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Subscribe to RSSA California preacher predicted the world would end today. It didn't happen. NBC's George Lewis reports.
As the talk of a world-ending Rapture turns to ridicule, a new set of worries is coming to the fore: How will the followers of Family Radio preacher Harold Camping react to their failure to ascend to heaven? What about all those millions of dollars that were contributed to Camping's cause, including the life savings that were exhausted in the effort? And what does this portend for next year, when an even more highly publicized date with doomsday is due?
First, about the failed prophecy: With just a few hours before Rapture Saturday goes into the history books, this day turned out to be pretty normal, all in all. No cataclysmic earthquakes (although there was an Icelandic eruption and a couple of significant shakers in Japan and a New Zealand island chain). No global strife (except for the usual mayhem in the usual places). And no snatching up of millions of believers into heaven (although a good number of pranksters made it look as if clothes and shoes were "left behind").
Also, no sign of Camping himself. The minister's California-based broadcasting concern has collected and spent millions of dollars over the past few years to promote his prophecy that Judgment Day would come on May 21, 2011, based on his own idiosyncratic interpretation of Bible numerology. He and other church leaders are likely to avoid making a public appearance until Sunday at the earliest. (The Family Radio website has been offline for most of the day today.)
Some of Camping's are already returning to their daily lives. The Associated Press highlighted the case of Keith Bauer, a tractor-trailer driver who hung around Family Radio's Oakland headquarters today waiting for the end. "I had some skepticism, but I was trying to push the skepticism away because I believe in God," Bauer told AP. "I was hoping for it because I think heaven would be a lot better than this earth."
Then he added, "It's God who leads you, not Harold Camping."
Bauer and his family took a week off to make the cross-country drive from their home in Maryland, and they'll start the drive back home on Sunday.
Anthea Butler, a professor of religious studies at the University of Pennsylvania, told NBC News that the ordeal is far from over for Camping's followers. For some of them, who have spent their life savings to spread the word of the Rapture, the worst days could well lie ahead.
"I think it's important to watch out for people who were in the midst of this group, to make sure that they don't harm themselves, or that they don't harm others," she said.
When prophecy fails
The Oakland connection brought to mind the case of Rev. Jim Jones, who got his start as a charismatic religious leader in that city, brought his followers to a People's Temple religious community set up in the jungles of Guyana ... and touched off a mass suicide there in 1978. The 1997 mass suicide of Heaven's Gate UFO cultists in the San Diego area serves as yet another cautionary tale from California.
But unlike People's Temple and Heaven's Gate, Family Radio did not isolate its supporters under cultlike conditions. Rather, these are regular Christians who sent in millions of dollars in contributions but continued to be engaged in their communities. A better analogy might be found in the case of the "Planet Clarion" UFO cult, which was the subject of the 1956 book "When Prophecy Fails."
In the early 1950s, a Chicago housewife named Dorothy Martin attracted followers who believed her claim that a great flood would destroy the earth on Dec. 21, 1954. Only Martin's followers would be saved, supposedly by the alien beings that had alerted her to the threat via automatic writing. The authors of the book infiltrated the group and saw firsthand how the group reacted when the promised rescue (and flood) did not come.
The group waited until past the bitter end for the aliens' arrival, experiencing deep disappointment at the prophecy's failure. But a few hours after the deadline, Martin transmitted the message that the cataclysm had actually been called off due to divine intervention. This re-energized the group to reach out and spread the word once more. The episode helped lay the foundation for the concept of cognitive dissonance, pioneered by social psychologist Leon Festinger, one of the co-authors of "When Prophecy Fails."
A great disappointment
In the case of Family Radio, there are additional factors in play: One has to do with the huge amounts of money collected and spent by the non-profit organization. Although verifiable figures on Family Radio's current finances are not available, the organization had $72 million in net assets at the end of 2009. How much of that remains, especially considering that Camping apparently expected to have shuffled off this mortal coil by now? Could contributors make legal claims on those funds?
The highly publicized failure of the prophecy could generate a backlash among the wider public as well. It's strange to think that the non-end of the world would spark an angry response, but there is a precedent: When Baptist preacher William Miller's prediction of a Second Advent on Oct. 22, 1844, failed to pay off, the "Great Disappointment" led to violence against Miller's followers in some quarters.
