How is this manipulative?

How is this Baptist church compared to Woodsboro Baptist church? His reply, Hey, rest assured, we are nothing like those people. Those people distort scripture. Kris, you're in good hands here. 

I assume you mean Westboro Baptist Church?

WBC is a small, isolated group which is primarily known for its inflammatory protests. Primarily they got a lot of press for protesting funerals of military members killed in combat, stating that God is punishing America for its acceptance of homosexuality. While it's not uncommon in mainstream US Christianity to state that God is punishing America for its acceptance of homosexuality, most Christians and Baptists have denounced the group for its extreme tactics and rhetoric.

As far as the statement here goes "These people distort scripture" is a good starting point for an argument. But, it's hard to find it convincing when not a single example of how is provided.

"You're in good hands here" is seems to be a case of denying the antecedent . WBC is bad, we are not WBC, therefore we are not bad. The fact that no one in your church is protesting funerals doesn't inherently mean that they don't have other problems.

The statement you provided can be analyzed for logical fallacies, cognitive biases, and poor reasoning. Let's break it down:

1. **Ad Hominem Fallacy**: The statement "Those people distort scripture" attacks the character and credibility of Woodsboro Baptist Church rather than addressing any specific theological points or practices. This diverts the discussion from the actual comparison of doctrines or practices to a personal attack.

2. **Appeal to Reassurance**: The phrase "Hey, rest assured, we are nothing like those people" is an attempt at reassuring the listener without providing concrete evidence or reasons. It appeals to the listener's emotions and trust rather than providing logical arguments or factual information for the comparison.

3. **Lack of Evidence**: The statement does not provide any specifics about what the Baptist church in question believes or how it practices its faith differently from Woodsboro Baptist Church. A proper comparative analysis would include detailed information about both churches' doctrines, values, and behaviors.

4. **Cognitive Bias - Bandwagon Effect**: The reassurance "Kris, you're in good hands here" assumes that Kris will automatically trust the speaker without needing further evidence. It leverages the trust and authority of the speaker to persuade Kris, which can lead to biased thinking and acceptance without critical examination.

5. **Generalization**: The blanket statement "Those people distort scripture" is an overgeneralization. It does not specify how they distort scripture or in what context. It's a broad and subjective claim that lacks nuance and detail.

6. **False Equivalence**: Implicitly, the statement may suggest that because Woodsboro Baptist Church is considered by some as distorting scripture, any other Baptist church claiming not to do so is by default better or correct. This simplifies a complex issue and avoids addressing the unique context and practices of the church in question.

In summary, the statement is manipulative because it employs ad hominem attacks, appeals to reassurance, lacks detailed evidence, leverages cognitive biases, generalizes without support, and implies a false equivalence. These tactics aim to persuade Kris without providing a logical, evidence-based, and thorough comparison between the two churches.