May 21st, 2011: End of the World Believers Are Still Going Strong
If the World Doesn't End This Time, Will People Finally Get It?
According to a report on msnbc there are individuals, not tied to any particular church, and loosely connected by various websites and radio broadcasts claiming the world will end (or begin to end anyway) on May 21, 2011. Personally, I just don't believe them. But having been involved with another group once myself, with a date of October 13, 2003, I can sympathize.
This really isn't meant to ridicule these folks. It is a terribly fearsome thing to be terrorized by threats of the end of the world from charlatans convincing you to hold off on living, in fear of "the end." While the preachers pushing this latest end-of-the-world craze aren't strapping on suicide bomber vests and blowing up schools, they're filling human hearts with dread, just the same. Their followers are victims of pious fraud - nothing more - and I am sad for them.
Why May 21st, 2011?
According to Harold Camping of Family Radio Worldwide, the date is arrived at, after a "close reading of the scripture." He has calculated the end of everything based upon the founding of Israel in 1948. After the rapture on May 11, 2011, those of us left on Earth are in for a time of torment, concluding with the "end of time" sometime in October. Of course, followers also state that if the event does not occur as planned "God's Word" is still valid. (Interesting how that works, aint it? Even when preachers and other charlatans are proven wrong - They're still somehow magically "right." That's how brainwashing works. It's the most popular method to control people, because it works!)
Let's hold them to their date of May 21st, 2011.
Harold Camping is quoted as saying: "Beyond the shadow of a doubt, May 21 will be the date of the Rapture and the day of judgment." Notice the "beyond the shadow of a doubt" part. Those are his words, and not mine. That reads quite similar to the same mythical garbage I was once fed. It reads similar to the claims of countless other "prophets" throughout world history.
When this non-event fails to occur, like all the others before, folks like myself can only hope for one thing: When we do not see the end of the world, let's see the end of religion. Let it die in it's own muck. Until these mythic invisible sky fairies are exposed for what they are (the inventions of charismatic madmen) mankind can not hope for true freedom.
May 21st, 2011 does hold significance, though.
This date is immediately before mine and Janet's first anniversary. The very next day after the rapture does not occur is the first anniversary of my stepping off of the bus, seeing Janet across the parking lot, and learning what real love can mean. So, while some may be making ready for the end of the world, we'll be celebrating what it means to finally live. Celebrate with us, won't you?
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Published by Donald Pennington - Featured Contributor in Politics
Donald contributes on a wide variety of topics. Among his favorites are movie reviews, political commentary, divorce, and crime commentary. See something you like? Share it on Twitter! View profile
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31 Comments
Post a CommentI was packed. Imagine my disappointment!
Guffaw...
harold camping is nuts....
So "Helping Hand," are you also asserting the ancient Romans ignored the very legal system they invented (and of which were very proud) to release a convicted murderer, in order to execute a religious heretic,of a deity they didn't even recognize? Really? History indicates that not to be so likely, as often purported. No. The end isn't going to come this way, because life is not over, yet. Those old religious mythologies have been mis-used for so many reasons, and for so long. It's just time for folks to wake up and realize they're all made up fantasy.
No one can tell when 'the end of the world' will come! This is because, no one can tell how long this dispensation of God's grace is, that is the period that we now live in, also called the "church age". This age started when Jesus was crucified. The Jewish nation said "away with Him, we will not have this man to reign over us". At that point the dispensation of Law ended, and God stopped dealing intimately with Jews. But the Gospel period to all people started, this period has being going on now for over 2,000 years, and for how long more no one knows...Everyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour from all nations are 'The Church' Jesus could return for the church to day, He said in John 14, " if I go away, I will come again to receive you unto myself" & when the "church age" ends, only then will God again start to deal with Jews & Only then CAN ANYONE COUNT days. The 7 years of Tribulation &
John B., I find it funny you should use biblical references and phrases like "real facts" in the same sentence. Seriously, guy. Catch a clue. Read that book of yours (or any of them) for what they're saying, and you won't be able to help but see they're all made up. There was a reason the priesthood kept folks from actually reading those texts for as long as they could.
Granted this guy Harold Camping is a religious nut job and not to be given any credence, but according to the bible there is going to be an end to this world someday and we all need to be ready! God will not force anybody to believe in Him or ask Him for salvation, but regardless of lunitic charismatic cult leaders like Camping, Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. It is going to happen someday...unfortunately no one will be expecting it and it will not be announced by any man. Even Jesus didn't know the date. Just check out the real facts with your own eyes in the bible and use the brain that God gave you. you might still not believe it but at least you say you were true to your self and openminded enough to want to know the real facts of the issue. See ya May 22nd!
Throughout the history of Western civilization, people have periodically entered episodes of mass hysteria, in which hundreds or thousands decided that the end of the world was nigh. It's been going on for at least 2,000 years, but people still buy into it.
The world isn't ending any time soon. We've just all gotten so cozy with our modern lifestyles that we forget how good we've really got it. The War in Iraq was nothing compared to World War II. Swine flu was a joke compared to the bubonic plague. Famines now are a walk in the park when looked at through the lens of the past. Things are really pretty damned good.
I don't think I commented on this when you first published it. Glad I caught it on FB. Heck, at least I'll get to see Audrey graduate from preschool before the end comes. :)
That's funny, Ronaldo. I never knew any bible, or other "holy book" wherein anything was ever said that wasn't said by a person. "God®" never said anything.