. Here is a gallery.

I bet God also hates.....Complainers....People who don't mind their business....Haters.....People who IMPOSE their beliefs on other people who dont need any of their HELP because they're comfortable with their own religious or atheistic beliefs......Did i say Haters?...

You all should ban together and throw eggs at them when they show up.

Batman emblem painted eggs at that too.

That god is my hero.

God, it's bad enough that the Scientology folks are inside the convention, trying to recruit people with that "role playing game" schtick. (Anyone else remember this?)

This group has been around for years. They're the worst kind of people out there.

They protested Matthew Shepard's funeral with some pretty awful signs, and have taken to protesting the funerals of soldiers killed in the war. They hold signs that say these folks deserved to die.

My heroes of late are the people in the motorcycle group that go to counter protest them. If they show up at a funeral, the motorcycle folks basically create a huge shield that keeps the family members from seeing the protest

He's a clown plain and simple. He might sound crazy, but you folks are talking about him and that's all the ammo he needs.
You know his name, you know what his church is called...he achieved his goal of being in the spotlight.

Pastrami and mustard? YES.

I wish I could like my own junk!

what's not to like?

Nobody in this thread can spell. ;p

I thought it was funnier and let it ride!

"If these people would spend even some of the energy that they spend on these comic books, reading the Bible"
if these people would spend even 1/2 the time they spend protesting on reading the bible and not just making it up as they go they would realize god does not like douche baggery

I wonder how many members of this church are obsessed with sports figures, celebrities, cars, power, etc? As a Christian, I can only say God doesn't hate people. He's probably not too thrilled with people who hate in His name.

God loves nerds . . . 'The geek shall inherit the earth' Psalms 25:8

^^ you're making this sign to bring with you to san diego right?

God in NY you can't escape those fuckers. Always outside of Barnes and Nobles giving away "free books," or in Time Square station giving "free stress tests." I'm pretty tolerant, I don't care what other's religious beliefs are, but every time I see one of their tables I just want to walk up and flip it over.

Batman is such a golden calf. HULK SMASH THAT TEMPLE!!!!!

that first photo has been photoshopped to say nerds - the original says "I'M ABOUT TO BE BANNED".. i'm not about to upload such an image, but here's the link to the original http://tinyurl.com/myor2z

i don't understand why any group would profess hate, especially one that calls themselves a "church"
the counter-protest signs are awesome.. the world need more of that kind of thinking!

I think the counter protest signs are brilliant. Instead of countering hate with more hate they use silly, absurd signs (The Duke hates Devo & God Hates Jujubes) to show how stupid and bizarre the other sides signs can be.

.

I think it could be argued that their signs constitute "fighting words" rather than free speech. I'd like to see somebody really challenge that aspect. I know if I had a friend or family member die in combat, then these tool bags were there protesting...I would be hard pressed to control myself....

Holy crap. I thought our necks were red up here sometimes what with Michelle Bachman and Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Love those counter-protesters!

The fella showed his support in Brooklyn.

Religion can be a really great thing for some people. Sadly, it can be a terrible thing for others. Doing things in the name of some god whether it's bombing buildings, killing doctors or just being nasty is horrid. I don't care what faith it is, they all have their terrible extremes. I'm sure if these freak bags hit SDCC they'll deal with a lot more than they may be used to. Pissed off Furries suck.

I can't count Scientology as a religion, I don't know who can. I can't go on enough about the terrible things the heads up of this company have done to some people. I feel terrible for the followers. I'm not gonna go into it (I don't wanna get a court hearing slapped on me for this) but I overall can't see how it can be a religion for charging people to join. It's messed up, I wish the govt. would strike their tax exemption for that crap.

I have a lot of time for lunatics.

Have you guys seen Louis Theroux's show about them?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOrz5k0jWdU