Unfollow

A Memoir of Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church

De: Megan Phelps-Roper

Narrado por: Megan Phelps-Roper

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.

©2019 Megan Phelps-Roper (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

Perhaps the most important book I have read.

I don’t think I would have chosen to read this book on my own, but thankfully our book club selected it. I was supposed to read the first chapters, but I couldn’t stop listening, re-listening and then placing bookmarks with notes. Now, I want to buy truckloads of Unfollow and give it everyone, absolutely everyone. I resonant greatly with Megan’s story because of my own religious trauma, but I truly believe all humans can learn a ton about philosophical/theological certainty, tribalism, empathy, group think and so much more. Please listen to this book.

Beautifully written, beautifully spoken.

It will be difficult to emphasize the importance of this book. Highly recommend far and wide no matter your taste in books and/or reading. Hearing this spoken in the author's voice is an important piece of the experience.

Great listen

I very much enjoyed this listen. The compassion with which Megan tells her story is compelling and the details enjoyable.

Sweet are the uses of adversity

“Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head;
And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the
running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in every thing.”
-from Shakespeare’s As you like it
Duke Senior’s transformation is much more benign, however, MPR’s change had much to do with words, sermons, books.

Bringing humanity to religion

A bit hard to follow at times but many times bringing tears to me. A heartfelt memoir of the heart ache of following ones conscience and reason. Thanks Meagan!