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 This time around, there are no RVs or signs carrying the "awesome news" of the end of the world.
October 21st, 2011
06:00 AM ET
The End, again? If it is, we thank you for your timeBy Jessica Ravitz, CNN (CNN) - In case you are reading this, might we suggest you read really fast? The world may end any minute now, if the latest doomsday prediction is on target. We realize October 21 didn’t get the shout-out that May 21 did, so our apologies if this comes as a surprise. But if you had heard the complete message the first time, you would have known. “The warning is out,” Dennis Morrell, 44, of Jacksonville, Florida, reminded us a couple of days ago. “There’s nothing else you can do.” Earlier this year, and with the backing of the Christian broadcasting network Family Radio, billboards touting May 21 as Judgment Day dotted the landscape. RVs plastered with the fateful date crisscrossed the country as believers wearing T-shirt announcements and waving fliers sounded the alarm. That was to be the day when a select 2% to 3% of the world’s population, predetermined by God, would be raptured up to heaven. Everyone else, the story went, would endure months-long judgment amid chaos, destruction and unspeakable suffering. A massive earthquake would ravage the land, bodies would be tossed about and terror would reign for the duration. Five months or exactly 153 days later, it was said, the world would disappear – which brings us to today. This was the schedule laid out by God’s word in the Bible, the faithful said. It was the plan deciphered and shared by Harold Camping, now 90, the founder of Family Radio, based in Oakland, California. Camping, who has an engineering degree, had spent more than 50 years combing through his Bible and crunching numbers embedded in scripture. Sure, he’d made a similar end-of-the-world prediction for September 6, 1994, but who hasn’t been tripped up by biblical verses? With additional studying, calculations and new signs that would be revealed later, he said earlier this year that he had no doubts this time around. “I know it’s absolutely true, because the Bible is always absolutely true,” he told CNN before May 21. “If I were not faithful that would mean that I’m a hypocrite.” Problem is, May 21 came and went, and the world remained the same. Soon the billboards disappeared. The T-shirts and hats worn by believers got tossed. The RVs were quietly parked, tucked away in storage yards, possibly sold. Camping came forth, two days later, with an explanation - and his last news conference. October 21 would still be the end, he said, but a “loving and merciful” God had opted to spare humanity the five months of turmoil. A couple of weeks later, Camping had a stroke. He is said to be recuperating at home after a hospital and rehab stay and has only made a handful of radio addresses in the months since. Family Radio declined our requests to interview him. Fred Store, a 66-year-old retired electrician and longtime Family Radio listener, dedicated seven months of his life to sharing the “awesome news” that was the May 21 message. He led a caravan of believers, five RVs strong, on a tour of the United States for Family Radio. He was in Boston in May when he expected to be raptured up to heaven. When nothing happened, “We were caught by surprise. ... But we realize now that it’s very possible that we misunderstood some of the things we thought were true,” Store said this week from his home in Sacramento, California, where he has put up a number of caravan friends. “I believe that October 21 is the end, and I trust in God. Whatever way he chooses to end things will be perfect.” On the Family Radio website, the May 21 events, or nonevents, have been clarified. “What really happened is that God accomplished exactly what he wanted to happen. That was to warn the whole world that on May 21 God’s salvation program would be finished. ... For the next five months, except for the elect (the true believers), the whole world is under God’s final judgment,” the statement reads. As for that massive, body-flinging earthquake anticipated by believers, well, it turned out to be less literal. “We always look at the word ‘earthquake’ to mean the earth, or ground, is quaking or shaking violently. However, in the Bible the word ‘earth’ can include people as well as ground. ... Therefore we have learned from our experience of last May 21 what actually happened. All of mankind was shaken with fear. Indeed the Earth (or mankind) did quake in a way it had never before been shaken.” No one was raptured on May 21, but that’s just because “universal judgment” will come on the last day. “The elect” or “true believers” are still guaranteed their day of rapture, and everyone else will be “annihilated together with the whole physical world.” For