May 21, 2011 is ...

[IDrinkaRum]

...the end of the world! (http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/03/christian-group-says-apocalypse-coming-on-may-21-2011/?icid=main%7Caim%7Cdl1%7Csec3_lnk1%7C193365)

At least according to Family Radio Worldwide, which is a loosely grouped Christian ministry lead a gentleman named Harold Camping who has based his date and calculations on the Bible itself.

There will be the Rapture, on May 21, 2011, where the chosen will be taken to Heaven and the rest of those left on Earth will be tormented until the end of times which will happen sometime in October, 2011.

At least one person who is a follower of Mr. Camping is driving around the country with her car engraved with the End of Times message getting it out there for people to repent and get ready for May, 2011.

[Teysa]

Back when I was in junior high, everyone knew the rapture would happen in 1986.Then, I think it was 1988. Don't these people remember that the Bible states quite clearly that no one knows the day or hour; that it will happen unexpectedly, when people aren't prepared for it? When May 11 passes, they'll say that they miscalculated somehow and it's actually September 27, 2013.

[Ghel]

No matter what happens, they won't accept that they were wrong.

"If May 21 passes and I'm still here, that means I wasn't saved. Does that mean God's word is inaccurate or untrue? Not at all," Warden said.
So they believe in predestination - that God has already decided who's going to be "saved," and nothing anyone does can change that. Then what's the point telling anybody when the end of the world will be? What good is a warning (even if true) if you can't do anything to prepare for it?

Past predictions that failed to come true don't have any bearing on the current calculation, believers maintain.

"It would be like telling the Wright brothers that every other attempt to fly has failed, so you shouldn't even try," said Chris McCann, who works with eBible Fellowship, one of the groups spreading the message.
This board really needs the :rofl: smilie. Because decoding a code in the Bible, which may or may not actually be there, is so much like running tests in a wind tunnel, calculating the best power to weight ratio, and experimenting to find the best wing design. Not to mention that powered flight is desirable, while the end of the world is not.

[JustaCashier]

May 21, 2011 is ...
...the end of the world!



Pure. Unadulterated. Bullshit. :rolleyes:




Everybody knows that December 21, 2012 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_21,_2012) is the end of the world! :p


Mike

[Andara Bledin]

So... are they reading the original writings?

Or are they reading multiply-transcripted and translated versions?

Circle of life, people. There is no end that is not also a beginning.

^-.-^

[Ghel]

Circle of life, people. There is no end that is not also a beginning.
Assuming, for the moment, that god-claims are true, what if it is the end of God's experiment? He destroys the Earth and all life on it, then starts over with some other planet in some other solar system. Or maybe he destroys all humans and lets the snapping turtles evolve into the next technology-possessing, Earth-subduing species. It might be a new beginning, but it would be the end for humans.

[Rageaholic]

And here we see the dark side of religion folks. This ia fear mongering, plain and simple. There is no way to know when the end of the world will come. Though I give them credit for at least trying, unlike the majority of the rapture crowd who live in fear of a ticking time bomb that may never go off.

Pure. Unadulterated. Bullshit. :rolleyes:




Everybody knows that December 21, 2012 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_21,_2012) is the end of the world! :p


Mike

Yeah, I'm surprised not many rapture people came to that conclusion. I'm very very skeptical about end of the world theories, but if I had to pick a day where I believed it would happen, that would be the day.

[blas87]

Not every Christian is obsessed with Rapture or the next time that God is going to "destroy" humans.

I take what happened with the arc to mean more. God realized the mistake he made trying to get rid of everything he created, and promised to not do it again.

Of course, everyone is open to interpret the Bible and all the various parts of it and their meanings their own way (for instance, gay bashers reference the "A man shall not lay with a man", where I reference John 3:16 for my opinion on that matter).

[HYHYBT]

Not to mention that powered flight is desirable, while the end of the world is not.Well... THAT, at least, has nothing to do with it, as they're not trying to cause the end of the world, but only to guess when it will be. That it will end sometime we know already.

I'm going to predict that the world will end on August 15th, 5672123774. Or at least, what would be then if our current calendar could continue that far.

[IDrinkaRum]

As a Catholic, I am supposed to believe in the Rapture.

But really ... No one knows when it's supposed to happen.

That's the beauty of keeping the masses in line: Tell them they have to be good because at any minute people will be taken up to Heaven and the rest of the people will be tormented until God decides to end their suffering too by destorying the earth.

Kinda goes against the whole "the rainbow is a sign that God will not going to such extremes to destory the world" thing. But that's just me.

Be good because you love your God and want to set an example. Not so you can be the "few chosen" to get to Heaven first.

[blas87]

Come to think of it, Rum, this would be a great topic to bring up to my Mom to see what she thinks. I'll get back to you guys with her take tomorrow.

[Hyena Dandy]

I don't think Catholics are supposed to believe in the rapture. At least not in the same way that the pre-millenial dispensationalists do.

But as for putting a date on the end of the world.

Well, put it this way. They weren't right before. DOn't see why they'd be right again.

[Teysa]

My mom's perspective on this might be interesting too. I'll have to ask her next time I talk to her.

[Hyena Dandy]

I was talking about this sort of thing with my parents lately. Considering how many times Jesus was "SURELY" going to return... The guy's pretty crap at keeping appointments. You'd think he'd be better, son of god and all.

[Gravekeeper]

I was talking about this sort of thing with my parents lately. Considering how many times Jesus was "SURELY" going to return... The guy's pretty crap at keeping appointments. You'd think he'd be better, son of god and all.

Not like you'd know it if he did anyway. I mean a brown liberal activist hippy? He'd be run out of town in a matter of hours down in any Christian Nation(tm) area. >.>

[ZedOmega]

Not like you'd know it if he did anyway. I mean a brown liberal activist hippy? He'd be run out of town in a matter of hours down in any Christian Nation(tm) area. >.>

You think that's bad? Think about this for a second: Jesus tore a market apart because it was based in a temple. Vatican City has a gift shop. It'd be one hell of a news report...

Honestly, I don't buy into any of this doomsday stuff anyway. People have been saying that the world will end for centuries now and humans are still around, so why should I worry about it?

[Ipecac Drano]

Maybe another religion will arise if this rapture doesn't happen. The Seventh-day Adventists got their start as the result of such a failed prediction.

[blas87]

How do you know Jesus would return as a "brown" hippy, or that it would offend Christians in general if he did return that way?

[Talon]

How do you know Jesus would return as a "brown" hippy?

Because Bethlehem is located closer to North Africa than Greece. The supposed Jesus of Nazreth was also an advocate for the poor, which would make him a "hippy". Though not in the eyes of the majority of christians, just the ones with the mega-churches and mega-mouthpieces.

...or that it would offend Christians in general if he did return that way?

Again only the ones with the obnoxious loud mouths would be offended.

[Hyena Dandy]

I'm curious as to whether or not He's supposed to return in the same appearance as original. I've always sort of felt (Without any input from an outside source) that He would appear (and speak) however the person talking to Him expects.

I do still expect Him to be fairly in favor of helping the poor, regardless of age, sex, preference, race, or even religion. That was sort of His schtick. Compassion and forgiveness. And anyone who disagrees probably hasn't payed much attention to His teachings.

[wraiths_crono]

This is mostly satire, but I did hear my radio station talking about this report, in honor of this they are going to hold a "hand on the car" contest with 3 people of religions that will be saved, and 1 Pagan.. just to see.

[Hyena Dandy]

Although the issue of the Vatican City having a gift shop was raised, it struck me (although I may be wrong) that the story was that Jesus didn't want you moneychanging in the temple. But (although I could be wrong) I was under the impression the Vatican is a special administrative district within Rome, not one full cathedral.

[Skunkle]

Hyena, I like your idea - but I also kind of wonder if He would appear as something not only underwhelming, but something the average modern rich Christian would scoff at. Something like the "brown hippy" mentioned above. Chances are high that Jesus had at least an Arabic look if not darker skin and probably darker hair, and yet most illustrations we see show him as having light brown hair and being very caucasian - I think these are mostly European depictions that give him a European look to make him seem "familiar" i.e. "like us" ("us" being European people), but I'm not certain. Incidentally, Hyena, one furry comic strip, Kevin and Kell (used to be funny but kind of turned into nonstop computer jokes) did a little "birth of Jesus" storyline, and had Jesus depicted as the same species as whoever is observing Him. I like that idea, since we're supposedly created in God's image and all have the same facial layout, yet details are all extremely different and individual; the question of course being, "Okay, we look like God, so which one of us does God look like?" Not that God MUST have a physical form - I definitely don't imagine Him as a white guy with a beard - but Jesus had a physical form, and could again, and God likely could hold a visible form of some sort.

