I doubt waking at 5:10 a.m. to drive 40 minutes to an anti-gay protest is a top priority for anyone reading this column. Fortunately for you, dedicated journalists at the Iowa State Daily have done it for you.

The members of the Westboro Baptist Church were everything I expected them to be and more. However, I anticipated a larger number of people. A quick head count came to a puny six people, only one of them being an adult.

I approached the middle-aged woman and asked if I could have a moment of her time. She replied, “Only if you are fair.” I think I held up my end of the deal quite admirably despite the obvious shortcomings of her well-rehearsed logic. First, I was eager to know how she came to be a member of the infamous church. She told me a friend of hers introduced her to the beliefs of the church. Since she possessed common beliefs, it was a no-brainer to join. I wonder, though, exactly what those beliefs were. It seems there are many common beliefs that run in every church. Why would she choose this one?

Since five young people were protesting, I asked her about the appropriateness of their presence. The woman told me that children form their opinions by age 8, according to psychiatrists and psychologists. I don’t even know if I knew what a homosexual was when I was in third grade. Before I could rebut her response, she went on to say that her son had been protesting with her since he was a baby. Sometimes people save you the trouble of proving them wrong.

At this point, I found it necessary to question the signs they proudly displayed for everyone to see. I asked why she thought it was necessary to have sodomy punishable by death. I knew the church didn’t condone violence, so it was strange to see them pushing the death penalty. She told me it was God’s will. Upon reading Leviticus 20:13, I saw that God actually said this. Can you guess what else the Lord wants you dead for? The list is large and it includes cursing your parents, committing adultery, and marrying both a woman and her mother to name a few. It’s very curious we don’t hear them preaching against these other things at all.

Throughout our conversation, I felt as though my ideas were being dismissed by her because I had an inferior understanding of the Bible. This was very evident when I asked her why she thought it was all right for her to judge people. I thought Jesus said to “judge not.” Her response was enlightening. Apparently, as long as you’re right, it’s acceptable to judge. If you believe that, I’ve got some swampland in Florida for sale.

Nowhere did I find this faulty idea in the Bible. Instead, the Bible says to avoid being a hypocrite when judging others. In the book of John, Jesus says that a sinless person could cast the first stone at a woman condemned for adultery. The woman escaped the situation unscathed. This is a very powerful message, a message undelivered to the members of Westboro Baptist Church.

The last topic I discussed with the woman was God and his hatred for America. I wondered how she knew 9/11 was punishment from the Heavenly Host. Unbeknownst to me, 25 percent of those killed in the attacks were homosexual. How she said that to me with a straight face I will never know.

I went to this protest with an open mind and left it with a conclusion. I believe the members of this church use God’s word to hide behind. Why else would someone join a church notorious for being hateful in the public eye? I believe the woman I spoke with thought negatively about gays before joining, and the church gave her an easy way to express that.

I feel sorry for these people. I feel sorry for anyone who would dedicate their life to condemning others. The woman I spoke with told me she attends at least two protests a day. What a waste of valuable time. She doesn’t believe homosexuals can change. In fact, she thinks they are vessels of sin created by God for all to see. I fear members of the Westboro Baptist Church will reach the end of their lives and have nothing good to reflect on when they think about what they’ve accomplished.

I regret not asking the woman this: Has anything good come from your actions?