Paul Anatiychuk, 36, of Charlotte, North Carolina, the way this played out has been a relief, a blessing. A husband and father of two children, ages 8 and 9, he wasn’t sure if his own family members would be saved. The thought of leaving them behind on May 21, to suffer what would come over the next five months, troubled him. “God tortures them while we’re hanging in the clouds?” he said this week. “It didn’t completely fit.” Now, Anatiychuk said, he can take solace knowing that when he’s saved, sinners will simply die. “Of course (the world) has to be destroyed and burned up by fire,” he said. “But it’s going to be very quiet.” Finding a way to save faith, and face, is part of the process when a prophecy fails, said Lorenzo DiTommaso, an associate professor of religion at Concordia University in Montreal, who has been studying apocalyptic worldviews for a dozen years. He said those who become disillusioned aren’t quick to talk, and the rest find a new way to spin what has transpired. When nothing happened on May 21, Camping was left with a choice, said DiTommaso, whose book, “The Architecture of Apocalypticism,” is scheduled for publication next spring. Camping could have admitted he was wrong. He could have said the calculations were off and needed further analysis. Or he could have spiritualized the apocalypse, which is exactly what he did, DiTommaso said. That tack, that way of looking at the apocalypse, has a long history, he said, and dates back to early Christian theologians. Tyconius, in the late fourth century, took this approach, as - more notably - did Augustine in the early fifth century. Augustine “preferred to understand the millennium predicted in the Revelation of John in spiritual and metaphoric rather than literal terms,” DiTommaso said. He “sought to diminish the emphasis on hard calculations.” The obvious advantage of this sort of interpretation for a man like Camping, who has prided himself on his numbers, is that he can “divorce himself a little bit from the fact that he was so darn wrong.” What Camping will say - if anything - come Saturday, assuming there is a Saturday, is anyone’s guess. But DiTommaso said a new explanation, perhaps a new doomsday date, may be on the horizon. It would be just another in a long line of end-time predictions across the ages. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we see another attempt” by Camping, he said. “If he were an artist, this is his masterpiece, his life work.” soundoff (2,353 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Next »
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As far as the car goes, yes I guess I was. But you are talking about a physical object with direct cause and effect. So, I'd like to know more about naked women being convinced by talking snakes, and animals floating on a boat for 40 days. I'd love to know just where did all that water recede to, seeing as how it was a global flood?
For POSITIVE Facts about Christianity, pls visit:
http://napoleonlive.info/judas-the-galilean-and-his-unterbrink-books/
The only "positive" fact about the bible is that it can be used to keep stupid people under control and take some of their wealth away.
For a dose of reality about the bible, check out http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/by_name.html
Camping is insane as was JC. JC's family and friends had it right 2000 years ago ( Mark 3: 21 "And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself."
Said passage is one of the few judged to be authentic by most contemporary NT scholars. e.g. See Professor Ludemann's conclusion in his book, Jesus After 2000 Years, p. 24 and p. 694
Actually, Jesus was a bit "touched". After all he thought he spoke to Satan, thought he changed water into wine, thought he raised Lazarus from the dead etc. In today's world, said Jesus would be declared legally insane.
Or did P, M, M, L and J simply make him into a first century magic-man via their epistles and gospels of semi-fiction? Most contemporary NT experts after thorough analyses of all the scriptures go with the latter magic-man conclusion with J's gospel being mostly fiction.
Obviously, today's followers of Paul et al's "magic-man" are also a bit on the odd side believing in all the Christian mumbo jumbo about bodies resurrecting, and exorcisms, and miracles, and "magic-man atonement, and infallible, old, European/Utah, white men, and 24/7 body/blood sacrifices followed by consumption of said sacrifices. Yummy!!!!
So why do we really care what a first century CE, illiterate, long-dead, preacher man would do or say?
===============================================================================
Saturday, October 22, 2011, 0005 Hrs
Still here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kwk55zeWMH8
I'D BE PRETTY UPSET IF GOD SHOWED UP WHILE I WAS ON THE TOILET.