My only (minor) fear is that eventually, someone(s) is going to decide quite firmly that <date> is the second coming, the "end of the world". So what? Happened before. My fear is that they'll (1) decide that they are God's chosen catalyst, and that they themselves must bring about this end, and (2) said person just happens to have a proverbial 'finger on the button'. Cue guy blowing up some or other country(s) because they believe the Big Ending HAS to happen, and won't unless they the chosen make darned sure it happens on the 'right' date.

Anyone know the details on the "Mayan calendar ends in 2012" thing? Another person I spoke with claimed that not only does it not END, it simply starts over again - but that, further, the Mayan calendar has started over from 1 at another point in the world's history. Any knowledge on this, anyone?

I always figured the true coming would either be very sudden with the sky turning red and thundering and the earth shaking, or (also suddenly) by a man appearing on the news, claiming to be the Son of God, and doing honest-to-God miracles that are soon found to be unable to be debunked by the skeptics. My opinion leans toward the latter - I admit I'm not well-red in the Bible at all, but I don't remember anything about the second coming being a big boom where thunder and fire rain down and the earth and everyone in it are destroyed in one big cataclysm, which is the way it seems to be spoken of by some people - like one day God is just going to slam his fist on the big red button and Earth goes kaboom.

[AdminAssistant]

Anyone know the details on the "Mayan calendar ends in 2012" thing? Another person I spoke with claimed that not only does it not END, it simply starts over again - but that, further, the Mayan calendar has started over from 1 at another point in the world's history. Any knowledge on this, anyone?

That's my understanding. Honestly, with the Mayan calendar thing, I think the History Channel is just desperate for programming.

[Andara Bledin]

Anyone know the details on the "Mayan calendar ends in 2012" thing?
I've been vaguely interested in this for years, being an old-time Shadowrun fan. And I just read something new about it that I hadn't heard before.

We're currently nearing the end of the "fifth world" or the 5th turn of the Mayan long calendar. The current calendar was based on historical information the Mayans had about the previous calendars and it appears that they always just end, leaving the beginning and charting of the new world up to the people who are there.

Somebody thinks that the fact that the current calendar ends instead of rolling over to be an ominous sign. But from the same article it mentions that the current one was created after it started, too, so I don't see how this is materially different.

I make no claims as to the accuracy of any of this, as I haven't even tried to verify it. I just find the whole concept intriguing.

^-.-^

[Hyena Dandy]

Hyena, I like your idea - but I also kind of wonder if He would appear as something not only underwhelming, but something the average modern rich Christian would scoff at. Something like the "brown hippy" mentioned above. Chances are high that Jesus had at least an Arabic look if not darker skin and probably darker hair, and yet most illustrations we see show him as having light brown hair and being very caucasian - I think these are mostly European depictions that give him a European look to make him seem "familiar" i.e. "like us" ("us" being European people), but I'm not certain. Incidentally, Hyena, one furry comic strip, Kevin and Kell (used to be funny but kind of turned into nonstop computer jokes) did a little "birth of Jesus" storyline, and had Jesus depicted as the same species as whoever is observing Him. I like that idea, since we're supposedly created in God's image and all have the same facial layout, yet details are all extremely different and individual; the question of course being, "Okay, we look like God, so which one of us does God look like?" Not that God MUST have a physical form - I definitely don't imagine Him as a white guy with a beard - but Jesus had a physical form, and could again, and God likely could hold a visible form of some sort.


I don't know how I'd imagine Jesus looking. Probably like the depictions I see in European artwork, but I know that would be not the most accurate.

I honestly doubt Jesus would appear in a way that would offend the ultra-conservative evangelical types, simply because I believe He wouldn't want to go out of His way to offend anyone. I don't think His appearance would offend them. But I think His teachings might.

BTDubs, Skunkle, have you ever checked out Slacktivist.org? Its a very interesting website by a liberal evangelical (turns out they DO exist! =O)

[Ipecac Drano]

Anyone know the details on the "Mayan calendar ends in 2012" thing? Another person I spoke with claimed that not only does it not END, it simply starts over again - but that, further, the Mayan calendar has started over from 1 at another point in the world's history. Any knowledge on this, anyone?
I've never heard of it starting over. AFAIK, it just ends at that date. Plus, if it were to start over "from one at another point in the world's history" and not right after where the previous ended, it would be a woefully inaccurate calendar. That would be like you taking down a wall calendar that ends on 31 December of one year, but the calendar for the next year starts on 26 March.

[Skunkle]

Not to derail the topic, but I read one single post by the guy at Slacktivist, and I'm on. Thanks for the link, Hyena. My opinion of you based on your opinions and writings here and at Customers Suck, already high, just went up a few more notches. Gay Christian furry high five! Heheh...

Seems from what I see here and am reading, the Mayan calendar purports to show that there are multiple, completely different worlds that have happened; that one runs its course, ends, and another begins. What I meant by "starting at one" was that our calendar goes up to 365 days per year, and starts over again at day one - it isn't recorded as "day one" date-wise, but the cycle consisting of (approximately) 365 days repeats. The bits I had heard (which are increasingly sounding like BS) hinted that the Mayan calendar had only so many years, and at a certain point it would hit the end of the cycle and figuratively if not literally begin again at the start, going in a gigantic repeating loop. The person who told me this claimed "...and it has started its cycle over at the beginning before in the earth's history, and the world didn't end then, either"

Either way, there have indeed been predictions by groups large and small over the centuries about when, exactly, the world is going to end. Therein lies my other question: The claim is that the Bible fortells the end times as having lots and lots of problems, disasters and plagues and whatnot. Are we REALLY having more than we're used to? At times, it seems like it...and yet in the past we've had huge earthquakes, at least one if not more than one massive economic depression or collapse, famine, fires that destroyed large cities (London, Chicago etc.), volcanos covering cities (Pompeii and loads of towns and villages in tropical zones) and of course the great plagues of the medieval era. At the same time, people are calling Obama the antichrist? Really, people?

Not to get into a whole 'nother discussion, but... By my estimation, a good half the people who really despise Obama do so only because he's a Democrat, and a good other half don't like him because he's black. I could be wrong. I think these zones overlap. Anyway, he doesn't seem to me to be working heavily towards the "one world government" supposedly prophesized (is that really hinted at in the Bible at all, one world-over organization ruling all?) any more than Bush or Clinton did... And Bush was the one who happily and eagerly suggested we'd be locked in an "endless war" (as much as I think he meant the 'war on terror' in general, I wouldn't have been surprised if he suddenly said he did mean military combat forever).

[IDrinkaRum]

Re: What Jesus will look like when he returns.

Will he really return as a Jew? He's not coming back to take the Jews to Heaven. The Jews aren't the ones who are waiting with bated breath for him to return. (The Messiah hasn't even come to Earth for the Jews).

This means, more than likely, Jesus will return as a Christian and therefore will either be white or black or hispanic. Not Jewish.

At least in my own little world. :D

[Ipecac Drano]

He is Hispanic (http://articles.cnn.com/2007-02-16/us/miami.preacher_1_cult-leader-followers-tattoo?_s=PM:US).

[Skunkle]

Quote: "Followers have protested Christian churches in Miami and Latin America, disrupting services and smashing crosses and statues of Jesus.De Jesus preaches there is no devil and no sin. His followers, he says, literally can do no wrong in God's eyes."

I don't believe this guy is Jesus. I have a feeling (again, I could be wrong) that when Jesus does return, people will really know. And I don't personally believe in the Calvinist creed that the offer of salvation is open only to the chosen few. Smashing statues and crosses? Well, I can see Jesus possibly not really approving, maybe. Smashing, no. But it seems, with his 666 tattoo, he's claiming he is BOTH Jesus AND the antichrist. Quote Wiki: In early 2007 he acknowledged others' claims that he was the Antichrist and explained that the term is true. It applies because people are no longer to follow the "Jewish teachings" of Jesus of Nazareth, but rather to follow the Apostle Paul's teachings through de Jesús. According to de Jesús, "Antichrist" means "no longer following Jesus of Nazareth as he lived in the days of his flesh". Also says he used to be with the Southern Baptists! *shudder* Wiki has a long list of people who've claimed to be the second coming of Jesus...