I can guarantee that there won't be any tarring-and-feathering of Camping or his supporters, as there was in the case of the Millerites. Nevertheless, there is some understandable resentment over this episode, as expressed in some of the postings to the Cosmic Log Facebook page.
At least one good thing may come out of today's non-Rapture: More folks are likely to realize that there's nothing to numerological mumbo-jumbo, whether it comes from the Bible or the Maya calendar. If fewer people are freaked out about the supposed predictions that the world will end on Dec. 21, 2012, that's a very good thing. The end will come, whether it's tomorrow or several billion years from now. But as a famous man once said, we do not know the day or the hour. Until then, make the most of every day, have your disaster kit ready ... and for heaven's sake, DON'T PANIC!
Update for 9:15 a.m. ET May 22: Rapture Saturday is now history all over the world, and Camping's prophecy is now a total fail. Journalists caught up with Staten Island retiree Robert Fitzpatrick, who spent $140,000 of his own money to put up advertising about the end of the world and wrote a book about "The Doomsday Code." The Associated Press quoted him as saying, "I can't tell you what I feel right now. ... Obviously, I haven't understood it correctly because we're still here."
After spending five years preparing for a Rapture that didn't come, Fitzpatrick said he didn't know what his next move would be. "I'm tired," the Staten Island Advance quoted him as saying. "I was working hard trying to get the word out. I'm very surprised. I fully expected that something would happen."
There's still no word from Camping himself, but things are getting ugly on his Facebook page.
More about the Rapture rumblings:
- All quiet on the Rapture front
- 'Left behind' by humorgeddon
- Why we're enraptured by the Rapture hype
- Rapture prophet says he'll be watching the action on TV
- Digital Life: Post-rapture video reveals stunning lack of zombies
- The Last Word: Only hours to go until the (fake) Rapture
- End of Days? Believers enter the final stretch
- End of the world? How about a party instead?
- Slate: 144 scenarios for America's apocalypse
- Pet sitting offered during Rapture
- Doomsday facts (or fictions)
Review all the Rapture weekend updates by checking CosmicLog.com/Rapture. You can also connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page or following @b0yle on Twitter. And for something completely different, check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.
Leave a Comment:
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it could just be lag ;)
i'm a former "christian." raised in the lutheran church from birth to late 20s, then a "born again" christian for another 8 or so years. the thing is .. all these people who believed this "man" who thinks he knew when the alleged "judgment day" is coming, are fools. if they really believe in god ... and the bible .. it clearly states that "NO ONE will know the day or time, not even the angels in heaven."
the fact that millions of people sold belongings, paid and signed contracts for their pets to be taken care of (funny the people who started that business knew *they* would be still be here), paid life savings to put banners and billboards to tell others, shows that they are not real believers. they wouldn't believe the word of a "man" over the bible.
that being said, it just shows that all religion is cult-like. people blindly believing this nonsense. it's very sad.
I totally agree, It is sad that people need to follow such a person who thnks they know more than the divine!!!
The pet care people say all their employees are sworn atheists, and as part of the hiring process are required to commit blasphemy to assure that they will not be taken away when the Rapture arrives.
He's laughing all the way to the bank. He's made tens of thousands of dollars so far. Non-refundable, cash up front.
The rapture was May 21 2011 If you are still here SORRY Jesus has already left with his bus load of followers
John-1970924
Make that the short bus of followers ;-)
People intuitively know that times are changing. There is a need for spiritual advancement and growth of the human potential. Most people do not know what that is or how to get there. Maybe the rapture is just that: growth of human awareness and potential. So all of you folks out there who are searching for the meaning of all that is, start by reading. Read your own book of wisdom, from your own tradition and culture, then start reading the many other books from other cultures. Try the Upanishads, try understanding the Kabbalah or the Koran, read Joseph Campbell and Thomas Merton. Understand the teachings of the Buddha. Seek and you shall find your way. And if you want to donate, find a worthy cause. There are many going hungry in the world today. God love you one and all.
If I didn't have any morals or ethics then I'd become a preacher. I hear the pay is pretty good, I could drive a Mercedes and a Lexus and possibly even have my own private jet. Best yet, if I put it in the Church's name then it's all tax free, let the other suckers pay taxes to support my belief and teachings that every person should breed like rabbits. After all, that's what is says in Genesis.
But alas, my damn parents raised me the wrong (right) way and I just can't get myself to do it...