WHY IS IT THAT BELIEVERS NEVER ASK THEIR PREACHER ABOUT THAT? I KNOW GOD DOESN'T EXIST AND ALL, BUT IF THE WHOLE STORY ABOUT THE RAPTURE HAPPENED IMAGINE HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD END UP IN THE SKY ALL AT ONCE IN THE FETAL POSITION DROPPING CHUNKS ALL OVER THE PLACE ALL SHAMED AND MAKING A MESS
IF I WERE GOD I WOULD CREATE ANOTHER PLANET FOR ALL THE BELIEVERS AND PUT THEM ON IT
THEN I WOULD TAKE THAT PLANET AND THROW IT AT THE SUN
There won't be a "rapture." You probably don't realize it, but saying you want to throw believers into the sun only fuels their torrent of hatred for Atheists. Something you might want to take note of.
YOU ARE SICK, FOOLISH AND BLINDED..................I PRAY THAT ALMIGHTY JESUS HAVE MERCY ON YOUR SOUL.....................THE RAPTURE IS GOING TO HAPPEN YOU SILLY LITTLE ONE YOU.....................OUR BODIES ARE GOING TO BE CHANGED, I DOUBT ANY ONE WILL BE DOING WHAT YOU SAID...............YOU SOUND LIKE AN IGNORANT PERSON, HOWEVER LITTLE ONE, YOU ARE GOING TO REAP WHAT YOU HAVE SOWN............AND IF YOU READ THE BIBLE AND NOT CRITICISE IT YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND AND LEARN MUCH......................JESUS SAID MY PEOPLE LACK KNOWLEDGE....................I PRAY THAT OUR FATHER HAVE MERCY ON FOOLISH PEOPLE LIKE YOU...........STOP SPEAKING ON SOMETHING YOU CLEARLY DO NOT KNOW ABOUT....................YOU ARE PITYFULL
I am the one true imaginary friend.
Now.... YOU I can believe in!
Stupidity knows no bounds...
This blog is truly disgusting
Kids the world is NOT ending
Religion is getting very desperate as people wake up and realize the crazy religious views.
I hope that ALL parents out there explain clearly to their children not to follow religion ever.
Belief is hard-wired. Even if you give them a choice, odds are they're believe in something.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1211511/Why-born-believe-God-Its-wired-brain-says-psychologist.html
People might want to read "The Science of Superstition" by Bruce Hood. The tendency to believe or make something up may be hard-wired, but belief in supernatural beings is not. Children are born without belief and pretty much believe anything their parents (or whoever is raising them) tell them until something happens to cause them to discard the bullshit (their tribal superstitions). Unfortunately, given the "special" (and I do not mean good) place and influence religion has in society, most people become thoroughly indoctrinated at an early age and it is very difficult for them to discard their cult's beliefs.
Also, the number of believers is determined almost entirely by birth place and birth rates – almost no one choses their religion or converts to another.
I think without an external influence or the ability to figure out what the stars in the sky are, the tendency to believe turns more into a supernatural thing. In my opinion that's why primitive people believed in gods controlling everything. They couldn't explain their surroundings. We've evolved to the point where we no longer need to believe in these things as we are able to explain them with reality.
Agreed.
Bearer Of Bad News
You said: "Belief is hard-wired" !
Great so I do not have a choice. I was born with a God orientation. Perhaps now society will more kind to my christian community. Christian bashing will become a hate crime. When you say God is a myth you are a biggot with hate speach. We will adopt the ranbow colored unicorn as our symbol
Kimsland
Be sure you raise your kids to hate christians. Forget about the fact we were born this way. With my God orientation do you object to me adopting atheist children? The behavior of my christian partner and community will not influence the atheist child at all. He or she will grow up just all the other atheist children.
Whatever "ranbow" and "speach" means...
Call me a bigot all you like. It still doesn't make god real. We have the tools and information available that we can ditch religion. If I were to hand you a pencil, would you complain that you can't write? That's exactly what you're doing here. The information that proves the bible false is available within the bible itself. Yet you make the choice to ignore it and complain because people call you out on it. Pick up the pencil and stop complaining. I'm not a bigot. A bigot means someone who is intolerant, which is exactly what you are. You don't agree, you call people names.
Fred, you may have read but you did not comprehend! Your religious beliefs are primitive adaptations. There is no reason to believe them any more. You can be a good person – no god required.