I just figure that He'll ruffle the feathers of some people - and some pastors and evangelists - who preach/follow this "wealth faith" thing. Which TV evangelist is it, again, who preaches that God wants us to be extremely wealthy money- and goods-wise?

A fine example of one of that sort of empire, fallen, is the remains of Heritage USA, the theme park complex in Fort Mill, South Carolina started by the Bakkers. Parts of it are now once again in use or being fixed up, but as far as I know the water park and the never-completed hotel highrise (the Bakkers were selling coming vacations in rooms in this when it was still mostly bare concrete) are still abandoned - and totally worth exploring. There's a great website with extensive photos of Heritage USA, including an amazing shot of what may have been the Bakkers' dressing room complete with a little crystal chandelier!

[Gravekeeper]

This world is not going to end in any sort of glorious finale. Our civilization will simply fizzle out like a bad fart ( either before or after we escape to other worlds ). Then the Earth will laugh, reclaim the planet and the next lot will one day emerge from the ooze.

As for Jesus, he's not coming back. Or more precisely, he's probably been back over and over and over. Just not as Jesus(tm). I am in the 100% dissapproving skeptic category for any and all supposed epic religious supernatural events. Not happening, sorry. 2012 will roll around and go by just like 2000 and 2001. Our previous END OF ALL THINGS dates.


(also suddenly) by a man appearing on the news, claiming to be the Son of God, and doing honest-to-God miracles that are soon found to be unable to be debunked by the skeptics.

Ironically, this is how the False Prophet/"Antichrist" is suppose to appear. >.>

[AdminAssistant]

This means, more than likely, Jesus will return as a Christian and therefore will either be white or black or hispanic. Not Jewish

But he retains his previous "earth form" then he would still be "Arabic" (for lack of a better description), and there *are* Arabic Christians. Just not very many because that kind of thing tends to get you blown up over there.

Besides, don't all the Jews get taken up in the Rapture as well? Or...something like that? It's been a while since I've read up on that, but I'm pretty sure that "God's chosen people" don't get left behind.

[Skunkle]

I'm honestly unclear... which is why I take most written and spoken accounts with a grain of salt. Every group seems to be THE CHOSEN ONES. "Come along... You belong..." (big points if you can add to that quote - I figure Hyena will get it for sure)

Assuming for the sake of conversation that Jesus IS coming back once and for all, and that there will be an "antichrist", I would assume that the antichrist would do the big miracles like getting you a car, or a big house, or something... "You ain't got no money, he'll get you some. You ain't got no car, he'll get you one. He'll reach deep into the hole, heal your shrinkin' soul..." etc. etc. (where my set of chimes? I need it) I figure if Jesus came back, He'd pal around in the sluns, preach to the street people whose rough life has convinced them that God forgot about them, help the crippled... The serious but subtle miracles. The caring stuff the wealthy televangelists don't seem to do much of, the "God loves everyone" creed. He'll show His divine nature more by example than by big, shining, special-effects-laden stuff. Yes, I think He'd do miracles, but not the big blowsy stuff we usually think of.

[Hyena Dandy]

Ironically, this is how the False Prophet/"Antichrist" is suppose to appear. >.>

The word Antichrist only appears once in the Bible, and there it appears as the plural. This whole Antichrist paranoia has nothing to do with what's written in the bible.

[tabbyblack13]

I was talking to my mom about this and her question was

"What if it doesn't happen and the next day there is a birthday or anniversary? Do you just tell the person 'Sorry but I thought the world was going to end yesterday so I didn't get you anything.'?"

When I told her that some people believe that the end of the world is May 21,2011 her comment was "I can't wait for spring"

My mom doesn't really believe in the end of world/doomsday attitude. I think this is because she has dealt with a few of them before. Between all of the "Calculations" (I use the term loosely), "predictions" (another term used loosely), and calenders there is a lot of disbelief. Even if there was a really day that God would destroy the and it was found out it get buried under the hype and disbelief of everything else.

Also the date December 21, 2010 might be wrong too. (http://news.discovery.com/space/the-2012-mayan-calendar-doomsday-date-might-be-wrong.html)

[blas87]

My mom doesn't believe that May 21, 2011 will be Rapture.

And that's about all she said.

[Cat]

How much you wanna bet people will tie in all these animal deaths* with "end of the world" prophesies?

Personaly, I don't believe any of these predictions, and hope no one goes crazy because of them....remember the Hale-Bobb comet?










*last ones I heard about were fish in Maryland and crabs in the UK....crazy.

[Skunkle]

What DOES the Bible say about the Rapture, anyway? I see the "Come the Rapture, can I have your car?" bumper stickers, and it's spoken of as though, if/when it happens, people will just *blink* vanish, appearing somewhere else (in Heaven? At Judgment?), though it never seems to be stated what is imagined will occur with those remaining here. I've seen bits and pieces about the "Left Behind" books and I assume the idea is that believers will ascent to Judgment while nonbelievers stay here.

Yeah, I'm Christian and I don't know the Bible well at all... I only decided to convert about 2002, and I don't really own a Bible; my parents have the old family one, which I'd be a bit afraid to crack open and handle. I've browsed through a few Gideon Bibles in hotel rooms, but I usually just found the text confusing to try to 'follow', even if I do understand the sort of speech used. It feel a bit like opening the paper on any given day and saying, "I'm going to begin reading..." <insert one> Apartment 3G, Prince Valiant, Alley Oop, etc. and trying to pick up from a mid-point. Though starting at the beginning of any chapter seems equally confusing. *shrug* Maybe I'm just a bit dense. It's a possibility.

[Dreamstalker]

"According to my source, the end of the world will be on February 14th in the year 2016."
"Valentine's Day. Bummer."

I remember those "Rapture" posters all over the place. Wasn't there also supposed to be one in 1996?

[Ghel]

"According to my source, the end of the world will be on February 14th in the year 2016."
"Valentine's Day. Bummer."
So your alien had a room at the Holiday Inn, Paramus.

[HYHYBT]

Hmmm.... we know that nobody knows the day.... seems, then, the thing to do would be to get as many people as possible to name when they think it will be to narrow things down, because it *won't* be on any of those days :)

[Lachrymose]

"Come along... You belong..." (big points if you can add to that quote - I figure Hyena will get it for sure)



Feel the fizz of Coocoo Cola!

I remember that like it was yesterday. :)

[Gravekeeper]

The word Antichrist only appears once in the Bible, and there it appears as the plural. This whole Antichrist paranoia has nothing to do with what's written in the bible.

Hence the quotation marks, and its mentioned more than once, just not as a title. The False Prophet / Beast on the other hand is mentioned extensively in the crack trip section, but those are less well known than OMFG ANTICHRIST, hence I mention it. -.-

[Skunkle]

Lachrymose got it. Cults aren't just confined to wacky nether-religions - there's plenty of Christian cultism out there, too, big and small. Any faith tells me "amass all the wealth you can" OR "give all your wealth to the leader" and I'm on guard.

What signs are said to point to the False Prophet? I still say most of the people calling Obama the antichrist are, deep down inside, only frightened because he's black. And we all know those blacks will beat you six ways from Sunday and steal yo shit *roll eyes* I really do think that's what a fair number of the anti-Obama factions are afraid of - that he's "like all the blacks" (they mean "gangstas"). The 'redistribution of wealth' crap, I think, cemented the idea that, OMG, he's trying to take away all my wealth and give it to the moochers!!

...not that I actually believe that, which I don't, but would it really destroy you to make 2.8billion this year instead of 2.9billion?

[Boozy]

But he retains his previous "earth form" then he would still be "Arabic" (for lack of a better description), and there *are* Arabic Christians. Just not very many because that kind of thing tends to get you blown up over there.

There are more Arabic Christians in the world than Jews, if you can believe it.

I'll see if I can dig up some numbers.

[Ginger Tea]

I tried reading one end of days pdf, I gave up, not cos it was hogwash etc, but I just couldn't read a pdf on my pc without getting in the right position whcih got uncomfy real quick.