This explains it all:
According to what I have heard, the Mayan calendar most experts are using for their December 21, 2012 prediction that the world is going to end is incorrect. According to the calendar I'm using, the end of the world occurs 49 days earlier on November 2nd, 2012.
According to what you have heard? What, on the internet? From "experts?" Good for you. I'll be taking the over, and you need to get a life.
The quick tounge lacks decernment.
They can predict the end of the world, but they couldn't predict the landing of the Spanish, disease, overpopulation, peasant revolt, drought that led to the collapse of their civiization. Besides my 15 year loan is up 2014 and I can't imagine that my bank would let a Mayan ancient calendar to stand in their way to collect all their interest.
Its not that I don't think the world won't end and maybe sooner than later, but my thought is that bad air, poor quality of water, war, poverty, trash and famine will probably end our world and the only one to blame in us. What did Pogo say in 1970 - as he looked at the trash left in the forest. We have met the Enemy and he is Us.
Booya1
The end of the Mayan Calendar is just an end to another Great Mayan Cycle Long Count called a Bak'Tun. Nothing more and nothing less DUH!
http://www.calloffate.com/forums/m/461543/viewthread/415668-mayan-calendar-cycles-or-aka-end-world111/page/1
Why do people give so much credit to the f*&king Mayans?! They were seriously not that impressive.
Jeff-3469909
Give it a rest, the Mayan Society survived for thousands of years the US as been around for 200+ years
Um, is it just me or wasn't Booya1 being facetious? I thought the comment amusing.
@dajasmith It's not just you :)
I don't feel bad for the followers. They were all desperately hoping and praying that billions of people would suffer and die horrible deaths in basically a genocide of massive proportions. The fact that it didn't occur and that they lost massive amounts of money, I consider to be karma for wishing such a thing.
No, they spent millions, all they had in many cases, to alert the rest of the world so they could prepare themselves...remember the signs? the T shirts? the pamphlets? They didn't want anyone to be left behind.
Sorry but the Rapture did come May 21 2011. Just go to show that JESUS did not take any of the RIGHT WING Nut Jobs.
There is something supremely perverse about a person who says "The bodies will be piled high in the streets and the people left behind will suffer for months before the whole world end...I'm SO excited!!"
You can't tell me they wanted everyone to be saved, because if everyone was saved it would mean they weren't superior to anyone else. Some of the believers told family and friends they were being left behind and yet they're now "disappointed" that those people aren't dying and suffering? They spread the world, because the bible requires it. And if they didn't do it, they wouldn't get to go along.
These people need therapy. There is something seriously lacking in their lives that the end of the world sounds like something to be excited about. How lost and depressed do you have to be to hope that the entire world is going end? That's a step shy of suicide in my opinion.
The bible does foretell a world end. And it does speaks of some dying while some lives. It tells us, 'The righteous themselves WILL possess the earth and reside FOREVER upon it.' - Psalms 37:10, 11 It also tells us what to do to be counted among this group. 'This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of YOU the only true God and of the one whom YOU SENT FORTH Jesus Christ.' - John 17:3 We are living in a time foretold of long ago (Matthew 24:3, 7, 8, 11 - 14; 2Timothy 3:1 - 5) Many are beginning to recognise the signs of the end of times and many will become 'faint out of fear and expectation'.... This what occurred here will occur with alarming frequency,frustrating many, and further alienating the majority from the path of the real life. But truth is out here. Find the truth. And the truth will set you free.
Headzy872
"The bible does foretell a world end. And it does speaks of some dying while some lives (sic). It tells us, 'The righteous themselves WILL possess the earth and reside FOREVER upon it.' - Psalms 37:10"
The problem here is as plain and clear as the nose on your face, if you would wake up from your Infatuation with religion and the bible. I just hope you and your kind can grasp this simple fact "THERE ARE NO RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE"! Get over yourselves and get busy living not busy dying..................
The signs of the end of times have been re-occuring for the last 13.7 Billion years, give me a break.....
Your right, I was wrong. It's actually occurs 45 days earlier, not 49. The end of the world occurs on November 6th 2010.