HotAirAce
I sure hope you're wrong and Bad News is right, I am feeling real empowered right now. I am free no more christian guilt. Perhaps I can have a christian pride parade this weekend. Signs that say The End is Near. I was Born for Heaven were you. Camping was not wrong it is not October 21 yet on planets that don't spin.
Ok, I was goofing around cause Bad News said belief was hard wired. No offense intended. But I may just get a sign that say BIG IT and have my own parade
You need to read all of what BoBn and I wrote – you will see we agree. Also, if you really want to be free, put all your christian beliefs in the dumpster and become an atheist.
No problem. I thought you might be having some fun but my Believer Humor Detection Meter is not well calibrated.
HotAirAce
I did not fare to well without God. I am still trying to figure out what I am doing on this site. I was looking for an answer or thought I could share some of the wonders God has shown me in the Bible. Well, surprise this place is a buzz saw looking for a christian to stick his or her neck out. As far as sharing any wonders I have not seen that go anywhere.
Revelation 3:11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
It's right there in black and white. Or red and white if you have the red letter text edition.
"Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." –Matthew 24:34 (KJV)
"And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power." –Mark 9:1 (KJV)
"Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." –Matthew 16:28 (KJV)
"According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, we who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep." –1 Thessalonians 4:15 (NIV)
"When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes." –Matthew 10:23 (NIV)
So, after jesus died, he was supposed to come back within the same generation of his followers. He didn't. He died, didn't come back, and people started to ask questions. The author of the book of Peter decided to make an excuse to cover up jesus' lie:
"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.... But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." –2 Peter 3:3-8 (KJV)
The mistake here is that jesus never said "I'll be back in a few days." The author added in that cute little part about one day being equal to a thousand years caused countless people to believe that there was actually a chance that jesus would take a swan dive out of the sky at some random moment in their lives. This lie has perpetuated through each generation, a false hope.
I'm sure some abrasive, delusional self-professed bible scholar will say I'm cherry-picking. There's one thing that you cannot deny... If you're a believer, you can't argue scripture with scripture. The bible fumbles over itself enough that you'll always fall flat on your face.
Bearer Of Bad News
Sorry, but someone is sending you some bad lines from a canned list. Please note:
Mark 9:1 and MT 16:28 most likely refer to Christ at Pentacost when they did see the Kingdom of God come in power and they did see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom. That was what fired them all up to spread the truth and gave the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as promised.
Matthew 10:23 is letting the Apostles know what to expect as they spread the truth which will spread beyond Israel throughout the world until the time Christ returns.
2 Peter is pulled out of context as it was giving us an overview of Gods eternal perspective.
Matthew 24:36 was repeated in several places because just like Camping people think they know the time and the hour many like the apostles thought they did. Well no one knows and when Jesus says even He does not know he makes it clear man could not.
Anything else BOBN ?
Yes, Bearer, don't forget, those quotations that are allegedly the inspired word of god, STILL can be taken out of context. LOL.
I pray for each and every one of your souls! Remember, The Lord hears and read EVERY idol word! Do not fall to the temptations! Stand in the light of righteousness with me!
words can be idols?
Seriously? What are you, 9? I think that's what I was the last time a nun scared me with their scre.wy stories about "he knows your every thought", "he knows what's in your heart". Do you ever objectively look at yourself, and ask yourself how ridiculous and impossible that all sounds? I used to like the big scoreboard in the sky with everyone's mortal and venial sins marked on it, and how "your soul is white in baptism, but it gets dirtier with every little sin".
Is this guy profiting from all of this doomsday stuff, besides from all the publicity? I can't stand people like this that lead with fear and lies. His followers all look like a bunch of fools to believe such garbage. You can twist or misunderstand scripture but I think Mark 13:32 is as clear as it gets; "Concerning that day or hour nobody knows, neither the angels nor the Son, but only the Father". I think we would all agree that he's not God. So no worries, any day that someone predicts is doomsday is the one day that you can be sure that it won't happen! lol ; )
See my comment above. There's more scripture for you to read. The part about no one but the father knowing. Yeah, about that. The jesus man said he would return before the living generation of people during his time died. That means jesus allegedly knew when he'd be back. Therefore, the bible has contradicted itself. There will be no second coming.