But in it he explained the existance of dinosaurs even though they are omited in the bible etc. When Lucifer fell and the angel wars happened, god 'nuked' the earth, that at the time was inhabited by whichever was the last period of the dinosaurs. So it was god not an asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs, but we all know Adrik did that crashing a ship into earth.

Edit:
as meantioned once in this thread, has any doomsayer linked the as yet unknown deaths of hundreds of birds and fish over the last week or so?
are people going to start checking for near miss asteroids more often, as although the 'true believers' will be saved, the remaining will have to wait out however long we have left.

[Gravekeeper]

What signs are said to point to the False Prophet?

Think "Celebrity Jesus". He's suppose to show up claiming to be God Boy Wonder and perform miracles on live TV while rolling in your adoration. But you won't know he's not Jesus until the world ends and Jesus arrives and goes "Dude, that is SO not me. You twits.".

Though I may be paraphrasing a little. -.-



But in it he explained the existance of dinosaurs even though they are omited in the bible etc. When Lucifer fell and the angel wars happened, god 'nuked' the earth, that at the time was inhabited by whichever was the last period of the dinosaurs. So it was god not an asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs, but we all know Adrik did that crashing a ship into earth.


I think fossil/dinosaur explainations are some of my favourite parts of the loony fringe ranting. Jesus totally rode dinosaurs.

And yeah, I'm waiting for the End Of The World(tm) froth to really get going in relation to to the bird/fish deaths. Nevermind that such events are actually fairly common. The media just doesn't usually mention it or link them all together into a doomsday scenario.

[Ginger Tea]

Scientists found an oceanic event that would have mirrored the parting of the Red Sea for Moses and they have found reasons for other animal misteries before

"the day it rained frogs/fish"
yes its odd to find the sky dropping frogs or fish onto you, but you then find out there was a Tornado near by that just sucked them all up at one point and dropped them when it ran out of juice. And there may have been multiple bird deaths before, but as weve had 4 or 5 incidents within a fortnight, it is odd, biblical event or no.

[Gravekeeper]

Scientists found an oceanic event that would have mirrored the parting of the Red Sea for Moses and they have found reasons for other animal misteries before

<snip>
but as weve had 4 or 5 incidents within a fortnight, it is odd, biblical event or no.

Fossils are not an animal mystery though.

Do not mistake coincidence for paranormal. Having 4 or 5 incidents within a fortnight is inevitable when they're a common event in begin wth. It's unlikely, but in any system that exists long enough it will eventually occur through chance. It is mathematically inevitable really.

Besides, its not that this hasn't happened before, its more likely this is the first time we've noticed.

[Ginger Tea]

I'm not mistaking coincidence for paranormal, I thought I worded it to say I found it 'Odd' and odd alone, I just added on the biblical event or no, as sooner or later some nut job is going to add dead birds + dead fish + this date = OMGWTFBBQelebenty

I wasn't questioning fossils, but other animal misteries like the ones we have at the moment, but now solved eg raining frogs, until solved, this current crop are misteries, a few coinciding misteries non the less.

I've never really worried about any reported incidents in the past, probably never got past the headline if I even knew it was there to read. I'm just noting without researching the phenomenom, of 4 or 5 incidents in a short time frame (and how someone somewhere could go 2+2=5)

[BigGiant]

animal misteries like the ones we have at the moment

Google "The Summer of the Shark".

News is slow right now. The fish and bird stuff isn't really all that unusual. The only unusual part is the media coverage.

[Hyena Dandy]

Do not mistake coincidence for paranormal.

Unless I am mistaken, s/he wasn't. I don't think odd means paranormal. I believe in the paranormal, but I don't attribute every strange event to it.

[Andara Bledin]

It's like violent crime and school crime. Both stats have actually gone down, but reporting has become so pervasive, that people think they've gone up.

^-.-^

[Gravekeeper]

Google "The Summer of the Shark".

News is slow right now. The fish and bird stuff isn't really all that unusual. The only unusual part is the media coverage.

Yes, look at the US media's "Century of the Pedophile" coverage for lack of a better name. Which doesn't kick into gear unless its a little white girl. In which case by god you're going to hear about it for the next 6 months until they have you convinced every other person you see on the street is out to rape your children. Despite the fact it was one little girl out of 311 million people.

Its not that it happens more often, we just hear about it more now.

[McDreidel09]

Think "Celebrity Jesus". He's suppose to show up claiming to be God Boy Wonder and perform miracles on live TV while rolling in your adoration. But you won't know he's not Jesus until the world ends and Jesus arrives and goes "Dude, that is SO not me. You twits.".

Though I may be paraphrasing a little. -.-

That would be the Whore of Babylon...I think.

[Hyena Dandy]

Think "Celebrity Jesus". He's suppose to show up claiming to be God Boy Wonder and perform miracles on live TV while rolling in your adoration.

Could you tell me what part of the Bible this is from? Because I don't quite recognize it, but maybe you could illuminate me.

[Gravekeeper]

That would be the Whore of Babylon...I think.

I think she's mainly just drunk and horny. Which is somewhat un-Jesus like. -.-

[Skunkle]

Hyena, what *does* the Bible say about the "end times", really? Can you paraphrase a bit?

[Mytical]

I think I can, though I admit it has been awhile.

There are seven seals, and seven trumpets. Each seal causes bad things to happen, and so does the trumpets.

I don't remember the exact order of things (sorry), but things like famine, pestilence, etc. There will be wars and rumors of wars, brother will be against brother, stuff like that.

As for the 'anti-christ' .. the bible never actually says 'the anti-christ'. There will come a 'beast' in the guise of man who looks like a lamb, but speaks like a dragon (ie he will look somewhat like christ, but speak like satan). He will perform miracles, he will also at first be a peace maker.

He will basically fool everybody. He won't be alone however. There is mention of a seven headed beast, alluding to the fact (i believe) that 7 world leaders will be in league with the 'anti-christ'. Eventually it will get so that money is practically worthless, and the only way to trade is if you bear his/her mark. Some believe this mark to be 666. Me..not so sure about that.

This will supposedly cover 7 years. 3 1/2 of which will be a sort of 'golden age' as the beast fools everybody and does all sort of great things. Then comes the 'tribulations' lasting 3 1/2 years where he rules with an iron fist. Finally he will gather up an army, and head to fight god. He will lose. People think this is the end of the world..but that is not what I read. Supposedly Satan and the Beast get locked away 1000 years, get back out, fight again. Lose again..and get thrown into the pit of fire for good

At first it doesn't matter, nobody will know or recognize the beast. Once he reveals him/herself it will be too late. Or that is what I got from what I read. I am not perfect, and could be wrong :D

Edit : One thing to consider .. if I remember correctly .. it mentions birds falling from the air for no reason..and fish dying for no reason. I can link news reports of both happening recently. Interesting no?

Edit 2 : What is more interesting is the fact that the deaths will most likely be dismissed and/or ignored. See, the signs are supposed to happen and people ignore them. Now..is the end coming? I am not saying that is the case. In fact I do not follow Christianity (anymore). There have been 'signs' since people knew what the 'signs' were.

[Gerrinson]

Don't these people remember that the Bible states quite clearly that no one knows the day or hour; that it will happen unexpectedly, when people aren't prepared for it?

So, really, perhaps they are all conspiring to save the world by predicting God's dates and forcing him to keep pushing back the timeline until He can catch them offguard? :p

I have no actual input as I think it's a bunch of crap. Armageddon (per the Bible) was supposed to have taken place during the lifetime of the apostles. Along with the return of Jesus. So, either we all missed it a long, long time ago. Or the whole thing is just a bunch of sensationalist "scare 'em into agreeing with us" BS.

[Gravekeeper]

Hyena summed it up nicely. You've got the Beast, the False Prophet and the Whore of Babylon.

Revelations is an amazing trip. Someone had some good shit when they were writing it.

[HYHYBT]

See, the signs are supposed to happen and people ignore them.It's not exactly that people ignore them; more that the "signs" are all things that happen all the time, and have been throughout history. Wars and rumors of wars? When is there *not* at least one war going on someplace and the threat elsewhere? No help at all.