Booya1
The end of the Mayan Calendar is just an end to another Great Mayan Cycle Long Count called a Bak'Tun. Nothing more and nothing less DUH!
http://www.calloffate.com/forums/m/461543/viewthread/415668-mayan-calendar-cycles-or-aka-end-world111/page/1
The facinating thing about the 2012 prophecy is that it isn't just the Mayan calendar the ends. If memory serves me the egyptians, the mayans, the celts, and the chinese all end at the same time as well as a computer system designed to predict stock trends by analyzing trends on the internet - it to abruptly halts in 2012.
If you're wondering why I know all this it's because my birthday is 12/21 and I've been hearing about this since at least high school. It is a bit creepy but I'll still be at the DOL next year renewing my license...just in case. ;o)
Again MajorTom doesn't get the joke. You're right, but you're not getting the joke.
dajasmith
What? Something went over my head again? Looks like I need to stand on a ladder when I read this stuff ;-)
http://wontchangetheworld.com/2011/05/21/rapturiffic/
ahhh...silly, silly people. believe in yourself...take care of your families...teach your children to be good ...think positive... if and when it happens, it will. enough already. but to all these people not paying bills, giving out bibles, mission trips to spread 'the word'.... ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. so what are you gonna tell your kids now? give us all a break. stop
I don't understand the connection between donating money and The Rapture. If you truly believe in The Rapture, then just wait for the day when you will be "snatched up". There should be no reason to give your earthly goods to some schlub with a radio station. Where in The Bible does it say, Go forth and giveth all your cash to convince everyone of the coming Rapture? Isn't it a matter of faith? Can faith be bought? This is just another example of someone using religion to separate people from their money.
The Government should really start investigating these nut job religous crazy people for causing all this panic and the media who constantly reporting all of this for enterainment none value they shouldn't have given that STUPID ASS preacher all this attention (Our school system and the poor should be the ones America should be trying to care for than listening to this peice of fictional GARBAGE like the Bible)!We should be moving all the way to the future and science then this religion that causes nothing but death, hatred and wars.
I would like to point out that science can also be a cause of death, hatred, and wars. People in general cause all of those things. Religion causes them because ignorant people flock toward it/there are a lot of religious fakers. I agree that the people involved ought to be held responsible for what they did. It isn't right.
Nah, I don't think gov. should have anything to do with it. Let stupid people do stupid things as long as it involves themselves. Now when stupid people try to BECOME gov. then we are singing to a different tune. Thing is they have a freedom to believe whatever they want to believe and invest in it as well and that freedom should be supported. You can't force people to think logically anyways, so the best you can do is watch them screw themselves over and make sure they don't get in the position to screw the world over like they do their children. Which, is again a whole nother can of worms.
My friends it boils down to this, if you claim to be of a certain faith, for example, Christian ( Which I believe I am, born again) yet you can't tell me who the apostles were, or the disciples, and you haven't read the bible, since childhood when bible study was actually Sunday Childcare & not really study.
If you believe a preacher, a pastor, an Imam or a Mullah. And you follow them blindly without the knowledge of the written word that backs up your religion or faith, inside you, then you are the "Idiots" Christ referred to (My choice of words Idiots) in his parable, about the blind man leading the blind man, they both fall into a (the) pit.*
It was clear to me that most people who claim to be a Christian, and yet follow a blind Idiot, yes "Idiot' like this twice failed preacher, deserve everything they get because," if you have not the word in you, you have not God, the Father,The Son, or The Holy Spirit in you either"*
No man(one) shall know the Day, nor the Hour, of Christ's return, And yes he does return for the Rapture, but does not touch ground, "for they are met in the clouds",*
"He shall come like a thief in the night"*
Do you claim to know the mind of GOD!!!You fools. *
They will say he is here, come he is there, but go not, for there are false messiahs and false Christ's who will rise among you, *
Get the picture? If you believe what someone else tells you, and your to stupid, or lazy to check out the facts for yourself, (especially in the digital age) then you deserve to fall in the pit.
Next time I hope you rich idiots, come around me, I could use a fat bank account.
peace baby
*( The above quotes are all paraphrased)
look em up yourself if you doubt me!!!!
You are right!! Most people haven't spent a second reading the most important book in the world and either blindly trust another with their eternal life or damn the bible as fictional. Either way - I wouldn't want to be them on judgement day.
Hey, Mr. Camping is wrong. We can all say that easily today, the day after his prediction.
But prior to that, my family did something we Christians had not ever done. We sat around the kitchen and read from several different versions of the Bible. NIV, King James, Living, Couples Devotional, even online from our iphones. We benefited greatly. We came closer, had discussion. Hopefully this becomes a new habit. We now know Mark's book much better (as in at all). We read how to treat people better and love people.