I feel sad for those followers of his who were conned out of all their money and where is he now, that they weren't taken? Is he giving their life savings back? I choose to wait until the real day Christ returns, I don't need to pay anyone my money for that day.
Most of them sold all of their belongings and paid to travel the country and rent billboards and other advertising means. I don't know if the followers were giving tons of money to him. It's not his fault. They should have read the bible. Had they done a little bit of reading, they'd know that jesus lied about coming back.
So, how many of these believers quit their jobs and will now be wanting me to pay their welfare and unemployment?
OK, so, are we doing this thing or what? I really can't hold my schedule open any more, Mr. Camping. Thank you, for continuing a long history of quackery and failed biblical prophecies. Dear Humanity, it's waaaaay past time to toss that old nonsense out and go for something a little more grounded in Reality.
Funfortunately, it will happen again and again. People will continue to con the easily swayed. This provides me with a great deal of entertainment.
Anyone who believes this crap gets exactly what they ask for.
Testing 123, testing, 123, testing 123... mayday mayday mayday silence silence silence anyone out there? repeat... anyone out there? Come back, come back come back...
"Hello, and welcome to Family Forum, this is your host, Harold Camping....and have I got news for you.... "
Ohhh No... not again... SOS...Mayday... Silence... the alien is after me.... is there no one?! Ohhh the humanity, Ohhhh.... bllrrghurbbbbb now look at what you have done to me.. I am melting... melting ohhhh....glrubbh....burb!!!
This is the Free Trader Beowulf, calling anyone ...
Mayday, Mayday ...
we are under attack ...
main drive is gone ...
turret number one not responding ...
Mayday ...
losing cabin pressure fast ...
calling anyone ...
please help ...
This is Free Trader Beowulf ...
Mayday ...
I am back...
Muneef
Issac Newton predicted the end of the worlds will be on 2060...? While others said 11/11/2011 or 14/03/2012 any way what ever they predicts, it is only GOD who knows when and no one else...!
October 21, 2011 at 12:11 pm | Report abuse | Reply
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Shazzles
What god?
October 21, 2011 at 12:24 pm | Report abuse |
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Muneef
The Only GOD the GOD of Abraham...
October 21, 2011 at 1:19 pm | Report abuse |
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TruthPrevails
How do you know for sure you have the right god? If you're wrong, then what?
October 21, 2011 at 1:41 pm | Report abuse |
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Muneef
With only one GOD existing then can't go wrong... The dispute here is how is he to be worshiped and thought of that is making all the difference among all otherwise we are all one nation of a one GOD..!
October 21, 2011 at 5:56 pm | Report abuse |
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Muneef
You understand what I meant to say "GOD is one but Religions§ors became so many..!!
Read this Q/Verse;
"For each of you, we have decreed laws and different rites. Had GOD willed, He could have made you one congregation. But He thus puts you to the test through the revelations He has given each of you. You shall compete in righteousness. To GOD is your final destiny – all of you – then He will inform you of everything you had disputed." (05:48)
October 21, 2011 at 6:05 pm | Report abuse |
What god are you speaking of? You claim to have the right one but so do so many others...you can't all be right and you have no way of knowing you are...it's quite simple really, there is no proof for a god and thus until there is, it is safe to as.sume that no-one has the correct one.
BTW: why would you waste time copying and pasting an entire conversation?...you still have no point to prove b/c you have failed to provide evidence for your claims.
I meant by GOD the Only the "Creator of this universe"...we all have him right as our GOD but the difference that each gave him a name different to the other,few went into giving him a physical image that he is supposed to have posesed on earth..some gave him human image while others have gave image of animals or other curvings but all that only ends to the one and only...!
By saying what GOD or which GOD then you associate with him others...!?
Allow me to Quote;
Say, [O Muhammad], "Praise be to Allah , and peace upon His servants whom He has chosen. Is Allah better or what they associate with Him?"
(27:59).