[Mytical]

True, but there are a few that could be seen as signs that don't happen every day. Like the mysterious deaths of birds (falling from the sky) and fish lately *shrugs*. That is not a common every day thing. Of course there is a explanation for it, but just seems a bit..odd :p.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-427997/Dead-birds-rain-towns-half-world-apart.html

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/7805629-similar-unexplained-fish-deaths-massproduced-worldwide-in-brazil-and-new-zealand

[AdminAssistant]

The Arkansas fish die-offs are an annual thing, but this year was just in greater numbers. Honestly, it wouldn't have made the news if not for its proximity to Beebe, where the thousands of blackbirds fell, probably as a result of either fireworks or thunderstorms. The only result I heard was that their deaths were caused by "blunt force trauma." As Dad said, "Well, if a bird falls 50 feet from a tree to the asphalt, I bet it's gonna have some blunt force trauma."

[Mytical]

Posted some links, for what it is worth. Wish I could find that link that had the total number (and it apparently happened all over the world) of fish/birds that have 'fallen from the sky' all over the world.

[Mytical]

Just to make things a bit more confusing. I submit to you the 'water will turn to blood' :p. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30251177/ns/technology_and_science-science/

Sorry, can't resist. I will try to behave now.

[Gravekeeper]

Just to make things a bit more confusing. I submit to you the 'water will turn to blood' :p.

That's not confusing unless you already think Obama is the Antichrist. -.-

[Mytical]

Nah, so far he hasn't caused the blind to see..walked on water..or anything similar.

[Hyena Dandy]

But he has to be! The same way Bush and Clinton and Reagan had to be!

[draco664]

As for the 'anti-christ' .. the bible never actually says 'the anti-christ'.

It's been a while since I plowed my way through the bible, but I seem to recall that 'anti-Christ' *is* in fact in the bible (I can't recall which particular version, probably KJ), but it refers to everyone who rejects Christ's teachings. Essentially, every non-Christian (and Christians who don't follow his teachings) are anti-christ(s).

[Ipecac Drano]

It's been a while since I plowed my way through the bible, but I seem to recall that 'anti-Christ' *is* in fact in the bible (I can't recall which particular version, probably KJ), but it refers to everyone who rejects Christ's teachings. Essentially, every non-Christian (and Christians who don't follow his teachings) are anti-christ(s).
According to the NIV version, it appears in 1 John 2:18-22:
18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.[e] 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%202:18-22&version=NIV

It is also mentioned in 1 John 4:3:
3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%204:3&version=NIV

Also, it appears in 2 John 1:7:
7 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20john%201:7-1:7&version=NIV

[BigGiant]

Since the shooting in Arizona, I've yet to hear anything on the "mysterious" birds and fishies dying....

News was slow...not anymore.

[HYHYBT]

I heard something today about their being caused by the DADT repeal...

[Gravekeeper]

I heard something today about their being caused by the DADT repeal...

Yes, from a "respected prophet" <cough>. Who, I should note, has a ton of Youtube videos utterly full of crazy. Including trying to exorcise the "homosexual spirits" out of people and yelling at God to make AIDS go away.

[Mytical]

*groans and rolls eyes* Hmm maybe Christianity (and other religions) would do well with a disclaimer : Warning, may contain nuts.

Most Christians I know distance themselves from those people as far as possible.

[Ghel]

The crazies believe based on the Bible, the same as average Christians. In fact, the crazies tend to stick closer to their source material, so where does that put the average Christian?

[Gravekeeper]

The crazies believe based on the Bible, the same as average Christians.


I don't recall homosexual spirits in the Bible. <cough> Plus, the operative word here is crazy. It has fark all to do with being Christian. That was just the first book they were handed when they were young. Crazy is crazy, regardless of religion or politics, and is going to say or do something crazy. -.-



In fact, the crazies tend to stick closer to their source material, so where does that put the average Christian?

....in...a better more reasonable place as a decent human being?

[Ginger Tea]

OOOH OOOH OOOH floods on three different continents ELEBENTY

yeah yeah yeah if you know the signs you start seeing em everywhere :)

What gets me are the UK floods we had a spate of a few years ago, most would have been less catastrophic if land owners didn't build houses on wetlands and floodplanes, but never mind, insurance covers it and premiums go up ho hum.

[bunnyboy]

Not every Christian is obsessed with Rapture or the next time that God is going to "destroy" humans.

Hell the Rapture is something BRAND NEW in accepted Christian theology, I mean it's new in the sense that not much in theology came after it (the Fundamentals being one) but on a scale of major theological changes it's just below the Fundamentals (1800s) and The Apocalypse of St. John of Patmos AKA Revelations being an eschatological (end of the world) document (depending on church 1000s-1900s.)

Of course the reason it's so new is it has very little basis in scripture, mainly taking off of Electism (Calvinism and it's descendants) and boils down to reading literally the second most symbolic work in the entirety of the pan-Christian canon ( the first being Isaiah.)

Of course Millennialists conveniently ignore the whole I will come as a thief in the night quote.

[Teysa]

I finally had a chance to talk to my mom about this. Her opinion is that doomsday prophecies such as this need to be taken with an entire shaker of salt if not the entire mine. She also agreed with me on the whole what part of 'No one knows the day or the hour except the Father' don't you understand?

[Mytical]

Well, if people keep guessing..even a broken watch is right twice a day :p. Wait that doesn't work for digital does it?

[Dreamstalker]

Depends on if it's set for 12- or 24-hour time.

[Ladeeda]

This is gonna be the Great Disappointment all over again...

[Dreamstalker]

Oh good, more Rapture-nuts to make fun of downtown :D

[Mishi]

They've hired a billboard on one of our slighly busy roads and splashed their message over it. I'm surprised that it's actually made it over here (Australia). I wonder how many people will think they're serious versus the ones that will think that it's a viral marketing ploy for a new movie? Oh, and how long it will take before someone defaces it?

[derangedperson]

The more and more I've read about this, it's painfully clear that Camping just pulled the numbers out of his ass. Take a look at the Wikipedia page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_end_times_prediction

And here's another link advising people on how big of a nutcase this guy is:

http://www.gotquestions.org/Harold-Camping-family-radio.html

By the by, one of those billboards got put up along the highway I take to work every day. Every time I pass it, I roll my eyes and just go "whatever."

[Andara Bledin]

I've got one of those things up not far from my house, on my route home from work. I want to take a picture of it in the background while holding a paper from May 22 in front of it. Even better, the 22nd is a Sunday, so it'll be extra-large. :D

^-.-^

[Mishi]

The billboard near us was removed because it was deemed offensive! :lol:

[FArchivist]

Man, I'm going to be rubbing my hands with glee on that day.

So they believe in predestination - that God has already decided who's going to be "saved," and nothing anyone does can change that. Then what's the point telling anybody when the end of the world will be? What good is a warning (even if true) if you can't do anything to prepare for it?

Ding! Also, there's that whole 'free will' thing that predestination obliterates...frickin' Calvin.

This board really needs the :rofl: smilie. Because decoding a code in the Bible, which may or may not actually be there,

Make that "not there at all". Man, I totes love Bible woo. Bible woo is hilarious. (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Bible_code) In fact, the only thing more hilarious is BibleMan. (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/BibleMan)

As a Catholic, I am supposed to believe in the Rapture.

No, we're really supposed to not. Per the Church:

As Roman Catholics, we might ask, “Has the Church censured anything regarding the Rapture doctrine?” The answer would have to be yes.

As we have seen, the Rapture forms part of a particular millennial expectation based on a particular use of biblical texts. Yes, the Church has explicitly rejected both this kind of speculation and this way of interpreting the Scriptures.

The Council of Ephesus (431) denounced it as “a deviation and a fable.” It was denounced again in 1516 at the Fifth Lateran Council. In 1824, the work of Manuel Lacunza (noted above) was placed on the Index of Forbidden Books. In 1941 and 1944, responding to questions from the Archbishop of Santiago, Chile, the Congregation of the Holy Office (now the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) again rejected this kind of millennial speculation with explicit reference to the work of Lacunza. As recently as April 22, 1998, with the turn of the millennium approaching, Pope John Paul II warned again against this way of thinking.

In interpreting biblical texts, the Church has stressed that it is essential that we take account of their literary genres since truth is expressed differently in different types of writing (Vatican II: Dei Verbum #12; Catechism of the Catholic Church #110).

In its 1993 document, The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church, the Pontifical Biblical Commission both reaffirmed this (Section I-A) and rejected as inadequate the so-called “fundamentalist” interpretation at play in the Rapture doctrine and scenario (Section I-F).