So, even though some bad comes of this, our family is better off and so are the people we come in contact with. Best of all, we know the God we love better and will try to live our lives as such. Now for everyone out there, can you name a big event caused you to go out and read a self help book that enriched your loved ones life as well as all you come in contact with? Christian or not, we all need to spend time doing just this. If you have to shop for such a book, here's my recommendation, try the Bible. Lots of people died to get it published and hey, its been accepted all over the world.
jackie-3510214
The Bible the most important book in the world, what, are you kidding me? Name one thing in your life that was brought about by someone reading the bible. Let's see now, your car, airplanes, ships, toasters, washing machines, cloths driers, radio, TV, the computer you are using to type nonsense on, heart monitors, x-ray machines, MRI machines?
I'd take just one good math book over the Bible any day of the week..............................
If people had more faith in the spirit that is within them, and not a book, you wouldn't have these problems GW.
@ MajorTom. Many good things have come out of the bible, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and so on. The bible gives me hope when life looks impossible, and joy when things are bleak. I have to say that the bible gives me much more than material things that eventually stop working.
Jesus Freak-3078363
You are forgetting the other things the bible has given us, like senseless death and destruction how about intolerance and ignorance........ sorry but this list could go on all day..........
Personally I believe this calls for a little good old fashioned religious persecution. And then to top it off a revolution of our primitive religious beliefs. Honestly I think we'd be better off with getting rid of or prohibiting the ownership and/or operation of any source of mass communication with the intent to spread a message of religious intent. We would be so much better off without crazy old people like Camping trying to shove religion down our throats, or even get us to send money to get in with the graces of God. Public speeches by religious folks preaching about the end of the world SHOULD be banned. Unfortunately they won't, and knowing my luck some religious nut will attack me because I'm saying religion should be silenced... well... let em.
After all.. I seem to forget who was behind the "Holy" Crusades. And the cleansing of the Americas. Oh! My personal favorite, the Inquisition. Rofl. Yeah, thanks church, its been a blast with you preaching peace on one hand and dishing out maiming, tortures and slaughters as well as wars all in the name of your God. And all while that was going on you act all victimized when ever someone attacks you or tries to stop you. At this point your almost as bad as the prehistoric Muslims. And Camping's little charade is just another excuse for you to get into the spotlight once again. Have fun on the 22nd!
Persecution for this? Nawwww... it's been very entertaining and absolutely free for us non-believers. The bill has been completely footed by those who fell for it.
Besides, persecution just convinces them even more that they're right and the chosen ones.
It's better to just laugh at them. As I said, it's free entertainment and perhaps laughing at such foolishness will deter people from doing it more than fighting with them will.
Actually, I'll say you're wrong and I'm a liberal and a deist (a non-Christian belief system). What you are proposing goes against two clauses in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, the Freedom of Speech and the Freedom of Religion. We're supposed to let everyone have their say and believe what they want to believe. What you propose is clearly against the values of the Constitution and would be a step toward making us a totalitarian society.
That said, I too agree that these people were nuts and that, while religion may have benefits on the individual level, it is poisonous to society as a whole.
As my daddy used to say, "People have been waiting for Jesus to return for 2,000 years and they'll still be waiting in 10,000 more".
I hope that Mr.Camping will learn once and for all that no one can second guess God. Why, His thoughts are not our thoughts. Neither are His ways our ways. His clock is not set on earth time. A day here is as a thousand years. And a thousand years is as a day. This way of describing how He views time is in the Bible. Let us therefore cease all attempts at figuring out the Divine. God is God, and He will never be getting down to play along with any of man's pronouncements. Are we not as dust - in His estimation? So, it should be easy for any of us to understand that the Almighty will be the One to call the shots. Not us. When the wickedness of man becomes too much even for Him to bear, He will surely call things into account. No fear. Until then, "the Judge of the Universe" will do right. He is longsuffering to usward, and His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. Afterall, He did not make this beautiful world to self-destruct. He made this blue planet expressly for us - so that we may, as the catechism says, "enjoy Him forever."
The Bible is full of passages that talk of how God works. He often relates one on one with those who acknowledge Him. The many "ifs" in it tell us that He will work with us, if we will deal honorably with Him.
As a Christian, I love life, and I live the Golden Rule, as taught by Jesus. For as long as I can remember, my pathway has brought me ever onward and upward. Life is good. So, I can say honestly that I do indeed live in a little bit of heaven here, on earth. And as I have many good opportunities open to me to reach out to those who are less fortunate than I, I am in no hurry to hasten the rapture. I am managing well, the little corner of the vineyard He has put me to work in, is why. My take is: when it happens, it will happen. There is nothing I can do but go, then. Until He comes, I will go on, giving of my maximum to His work, and living my life to the best of my ability.
Amen to that!
The Rapture was May 21 2011. If you are still here Jesus must hate you
Wishful thinking and general BS.
As sheep lay down for the slaughter baaaa baaaaa.........................
hello
Im part of a Church in Forest hills Queens, LCA (Local Christian Assembly)which was recently in the news for FBI investigations, ponzi scheme and ministers did go to jail. Recently there has been "handwriting on the wall" from GOD which only one man can see and is being relayd to us by the pastor. There has been predictions but when they dont come true we jus get another 'handwriting" from GOD and all is well sounds a lot like the D. Martin story from this article.Im a believer but finding it hard to 'believe'.
1caught in the mess, sounds like that church needs to be cleaned out of everyone who can't see the "handwriting" on the wall. That sounds Unbelieveable.
God will not use someone to give a message to us that is not in His word for all of us to see. We may not see it exactly when someone else does but when when God is trying to teach us something we will see a something in God's work that we've seen many times before but God will open our minds and hearts to the true meaning.
Try just believing in yourself for a change. Most churches and religions are set up to benefit someone at the top (Ponzi schemes) - not honest people like you who are looking for something to believe in.
I recommend you read "Looking Out for Number One" by Robert Ringer. The book itsn't what it sounds like from the title. This book completely changed my life at a time when I was looking for something.
I wish you well.
Debora-389330
How in the world do you know what God wants or does or where he lives or what he thinks. I love the audacity of people who presume such, until of course, you wise up and know there is no God..........
Please stop trolling, MajorTom. People are entitled to their opinions, and you ought not insult them. If you get so worked up over posts on the internet...close the browser, take a breather, and come back.
Kittin1124
Uh oh! Someone died and left you in charge? What? Are you the God Police? The radical right is trying very hard to highjack this country and you seem oblivious to the fact. Are you really that naive? What, you are waiting until your kid comes home from school asking why grandpa never mentioned walking with the dinosaurs?
You better wake up and smell the coffee...................
The things that make me the most upset about this 'rapture' prediction are that 1) it makes all Christians seem like we're nutjobs when this was just what amounts to a handful of people in the big scheme of things, and 2) should some natural disaster happened to have occurred today, it could have led to a mass panic. Had Japan's earthquake occurred today instead? It could have led to outbreaks of violence and all because ONE MAN decided that today was the day the world would end based off of a mathematical equation HE made up! I wasn't worried that the rapture would occur, and I like to think that we have a merciful God who can easily see that there is still a lot of good in this world. I was more worried that people may be injured or killed because the ignorance of one can lead to the ignorance of many. I'm thankful that so far this does not seem to be the case and that the worse thing to happen will probably be a lot of embarrassed followers admitting that they DO NOT know better than our God! I feel it should be illegal to go out and say the world will end on any given day. Its like yelling fire in a crowded building. Ridiculous and dangerous.
Xcuse me i'm a Christian and not all christians are nuts. There are crooks, scammers and nuts in any religion to enrich them self. Using oneself logics and analyze ask what is he talking about is important and not to be led like sheeps to jump into a ravine. From Camping to Swaggart to Haggard to Robertson to Falwell to other TV and radio evangelist/preacher. all they want is to part you from your hard earned money. These people will preach to the extreme to get more money to support their lifestyle. They will not help when you need help. The bible also said "No one can predict the end oif the world" and not one word was said to tithe 10%. Remember Jesus feed the people also, all these evangelist are usually involved in a scandals one way or another. Is okay to give what you can, not what the church wants you to give. So what is Camping doing now with all what he collected, calculate a new rapture day because he screw up?
wyriz, I am under the impression that lizziebug does not believe all Christians are nuts. But besides that I agree with your post. :)
If people would stop listening to this man, and read God's word for themselves they would have known that he is a LIAR. He is NOT GOD! He doesn't not know God's plans, no man knows the plans of God.
You would think after all of the failures on people's part to say which day is the "end" people would be smart. As it was put in "MIB" man is smart, people are dumb and paniky. God is not going to tell any man when he will come to take His children home. Pull out a good New King James Bible and read it. Let God teach you what he says and find a God fearing (respecting) Bible preaching Preacher and go to church. You will be surprised how wonderful it is to learn how much you will know.
This is a better read: "On the Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin.
Debora-389330
Just how do you know what God's word is? Do you have any idea how many versions of the Bible there are? Are you reading the right version? Do you thing the Bible is the word of God, when it was written by men?
Recently read, Perceptional Threshold by Casper Parks... Although a work of fiction, gave great insight
into Christianity from a science fiction perspective.
I'm not sure about Rapture, but facebook just passed 666 million registrations Worldwide
With them all being my friends my wall is getting rather cluttered.
The day was a disappointment: The pub where I was looking forward too their great prime rib was an hour behind and I settled for roast chicken, my round of keno was a bust returning only 2 bucks on 10 spent, nobody who annoyed me disappeared and there was no triple crown winner for this season. Statistically speaking the great majority of events ran right down the middle of the probability charts.
I think the hype starter's should all be charged with fraud and those mislead given their belonging's and money back from the scammer's. Everyone knew that the day of rapture was a scam and those responsible for the quick grab of money and property are the real evil or Satan at work.
So say that god does not exist is one thing, but to play on someon'es belief to make them poor and feel dumb about theirself for believing what they are told too by someone they they look up too in my opinion is worth 25 years in jail.
If this would have occured in the Middle East, those that scammed the innocent and are sitting behind their Satanic smiles would have been buried upto their necks where rocks would have been thrown at them while the ants sought their own greater truth and purpose by removing the evil from their heads.
Totally uncalled for and without question the most moronic and retarded thing a person could do to another.
Makes America look bad as well when the crank pots do stuff like this. No one wants to trust America if we allow all citizen's to be treated in such a manner.
Let em burn.
In the middle east these preacher encourage self blow out to kill innocent bystander by promising virgins (unknown sex/age/species) in after life, unforunately there are quite a lot of ignorant fools/suckers and those are mostly males and do it without asking what sex the virgins are, so i reckon these suiciders are having a ball going around after round in after life. ( can you imagine what will happen to a worshipper questioning the preacher that? In the middle east questioning a preacher is like questioning God )
It says a lot more about the 'Believers' then anything else.
Sad ;;
They fall for every trick there is.
Bless their hearts, ...
As we know,, "Ignorance can be fixed with education, Stupid is forever."
//.,.\\
it simply states in the bible man shall not know the coming of the end of days. The lord God is the only one who know this day. Man can't comprehend a musterseed of knowledge of God. So with that being said do you really think he would let us predict our own doomsday I doubt it. Thanks Harold, you pissed me off and the rest of the world cuz we had to listen to more of this ridiculous bull that you false prophets wanna feed us. And not to mention you swindled millions of dollars but I congrats u on that y because anyone stupid enough to follow what you or others like you teach well they diserve it. And yes you will probably say see the eruption and the earthquakes around the world? News flash the earth burps farts and rumbles all the damn time it's called nature dumb ass and oh yeah no one was hurt but any of That.
Mayday1043
If it's just that simple why do millions of people go to Church every Sunday to hear a preacher "tell them what the bible says"?
Here's the problem I have with people using the Mayan calendar to predict the end of the world. If you read Mayan mythology, the calendar is really saying that December 21, 2012 is the end of the 4th Age of Mankind. According to Mayan myth, there are to be 5 Ages of Man. So to those who say the end of the world is coming, I agree that it is. The end of the world as we know it. I mean, if you think about it, the world as our great-grandparents no longer exists. For them, it took weeks to travel from New York to Los Angeles. Now, we can go from one to the other in just a matter of hours.
I am curious too, could the followers of Camping sue him & Family Radio for fraud since their claims fell flat? Just a thought.
Tom-1921301-1921301
Right on the Money Tom! The end of the existing Mayan Calender is just the end of another Long Count known as a Bak'Tun where the Mayans would tear down the old and replace it with the new to start a new Long Count. The Mayan Calender is a Cyclical Calender so to end a cycle they had to start all over with another cycle. Nothing more than that.