[More precisely], is He [not best] who created the heavens and the earth and sent down for you rain from the sky, causing to grow thereby gardens of joyful beauty which you could not [otherwise] have grown the trees thereof? Is there a deity with Allah ? [No], but they are a people who ascribe equals [to Him]. (27:60).
Is He [not best] who made the earth a stable ground and placed within it rivers and made for it firmly set mountains and placed between the two seas a barrier? Is there a deity with Allah ? [No], but most of them do not know. (27:61).
Is He [not best] who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil and makes you inheritors of the earth? Is there a deity with Allah ? Little do you remember. (27:62).
Is He [not best] who guides you through the darknesses of the land and sea and who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy? Is there a deity with Allah ? High is Allah above whatever they associate with Him. (27:63).
Is He [not best] who begins creation and then repeats it and who provides for you from the heaven and earth? Is there a deity with Allah ? Say, "Produce your proof, if you should be truthful." (27:64).
Say, "None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah , and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected." (27:65).
Rather, their knowledge is arrested concerning the Hereafter. Rather, they are in doubt about it. Rather, they are, concerning it, blind. (27:66).
And those who disbelieve say, "When we have become dust as well as our forefathers, will we indeed be brought out [of the graves]? (27:67).
We have been promised this, we and our forefathers, before. This is not but legends of the former peoples." (27:68).
Say, [O Muhammad], "Travel through the land and observe how was the end of the criminals." (27:69).
And grieve not over them or be in distress from what they conspire. (27:70).
And they say, "When is [the fulfillment of] this promise, if you should be truthful?" (27:71).
Say, "Perhaps it is close behind you – some of that for which you are impatient. (27:72).
And indeed, your Lord is full of bounty for the people, but most of them do not show grat-itude." (27:73).
And indeed, your Lord knows what their breasts conceal and what they declare. (27:74).
And there is nothing concealed within the heaven and the earth except that it is in a clear Register. (27:75).
Indeed, this Qur'an relates to the Children of Israel most of that over which they disagree. (27:76).
And indeed, it is guidance and mercy for the believers. (27:77).
Indeed, your Lord will judge between them by His [wise] judgement. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Knowing. (27:78).
So rely upon Allah ; indeed, you are upon the clear truth. (27:79).
Indeed, you will not make the dead hear, nor will you make the deaf hear the call when they have turned their backs retreating. (27:80).
And you cannot guide the blind away from their error. You will only make hear those who believe in Our verses so they are Muslims [submitting to Allah ]. (27:81).
http://quran.com/27
Unquote:
When you understand the plan of God these prophetic flare-ups are meaningless. The time frame of the kingdom of God in being played out in 7 areas which cover the returning of Israel and the restoration of the Church.
http://apostlestoday.net/ http://s8wministries.org/
Thanks for those humorous web pages. I have one that you might enjoy as well!
http://www.theonion.com/articles/sumerians-look-on-in-confusion-as-god-creates-worl,2879/
Charlatan
Can anyone tell me why my response to A1Retouching which was posted has suddenly disappeared? This was in regard to the question of the age of the earth and such, see above. It doesn't matter if you agree or not. It was there at 4:30 pm EST, now it is gone. A1Retouching, did you get my response? Thanks to everyone!
So I guess CNN hasnt tired yet of portraying isolated pockets of Christians-with-strange-ideas as mainstream...
smear on!
How were they portrayed as mainstream?
chad, The *only* thing strange about Camping's "isolated pocket" is that he has picked specific dates - the remainder of the scenario is the same... or perhaps you can tell us about those who don't think that Jesus is coming back in glory one of these days?
@Fookin' Prawn "How were they portrayed as mainstream"
Oh, you're right.. I missed the big banner at the top of the article explaining that the Christians that believe the world is coming to an end on Oct 21 numbered in the hundreds, making it about .00005% of the total 2.1 billion.. My mistake.
@again
Jesus Christ IS coming back, but no one knows the day or hour.
That's the problem with the CNN article, it is making a big point of ridiculing these (well meaning but misguided) folks, and smearing all of Christianity with that brush.
disingenuous to say the least.