As John Paul II expressed it on April 22, 1998, “We know that the apocalyptic images of the eschatological discourse about the end of all things should be interpreted in light of their intense symbolism.” It is not language that should be taken literally.

[Racket_Man]

slightly O/T cause I just realized"
that is 4 days before my B-day. DAMN I will not get to see 51. :lol::roll:

[Ginger Tea]

I forgot about this thread till today, but another on a tech forum popped up last week, I was going to post that maybe this was one of the many altered Skynet based Judgement days, but after a quick google, that was 21st of April not May.

[derangedperson]

Here's a link to a short essay I wrote about this whole thing:

http://derangedperson.deviantart.com/#/d3fdv2c

Enjoy.

[El Pollo Guerrera]

I heard a follower of this... branch of religion on the radio today, and he said that one of the signs of the coming Apocalypse is that the Anti-Christ will be revealed and seen in churches around the world. And then he said that all the signs have already happened.

So, who is the Anti-Christ? I must have missed it when it was mentioned on CNN.

[Rageaholic]

So... 15 more days till the end of the world. :popcorn:

[XCashier]

Here's a link to a short essay I wrote about this whole thing:

http://derangedperson.deviantart.com/#/d3fdv2c

Enjoy.
Excellent essay, thanks for posting that! Maybe send it to the editor of your local paper?

[bara]

May 21st. 2011 is...

the day after May 20th. 2011
the day before May 22nd, 2011


If I happen to be incorrect then people are free to make fun of me on May 23rd, 2011.

BUT... if the world is to end on May 22nd, what time. Are we going with Greenwich Standard? Or is the world going to end one time zone at a time? If thats the case can I avoid it by going to another time zone before the time zone im in ends?

These are the things that keep me up at night.

[Skunkle]

Ahh, Calvinism... I fully admit I am no scholar or expert on Christianity, but does Calvinism really boil down to the following? People are either born saved or born fallen, God chooses souls before birth. If you are saved, you will know it, and there is nothing you can do to fall. If you are fallen, there is nothing you can do to become saved. If so, seems like Westboro has expanded on this idea, to further say that the saved are righteous in vocally condemning the fallen.

I dunno, honestly... One of my family friends has done spirit channeling for years, not dead people but "spirit guides". I'm honestly not sure what I think about this, one way or another, but recently she/guide was asked, "What about 2012?", and was told that the guide could see nothing at all after 2012, but that this did not necessarily mean it was the end - rather, it could also be interpreted to mean, "We have to wait and see." These guides don't claim to see the future, normally just the present and past.

[Mr. Anubite]

So, May 21 is the day of my High School graduation. I'm now looking forward to it, as one of the three non-Christians in my class of 450. Graduation is going to take five minutes!

[mikoyan29]

If I remember correct and I wish I could find it now but apparently Revelations was more of a coded rant against the Romans than anything. He mentions places that are specific to the times and events that are similar to what was going on in the world at the time. Apparently, it was written while he was in some Roman prison and that prison had some good stuff.

[Crazedclerkthe2nd]

I am no expert theologian, but I believe there are two very common interpretations of Revelation by most Christians.

1) The events of Revelation are metaphoric and pertain to the Roman Empire and the Emperor Nero who was in power at the time the book was written. Nero is considered by some to be "The beast" mentioned in the writings.

2) Revelation is a prophecy whose events have not yet come to pass and it explains what's actually going to happen during the second coming of Christ.

Personally I've found Revelation to be a challenge. I think it's highly implausible (but not entirely impossible) that the events described could actually ever happen but it's so deep with metaphor and symbolism it's quite tricky to discern what St. John the Divine actually *meant* when he wrote it.

[protege]

Roughly 2 days and counting. Anyone planning on eating at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe?

[mikoyan29]

Shoot, guess I'll have to brush up on my Hal Linden. I seem to remember him putting Revalations in terms of things that are around now. For instance, the AH-1 Cobra looks kind of like a dragonfly spitting out fire. The 65 lb hailstones of fire could be cluster munitions. But then again, I think that is more of attempt to shoehorn a "prophecy" into modern terms. Kind of like Nostradamus.

[smileyeagle1021]

Roughly 2 days and counting. Anyone planning on eating at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe?

Well, it's going down at 6pm pacific time, so my plans for the day is to catch a matinee movie (can't risk the projectionist getting raptured mid movie, now can we), come home, wish my neighbors a safe trip, and call dibs on their stuff :devil:

[Rapscallion]

Well, it's going down at 6pm pacific time, so my plans for the day is to catch a matinee movie (can't risk the projectionist getting raptured mid movie, now can we), come home, wish my neighbors a safe trip, and call dibs on their stuff :devil:

Damn, wish I'd read this yesterday. I had a couple of mature ladies knock on my door and ask me to read a booklet they had about who made and owned the universe.

They made some sort of mention about a higher power and asked if I believed in such. I'd got off the exercise bike about three minutes prior and was dripping sweat, wearing shorts and an exercise top, and grinned. "No."

"Then who made and created the universe then?"

"Me, because I'm awesome."

I think they turned and left on the simple grounds that I'd given them a thrill and they wanted to deny their true natures.

Now, however, I realised they wanted to get everything into order for their catapult into the ether.

Rapscallion

[Gravekeeper]

I am no expert theologian, but I believe there are two very common interpretations of Revelation by most Christians.


Nero's name is equal to 666, in Hebrew anyway, and Revelations was written during his reign or immediately after it. In this interpretation it makes more sense as a big metaphor.

The second interpretation is the crack smoking one. If its not metaphorical, then its literally the writings of a dude alone on an island having "visions" <cough>. Aka he's the crazy dude outside of 7/11 with a sign.



Personally I've found Revelation to be a challenge. I think it's highly implausible (but not entirely impossible) that the events described could actually ever happen but it's so deep with metaphor and symbolism it's quite tricky to discern what St. John the Divine actually *meant* when he wrote it.

Considering what Revelations entails, I'm going with entirely impossible. Revelations technically spans 1000 years and two wars ( the intial armageddon where Satan is finally ass kicked into a pit, then another war 1000 years later when Satan comes back yet again with a new army. Only to get stomped again ).

It also specifically calls for an army of 200 million to kill almost 2.2 billion people ( an army of 200 million will slay "One third of the world's population" ). Which logistically speaking would be pretty damn impressive even with modern weaponry.

This is all, of course, assuming Revelations is intact in its original form and translation which, like many books in the Bible, is debatable and a point of contention amongst scholars.

[Ghel]

Roughly 2 days and counting. Anyone planning on eating at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe?

I'd love to have an "it's not the end of the world" party, but I didn't think of it soon enough to invite anyone.

Three more days until the backpedaling begins. :devil:

[Rapscallion]

I think you'll find loads of 'recalculation' instead of backpedalling.

Rapscallion

[Ghel]

It amounts to the same thing, since they won't admit that their basic premises were wrong: the world is not going to end any time soon and there's not going to be a Rapture.

[XCashier]

After the work week I've had, every time I see one of those billboards I say, "Bring it on!" :lol:

[Andara Bledin]

It's a shame the site doesn't mention what time. I was wondering whether the rapture is supposed to happen while I'm at the renaissance faire, or if it won't come until I'm at the furry barbecue...

Oh, and the world doesn't appear to actually end for 5 more months, in October, during which time all the sinners left behind get tormented or some crap.

^-.-^

[Mishi]

According to the interview with one of the local members, the earthquake is meant to start in Jerusalem around midnight their time. For me that's around 8am, 22/05/2011, since I'm in the GMT+10 zone.

Edited to add: Whoops, my mistake - here's an interview with Camping that says 6pm on the 21st. http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/05/a_conversation_with_harold_cam.html Following the sun though the timezones. Hmm, that's interesting... considering sunset today is going to be at 5:05pm. *Shrugs*

[Hyena Dandy]

I feel really, really sorry for the people who believe that its going to be the end of the world. One, its theologically unsound (the Bible does say nobody will know the day), and two, people are constantly living their lives believing this will be the end. When the day comes, and we all turn out okay, it'll hurt them, emotionally. In a way that really, nobody deserves.

[Gravekeeper]

I feel really, really sorry for the people who believe that its going to be the end of the world.

Can't say as I do, as believing it requires raging stupidity and/or willful blind ignorance. Considering this is the second time this old twit has predicted the end of the world ( Surprise surprise, last time he was wrong too ). No one's forcing them to believe this bullshit, so I can't say as I have much sympathy for them. They bring all of this upon themselves quite willingly, and with some actually enjoy the smugness of assuring themselves they'll be the "chosen ones."

[Nyoibo]

Well it's the 21st and the world hasn't ended.

[protege]

They bring all of this upon themselves quite willingly, and with some actually enjoy the smugness of assuring themselves they'll be the "chosen ones."

No sympathy from me either. They brought themselves into this mess. BTW, did anyone see in the article...that some of his fellow nutjobs even blew through their entire savings, and/or quit their jobs because of what this twit has said? Again, they brought it upon themselves.

[smileyeagle1021]

Well it's the 21st and the world hasn't ended.

but it's not 6pm pacific time on the 21st either :angel:

Though Hyena, biblicaly unsound as it is, they may just be right... there is always random chance (albeit small) that they are right (I think that odds are about the same as shuffling a deck and getting the cards perfectly in order, but hey, it is theoretically possible).

[Gravekeeper]

Though Hyena, biblicaly unsound as it is, they may just be right... there is always random chance (albeit small) that they are right (I think that odds are about the same as shuffling a deck and getting the cards perfectly in order, but hey, it is theoretically possible).

No, there is absolutely no chance they are right as them being right requires an astounding series of things be proven true in very short order. Ranging from God to the Rapture itself. The entire basis of this idiots calculations ( Which were wrong back in 1994 when he first declared the Rapture was suppose to happen ) is the Bible . In which he claims, Da Vinci Code style, has a hidden series of numbers in it that totally point to May 21st, 2011 ( Just ignore that he previously thought they pointed to 1994 but that came and went so he had to pull a new number out of his ass ).

This requires that the Bible, a collection of writings by several different people which in turn was compiled by several other different people ( Many of whom had reservations about even including Revelations and finally only included it because it sounded like a cool ending ), then translated several times over all the while being "tweaked" to support the views of several different groups somehow managed to land in his lap with some sort of intact message/code that points to May 21st.

I have a better chance of being right if I were too, right now, declare the end of the world as some random date pulled out of my ass. Because in my case I would give ample time for potential events to line up ( such as say massive asteroids or something ) and make no specific proclaimations about the exact method of our destruction.

[Greenday]

If we all die here in Afghanistan at 6pm, I'll make sure to get on Fratching first and let you all know so you can prepare.

[Rapscallion]

If we all die here in Afghanistan at 6pm, I'll make sure to get on Fratching first and let you all know so you can prepare.

Spoken like a true gentleman.

Rapscallion

[Gravekeeper]

Apparently this old bastard has gladly collected 80 million (http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/19/news/economy/may-21-end-of-the-world-finances-harold-camping/index.htm) in donation money from his flock. He's also so inspiring that 80% of his own staff still plan on showing up for work next week. >.>

[Hyena Dandy]

but it's not 6pm pacific time on the 21st either :angel:

Though Hyena, biblicaly unsound as it is, they may just be right... there is always random chance (albeit small) that they are right (I think that odds are about the same as shuffling a deck and getting the cards perfectly in order, but hey, it is theoretically possible).

If they ARE right, and it IS today, then I feel sorry for me. If I'm not, I feel sorry for them. Because they're about to have their world completely shaken. And that's REALLY gotta hurt.

[Greenday]

Bad news guys. We are all dead from massive earthquakes here in Afghanistan. Start preparing for the worst.

[Nyoibo]

I'm still here, but that doesn't mean much because there's no chance I'[m getting into heaven, but that's alright, neither are any of my friends.

[XCashier]

Apparently this old bastard has gladly collected 80 million (http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/19/news/economy/may-21-end-of-the-world-finances-harold-camping/index.htm) in donation money from his flock. He's also so inspiring that 80% of his own staff still plan on showing up for work next week. >.>
Any chance of the fleeced suing his ass off?

[Ladeeda]

Bad news guys. We are all dead from massive earthquakes here in Afghanistan. Start preparing for the worst.

Hm... guess I should cancel my plans for tomorrow.

Better get a head start on the looting. :D

[Andara Bledin]

I didn't get invited to the Facebook looting party. :cry:

^-.-^

[Ginger Tea]

well its gone 10pm here and afaik no mass dissaperances or people floating into the sky, rather dull really, least I got to watch Dr Who before the world didn't end.

[Lace Neil Singer]

"Hey everyone, they're looting the mall! I got three shoe buffers!"

[Andara Bledin]

Wait... gotta do a head count.

We all still here?

^-.-^

[smileyeagle1021]

So, I see none of you were worthy of Rapture either... how disappointing.

[Greenday]

Nope, I'm dead.

[Gravekeeper]

Nope, I'm dead.

On the upside, you must get wifi in the afterlife.

[Hyena Dandy]

Uh, I ended up in hell.

Or possibly I'm just watching the Star Wars Holiday Special...

[Salted Grump]

My grandmother's visiting. Does that mean Purgatory for me?

[Greenday]

On the upside, you must get wifi in the afterlife.

Wifi is good, but being surrounded by a bunch of Virginians is kind of lame.

[Skunkle]

Camping's prediction is all around numerology. It relies on Jesus having been Crucified on April 1, AD 33, and notations that numbers 5 = atonement, 10 = completeness, 17 = heaven.

I don't know about the date of Crucifixion (is April 1, 33 AD usually considered correct?) but where did he get the number = word bits?

Also... He seems to be one of those splinter bits of extremist Calvinism that sees the predestined Saved as a tiny group. Westboro Baptist does this, saying only the members of Westboro Baptist are the Saved. Camping says that only 3% of the world's population are Saved and will be Raptured.

[El Pollo Guerrera]

I'm still here.

So, I see none of you were worthy of Rapture either... how disappointing.

Which brings up an interesting question...

Let's just say that the Rapture is happening right now, and we're not seeing it. I mean, 'wheels are in motion' and all that, what will bring about the destruction of all that is us is starting out slow and steady.

Since today was the day that Camping said the righteous would be taken up to Heaven, and he and his followers are still here...

Wouldn't that mean that he's not worthy?

I'd like to see him try to explain THAT to his flock!

[XCashier]

I'm still here.

I knew it wouldn't happen. Many times, someone has predicted the end of the world, fleeced people for lots of money, and, anticlimatically, it never happens. You'd think folks would figure it out by now, especially since the Bible did indeed predict that jerks would be doing this. (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2024:3-13,%2023-27&version=NIV)

These con artists are relying upon people being too lazy to do the research themselves (it's not like a Bible is difficult to find, you know?). And too stupid to learn from past mistakes. It's very sad.

For the record, I am a Christian, I do believe that Jesus will return, but only God knows when (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2024:36&version=NIV). It's pointless to try and even guess when; it's our duty to live our lives in the best way possible and follow His teachings.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Well, I just came back from a really, really dead SCA event (which actually was a lot of fun, but hardly anyone showed up) and we figured it was because either there was a Renfaire going on close by or the Rapture had mistakenly taken all the Wiccans instead.

[derangedperson]

Here's the text of my May 22 journal entry on dA.

Everyone still here?

Good.

So once again, Harold Camping and his caravan of doomsayers (that'd be a great name for a metal band) have been proven wrong, this time in the most spectacular, hilarious fashion. All that money down the drain. All those lives ruined. All those psychological scars sure to be seen on the Campingites and their kids.

Truly hilarious, let me tell you.

But the thing with doomsday cults is that they'll never--NEVER--admit they were wrong. They'll just say "whoops, we fucked it" and do this all over again ten years down the line and peddle their bullshit once again. So while we may be able to laugh at Harold Camping, the people we really need to feel sorry for are the poor bastards he suckered into his May 21 deal.

In case you couldn't tell, I was being sarcastic up there. It's sickening and horrifying what these people are going to find out in the next few days. Some of these folks literally have NOTHING LEFT. They've gone through their life savings plastering billboards and their cars and vans with the May 21 message and stood on the streets getting laughed at. They've alienated their family members. They've quit their jobs. They've sold everything they have.

Some of these people literally have nothing to come home to.

If there is a tragedy in any of this mess, this is it. The lives Harold Camping has ruined with his message of doom are staggering, and I hope and pray that their families will find it in their hearts to welcome them back into their lives, Prodigal Son-style.

And I have a message for Harry: Now that everyone knows how big of a fool you are, do us all a favor and keep your goddamned mouth shut. No one cares. You're going to have hell to pay in the next week or so, and you're gonna have to own up to it. You said the world was going to weep once May 21 rolled around, and we did.

Unfortunately for you, the world wept tears of laughter.

[Evandril]

No, there is absolutely no chance they are right as them being right requires an astounding series of things be proven true in very short order.

I think what he was saying is that, even though their calculations were flawed at best, there's a chance the rapture would fall on that date by coincidence. Much like a scam artist that 'predicts' the winning lottery numbers has a chance they are correct, by sheer luck.

[Ginger Tea]

Boy presumed dead due to Doomsday no show (http://uk.news.yahoo.com/%E2%80%98judgement-day%E2%80%99-celebration-tragedy-for-us-boy.html)
This teenager wasn't distraught that he had frittered his life savings away and quit his job stating that the world was ending anyway, no, he with friends jumped into a river celebrating that the world was not ending and was swept away by strong currents.
Rescue workers are not expecting to find him alive.

And although tragic, the worst part of the post was this
A two-year-old boy was safely pulled out of the river hours earlier at the same spot.

That's all they say on the subject, not how or why the child ended up in the river in the first place.

And in lighter news, I'm watching the first disc of season one of "Life after People" not depicting the who what where when and whyfor of our dissapearance, but what happens to the world around us without us intervening.

[XCashier]

Oh, now he's saying, "My bad, should've been October."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43140373/?gt1=43001

What's the matter, asshole, didn't fleece your flock for enough money? Want a few more months to get more? How about you :censored: off and die already? I hope you like warm climates. :devil:

[Ginger Tea]

I came here to post the yahoo link entitling it 3rd time's a charm (http://uk.news.yahoo.com/new-deadline-set-for-the-end-of-the-world-20110524.html)?
but you beat me to it.

[Skelly]

Oh, now he's saying, "My bad, should've been October."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43140373/?gt1=43001

What's the matter, asshole, didn't fleece your flock for enough money? Want a few more months to get more? How about you :censored: off and die already? I hope you like warm climates. :devil:

I'm a bit lacking in Biblical studies, but I'm sure the Bible's got a few things to say about false prophets :devil:. Also, this little thing about no-one but God himself knowing...so who the hell is Harold Camping to say when the Earth is about to end? If God exists, he might want a chat with Camping...before tossing him to :devil:.

[fireheart17]

Oh, now he's saying, "My bad, should've been October."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43140373/?gt1=43001

What's the matter, asshole, didn't fleece your flock for enough money? Want a few more months to get more? How about you :censored: off and die already? I hope you like warm climates. :devil:

Dammit you beat me to it. Curse my being in Australia :lol:

The worst we had down here for said "Rapture" is a thunderstorm. That's IT.

[XCashier]

Has anyone seen these billboards (http://powip.com/2011/05/that-was-awkward/) around? They're a response to Camping's failed prediction. I saw one by the freeway on my way home and laughed so hard I think the person in the next car over heard me! :lol:

[Ghel]

I haven't seen them in person, but I've seen the pictures posted online. Funny, I guess. But from the point of view of a non-Christian, the billboards completely miss the point. The end of the world is NOT imminent. There's NOT going to be a Rapture. There's no invisible mafia boss who's going to reward those who follow his tyrannical rules and punish those who don't.

Those who say, "the end is coming, we just don't know when" are just as delusional as Camping who says, "the end is coming on such-and-such a date." It's just that Camping's delusion is easier to demonstrate as false.

[Andara Bledin]

The end is coming. Ends come all the time (by galactic time standards). Hell, if we keep fucking up our own envirnment, we'll end ourselves properly. Or, we could clean up our act and get ended by an asteroid.

The idea of altering your behavior just because an end is perceived to be imminent, however, completely and utterly misses the point anyway. Stupid churchians.

^-.-^

[smileyeagle1021]

The end is coming. Ends come all the time (by galactic time standards). Hell, if we keep fucking up our own envirnment, we'll end ourselves properly. Or, we could clean up our act and get ended by an asteroid.

Hell, even without allowing for asteroids and us destroying ourselves, the sun will begin to balloon up in size as it starts to run low on fuel and burn the Earth... that cannot be avoided or stopped. So, yes, the end is coming, no matter what we do.

[derangedperson]

It appears that Harold has suffered a stroke.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/atlantic/20110613/ts_atlantic/haroldcampingsuffersstroke38757_1

Maybe this will finally shut him up.

How's that karma taste, you lying cocksucker?

[KnitShoni]

I haven't seen them in person, but I've seen the pictures posted online. Funny, I guess. But from the point of view of a non-Christian, the billboards completely miss the point. The end of the world is NOT imminent. There's NOT going to be a Rapture. There's no invisible mafia boss who's going to reward those who follow his tyrannical rules and punish those who don't.


It seems that the billboards are pointing out that the book this guy is claiming to use to predict the end of the world very clearly states it cannot be predicted. You don't necessarily have to be Christian or believe in the end of the world to see the irony in that.

[Hyena Dandy]

It appears that Harold has suffered a stroke.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/atlantic/20110613/ts_atlantic/haroldcampingsuffersstroke38757_1

Maybe this will finally shut him up.

How's that karma taste, you lying cocksucker?

As much as I don't like him, I never want to see someone else be hurt...

[Ghel]

The end is coming. Ends come all the time (by galactic time standards).
For the purposes of this discussion, "the end" means the end of humanity or the end of the Earth. "Galactic time standards" do not apply.

Hell, if we keep fucking up our own envirnment, we'll end ourselves properly. Or, we could clean up our act and get ended by an asteroid.
Entirely possible, but it will not be a supernatural event that causes the end of humanity or the Earth.

It seems that the billboards are pointing out that the book this guy is claiming to use to predict the end of the world very clearly states it cannot be predicted. You don't necessarily have to be Christian or believe in the end of the world to see the irony in that.
If everyone involved agreed that we were discussing fiction, that would be one thing. But Camping and the billboard author each think that they're debating different interpretations of the truth. I don't accept their presupposition that their holy book is accurate in any way that matters. I suppose it would be funny if it weren't so sad.

It appears that Harold has suffered a stroke.
It was probably stress + age. Not surprising that he's got some health issues at 89 years. Still, I don't wish him harm, despite the harm he caused for people who fell for his line of BS.

[Rapscallion]

It was probably stress + age. Not surprising that he's got some health issues at 89 years. Still, I don't wish him harm, despite the harm he caused for people who fell for his line of BS.

I think the harm people encountered was not just his fault - I think they had a duty of care to themselves in which they failed. They had a duty to question, and they erred by not doing so.

Rapscallion

[KnitShoni]

If everyone involved agreed that we were discussing fiction, that would be one thing. But Camping and the billboard author each think that they're debating different interpretations of the truth. I don't accept their presupposition that their holy book is accurate in any way that matters. I suppose it would be funny if it weren't so sad.




Actually, you can't really tell what the billboard author believes. You don't need to be a Christian to read the bible and find that verse.

[Ghel]

I think the harm people encountered was not just his fault - I think they had a duty of care to themselves in which they failed. They had a duty to question, and they erred by not doing so.
I see what you're saying, and I agree to a certain extent. I still think Camping is partially at fault for preying on the minds of gullible people. Someone can't make a logical assessment of a claim if they've never been given the tools to do so.

Actually, you can't really tell what the billboard author believes. You don't need to be a Christian to read the bible and find that verse.
I suppose it's possible that a non-Christian might have put up the billboard. But it doesn't seem likely to me, for two reasons. One, it went up after May 21. If the message is "Ha! Your beliefs are inconsistent even within your own worldview," then I would have expected the billboard to go up before the prophesied end of the world. Two, the "That was awkward" statement makes it sound like the author is either embarrassed on Camping's behalf or embarrassed to be associated with him.

[SkullKing]

to me the "akward" statement just means he is poking fun of the guy, but i can see how it can be seen as a "I understand the bible better then you so am a better cristhian" statement.

I should note that I find quoting the bible to counter-argument churchians very fun, even if I don´t believe in it.

[Ipecac Drano]

http://cdn.svcs.c2.uclick.com/c2/d1b7d2d07370012ee3c400163e41dd5b