Harold Camping: Oct. 21 is the New Doomsday

Harold Camping has predicted, for a third time, the world's ending. The date has been updated to Oct. 21. According to watikalemon.com , Camping claims his calculations were once again slightly off. He also claims that his initial date, May 21, was "an invisible judgment day," and that a "spiritual judgment took place." Essentially, as watickalemon.com puts it, "he was right, you just can't see it."

This would be the appropriate spot for an Internet lingo "lol."

From what I've gathered, here's the scoop on how Camping explains it: the world was supposed to come to a screeching halt via a catastrophic earthquake on May 21. Post the apocalyptic earthquake would come five months of the world coming to its final ending on Oct. 21. Camping is now claiming he was incorrect about the five months bit and the world will end, sans any slow burn conclusion, entirely on Oct. 21.

Here's the good news my dear readers: it turns out Camping isn't necessarily the nut job we all thought he was; he's just really awful at math. The bad news: whether he is a nut job or whether he just is awful at math, the odds are unfortunately stacked against him either way. In the words of Stephen Colbert in a recent broadcast; "these people are experts in predicting the end of the world -- -- .as in they've done it before." Though I suppose the good/bad overhead depends on whether or not you want the world to end.

All the above being said, I feel somewhat low in taking such a sarcastic approach concerning those in Camping's camp. But I, along with many others I believe, don't know where else to take it at this point. It's well past the point of absurdity, and sure, myself and others writing and reporting on it are falling right into where Camping and his people want us to: giving them publicity, but it's hard not to run with it; and maybe have a little fun along the way.

I've done nothing but take the factual evidence of what Camping has done to both give some information (even if biased), and poke a little fun. In terms of the backing of his claims (which are said to be "biblically based"), they don't come close. He's just doing what so many religious leaders have been so keen at over the centuries: taking one obscure verse out of context all the while ignoring the dozen or so verses that directly refute their claim.

Of course, all of our fun has the possibility of abruptly ending in October and I'll be condemned for such a sarcastic approach. Third time's a charm right? I'll take my chances, Mr. Camping.

Sources

http://watikalemon.com/canadianlemon/2011/05/23/harold-campong-predicts-new-doomsday-october-21st-2011/

http://www.mayanpredictions.net/october-21st-doomsday-harold-campings-new-judgment-day-is-10212011/.html