You're either looking at a totally different version of the page than I am, or you came in with your super-sensitive defensive victim panties on today. Pretty sure no one read this article or looked at the top and decided all Christians were involved. You can still think that way if you like, though, don't let any one get in your way.
"That's the problem with the CNN article, it is making a big point of ridiculing these (well meaning but misguided) folks, and smearing all of Christianity with that brush." All christians believe that the end is on it's way the only difference between those who might have believes it was today and those who didn't was the former group placed a date on this supposed event. CNN is perfectly able to write a sarcastic article if it suits them. You are free not to read it (especially if the headline offended you in any way). See that's the real trouble here, people just can't seem to understand that there are those of us that view this whole religion and supernatural business as something so irrational that it clearly invites sarcasm. Instead of providing evidence to quell that sarcastic tone and perhaps return the gesture we are met with folks that are basically angry that they have been offended.
@chad: Have you read the bible? Christianity is a strange idea.
Christianity: The belief that a cosmic Jewish Zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree.
chad, you just like taking umbrage at any story that doesn't present christians in a good light. Too bad for you that some of them are crazy. And some of them think they have the right to force others to live in a theocracy.
@ Scott
– “Jewish zombie” – Jesus was brought back to life by the power of God, but ok, close enough..
– Can make you live forever – yes
– “If you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master” – that’s a no.. to be saved you need to come to a realization/understanding that in your current sin condition you are permanently separated from God, and that Jesus Christ died to reconcile you with Him. Accepting that sacrifice on my behalf makes him Lord and Master, but that’s really a by product. The real point is the atoning sacrifice, not the “eating” or “master”.
– “removing evil force” – sort of, the Holy Spirit does transform our minds bringing us closer in belief and actions to the nature of Jesus.
– “rib woman convinced by talking snake to eat from magical tree” – yes
@Tom “some of them think they have the right to force others to live in a theocracy.”
That’s a pretty common erroneous assertion by atheists, namely that any attempt by Christians to lobby government is an attempt to introduce a Christian Theocracy. Self evident nonsense.
How convenient. You can't refute the facts so you deem them self-evident nonsense. You and people like you prove every day that you believe this to be a "Christian" nation and attempt to force others to live by your notions of moral behavior.
Oh, and these folks are "well-meaning but misguided"? How much money have they stolen from gullible people in their "well-meaning" efforts?
@Tom: “You and people like you prove every day that you believe this to be a "Christian" nation and attempt to force others to live by your notions of moral behavior.”
So, you’re saying that because we are Christian, we have no right to lobby the govt to enact laws? That’s discrimination on the basis of religion, a behavior illegal in this country.
@Tom: “How much money have they stolen from gullible people in their "well-meaning" efforts?”
They have? I didn’t see anything in the article about any accusations of financial impropriety. Perhaps you were reading something else. LOL
Self evident nonsense.
Lobby all you want, simpleton. Who said you couldn't? I simply said that I don't wish to have my rights rescinded by a minority of extremists who deem behaviors they don't like as immoral.
Fortunately, our government is a secular one, and your silliness won't hold sway. Zealots like you have been trying to push your agenda through for years and you'll continue to fail as you have always failed.
So now you're defending the nuts because you didn't see any mention of financial improprieties in this story?
You're a christian with strange ideas, chad. Like you, these followers see nothing "strange" about their behavior or beliefs.
A. Tom: “How much money have they stolen from gullible people in their "well-meaning" efforts?”
B. Tom: “you're defending the nuts because you didn't see any mention of financial improprieties in this story?”
A. Tom: “You and people like you .. attempt to force others to live by your notions of moral behavior.”
B. Tom: “Lobby all you want, simpleton. Who said you couldn't?”
You seem to have a pattern of throwing mud in an attempt to see if anything sticks…
Funny how you can quote but are unable to refute.
Telling, that.
The fact that you think that CNN needs to have some sort of disclaimer about this group that tells everyone that these people represent only a fraction of Christians says more about you and the other nuts who post here than it does about CNN.
Peace be with you all...may the holy one forgive your sins and cleanse your souls... have to go camping...