May 21, 2011

[Jonathan Meer]

If you aren't familiar with Harold Camping and Family Radio's apocalyptic prediction, http://www.npr.org/2011/05/07/136053462/...oon-enough

Long story short, this spunkgobbling pimple of a man has predicted that the end of the world is coming on May 21, 2011, and has encourage all those who follow him (a surprisingly large number of people) to donate as much money as they can to the endeavor. One man took his entire retirement savings and donated it to the church (after all, won't need it anymore). One family, with at least one child and another cooking in the womb, sold everything, kept just enough money to stay living until May 21, and donated the rest to the ministry.

There is absolutely no indication whatsoever that Harold Camping, whose media empire is worth roughly $120 million (http://www.ministrywatch.com/profile/fam...tions.aspx), and whose personal funds are no doubt 'substantial, has been so total and absolute in his own contributions.

At first, I thought this was just funny nonsense; another example of the Christians gettin all cheeky and setting themselves up for backpedaling. Then I learned that people were actually throwing themselves headlong into financial ruin, while their shepherd, apparently, kept himself cautious without warning his congregation to do the same. The bile has been boiling ever since.

Fuck this guy. This is the face of evil. If he believed this shit, he'd donate everything. He hasn't. We must then conclude that he is a charlatan, riding on the backs of the impressionable and soon-to-be-ruined FAMILIES (not just fucking individuals, we're talking entire families) for the sake of...what? What the fuck does he get out of this? Attention? Some sort of financial kickback?

I hate this man so fucking hard. So. Fucking. Hard.

[Sphi]

I agree completely. It's so sad to see entire families of children being fucked over by one religious nut group of parents, too.

I hope someone finds some law this guy has broken in some country and tries him. He's nothing but a psychopathic nut.

Plus he's going against his own damn holy book.

Matthew 24:36
"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

[Ashe]

Most Christians don't take him seriously, and he's been wrong before (in 1994 or 1997 I believe). That said, they backpedaled something serious to explain that they weren't wrong, we just misunderstood them. My problem is that followers of this guy have gone to the point of slicing the throats of their own children to help them avoid the Tribulation suffering period. This is not ok with me.

He, and a large number of the rest of his group (not everyone believes him, but I've heard that those that disagree get fired because you aren't questioning him on anything but instead questioning God, which is unacceptable), will tell you absolutely with no doubt that this Saturday is the end of this world entirely. They say there is no possibility of "God changing his mind" or anything similar - it will happen without a doubt.

So some people doing documentaries for the BBC or some company took a homeless woman to them and told them that since the world was ending and they would not be able to take any of their money with them into the afterlife, would they consider being kind to their fellow human beings and buy her food for just the day. Their response was to get offended and reject that option, in a bit of a "GET A JOB YOU BUM" sort of way. Because that money means anything in four days, according to their belief.

Its quite unfortunate, but doomsaying and end of the world cultism is nothing new. Its something that's been around for as long as written history has. Everyone, to include those recorded in the Bible and other holy books, has lived during a time that some group believed was "the last of days".

On May 22nd, instead of thinking critically about this, I have no doubt that the response will simply somehow further prove what Camping believes and that "they prayed hard enough that God did change his mind." That said, many people want to screw with them and go release a bunch of naked helium filled people shaped dolls into the air that Saturday and also lay a bunch of clothes on the ground, perhaps posting on websites about having witnessed a bunch of human forms ascending into the sky. The going joke is to convince those people (of Camping's mindset) that the Rapture did come and they were left behind. Hilarity is expected to follow.

Apparently they got their idea from an episode of 6 Feet Under back in 03.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DCp8JG5Y9g

I laughed at this much harder than I should have.

[Jonathan Meer]

lol

[Kami]

Oh look, another douche bag using religion to further his own personal agenda. Wonderful.

[Kaden]

Most Christians don't take him seriously

Did you really need to qualify that?

[Ashe]

Did you really need to qualify that?

I'm saying that it isn't only people of other beliefs but even a large percent of those of similar belief that think he's entirely wrong. In other words, while it should be self evident, I don't want anyone to make the mistake of thinking I'm lumping every Christian into a category of believing Jesus is coming this Saturday.

[Vad]

I'm saying that it isn't only people of other beliefs but even a large percent of those of similar belief that think he's entirely wrong. In other words, while it should be self evident, I don't want anyone to make the mistake of thinking I'm lumping every Christian into a category of believing Jesus is coming this Saturday.

He better not come this god damn Saturday. I have things I need to do.

[Ashe]

I'm standby this Saturday, so if someone calls in on account of ascending to Heaven, my left behind ass has to go in and work for them.

WHICH WOULD BE TERRIBLE.

TERRIBLE.

[Vad]

I'm standby this Saturday, so if someone calls in on account of ascending to Heaven, my left behind ass has to go in and work for them.

WHICH WOULD BE TERRIBLE.

TERRIBLE.

If this actually happens I'll trek my way to you and help out. ;D

[Rem-13]

[Sphi]

The going joke is to convince those people (of Camping's mindset) that the Rapture did come and they were left behind. Hilarity is expected to follow.

My God... brilliant. To the goodwill!

[Saz]

Am I alone in feeling very little sympathy for those who have finacially ruined themselves over this? I go along the line of thinking that if you're stupid enough to buy into this shit you kinda deserve to get fucked.

[John Doe]

Then you think about the kids that got fucked over because of their parents.

[Kaden]

Am I alone in feeling very little sympathy for those who have finacially ruined themselves over this? I go along the line of thinking that if you're stupid enough to buy into this shit you kinda deserve to get fucked.

The individuals who gave away their money? No. Not a single bit of sympathy.

Their co-dependents? Yes, I feel sorry for them.

[Jonathan Meer]

I bought into the religious thing for ages. I believed shit that makes no fucking sense when given just a cursory analysis. Blatantly contradictory shit. I also know well what it's like to be isolated from people who believe different things than you do, and the effect that can have on the way you think.

I have a great deal of sympathy for these people. They seem to be thoroughly sincere, and attempting to believe what is true. That their methodology is absurd and irrational speaks less to any moral failing in themselves, and more to something to which we are all susceptible, in the right circumstance.

Looking back at my upbringing, and my inclinations, I'm the last person who would believe religious things if left to my own devices. I'm deeply empirical and skeptical. But being brought up in a religious household, and being shut off from the worldviews of others has an effect.

Think well of these people (even if they are kinda assholes), but fuck Harold Camping. He is not sincere.

[Rafael]

Assholes have been pulling this bullshit forever, and there's always a pile of folks who buy in and get themselves in deep problems. The kids should all be taken away parents this stupid.

[Orion]

So, wait. Australian Saturday or American Saturday? Because I might get an extra day more than you guys! YESSSSSS

[Kaden]

Everyone knows God runs on America time.

C'mon, Civik.

[Jonathan Meer]

5 PM Kansas time, IIRC