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947 reviews for:
Unfollow: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church
Megan Phelps-Roper
4.15 AVERAGE
947 reviews for:
Unfollow: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church
Megan Phelps-Roper
4.15 AVERAGE
A powerful story, well-told. Super compelling, and full of grace.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I remember going on trip in college and my instructor making it clear that we may see Fred Phelps crew protesting... So this book was really interesting. I enjoyed Megan's journey.
The Westboro “Baptist Church” has come to my hometown over the years spreading hate with provocative, bigoted signs and chants. I always wondered if they were secret atheists trying to give religion a bad wrap or if they believed anything other than hate. I couldn’t see how they honestly read the same Old and especially New Testament as me (and the normal Baptist’s whom I LOVE) and be so cruel. Megan proved my theories wrong. I really “got” that they believed they are God’s chosen people and that truth (no matter how unpopular or poorly delivered) is love. In fact, they believe that holding “God Hates Fags” signs was MORE loving because they were the only ones “willing to tell them the truth.” With this belief, intermixed with generational family abuse, it is no surprise how this hate group was formed and still lives on today.
Megan’s courage in writing this memoir while so many of her loved ones are still in the group is humbling and incredible! Her experience is one that will actually change the world.
I particularly want to remember the part where she visits her grandpa dying forever. Those words transcend all religion and can speak to anyone willing to open their heart. I was in tears through the whole part.
I REALLY wanted to know more about her experiences getting out of the group and becoming someone who is willing to share her views as a progressive humanist. The story really stopped after she got out. Sadly “sequel memoirs” aren’t really a thing...so until then I’ll be scavenging through podcasts, ted talks, and tv interviews with her in it. (Hint: her Ted Talk does share some good stuff about her post-Westboro life).
I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
Megan’s courage in writing this memoir while so many of her loved ones are still in the group is humbling and incredible! Her experience is one that will actually change the world.
I particularly want to remember the part where she visits her grandpa dying forever. Those words transcend all religion and can speak to anyone willing to open their heart. I was in tears through the whole part.
I REALLY wanted to know more about her experiences getting out of the group and becoming someone who is willing to share her views as a progressive humanist. The story really stopped after she got out. Sadly “sequel memoirs” aren’t really a thing...so until then I’ll be scavenging through podcasts, ted talks, and tv interviews with her in it. (Hint: her Ted Talk does share some good stuff about her post-Westboro life).
I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
I’m a sucker for a good memoir. This is a thoughtful, thought provoking and oh so brave story!
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
It's hard to decide how to talk about this book, it is both so personal and so extraordinarily relevant. The way that Megan openly explores her upbringing, how she had a happy childhood in spite of all the assumptions an outsider would make, and how painful it was to pull away from her family shows a kind of strength I doubt I will ever know or witness.
The things that the Westboro Baptist Church did and continue to do are undeniably terrible, but her words at the close of the book, about how suppressing these and other similar ideas outright rather than arguing against them prevents chances for change, truly showed me that her journey had been one 'from hatred to hope'.
I hope that one day we will live in the kind of world she strives for now, full of kindness and understanding and love.
The things that the Westboro Baptist Church did and continue to do are undeniably terrible, but her words at the close of the book, about how suppressing these and other similar ideas outright rather than arguing against them prevents chances for change, truly showed me that her journey had been one 'from hatred to hope'.
I hope that one day we will live in the kind of world she strives for now, full of kindness and understanding and love.
I finished this book in a day! Interesting about the importance of doubt, and how absolute certainty leads to cult beliefs.
Interesting how she became drawn out due to online friendships. She has an extremely well-connected life after just a few years away from her cult!
Interesting how she became drawn out due to online friendships. She has an extremely well-connected life after just a few years away from her cult!
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense