apocalypse-predicting twit figures out how time-zones work

[rivendellrose]

Harold Camping, the twit who has been (once again) predicting the end of the world, this time for the 21st of this month (aka "tomorrow"), has finally figured out that if, as he originally said, the end days would begin at 6pm local time in each time zone starting on the west coast... that would mean it wouldn't get to most of the world until the 22nd. Oops!

But don't worry. He's figured it out now. The end of the world actually starts tonight!

Which is fine with me, as I always like to have a bit of a party during a supposed apocalypse, and we already had plans to go out with one of The Boy's friends and his wife this evening. Copper River salmon, here I come. ♥

And before anyone asks (not that I really think anyone would, but you never know...); no, I don't think the world will end tonight. Although I am starting to suspect that the beautiful sun Seattle has had the last few days is leaving us, and it may even rain. Which would suck, as I'm wearing a sundress and very non-waterproof flats. I don't believe the world will end in one big go, I don't believe in the rapture (although if I did, I would harbor a distinct suspicion that most of the people with "In case of Rapture, this car will be un-manned" bumper stickers will be stickin' it out with us heathens, because...), I don't believe in pretending to know the mind of God. If you believe in a god, that's just plain arrogant. And, for my money, not very smart - the universe loves to make people look stupid after they've made a big public statement of certainty.

Comments

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

I still can't figure out why this story has been so publicized. It's been the lead story on CNN half a dozen times since I first read about it. So a fringe cult thinks the world is going to end? And everyone else cares because...?

(FWIW, when I was in high school and my Bible Study started on the Book of Revelation, that was the moment, I think now in retrospect, though I wasn't aware of it at the time, that I began my journey towards atheism. Because shit does none of that make sense.)

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

I still can't figure out why this story has been so publicized. It's been the lead story on CNN half a dozen times since I first read about it.

I've been trying to figure that out, too - it's been all over NPR the last few weeks. I have a theory about why they're covering it, at least - they've been referring to the troubles, people leaving their jobs and draining their bank accounts, and also to the fact that Camping has predicted the end of the world before, with no effect. So I think they're trying to make a big deal out of it so that he has a slightly harder time sweeping it under the rug when the sun shines bright on Sunday morning, you know?

I hope that's what it is. Because otherwise it's just "quick, distract everyone from the real problems in the world with a fun story about crazies," which, no thanks.

Because shit does none of that make sense.

I remember hearing a really interesting theory that Revelations (...from what I can remember, and I admit that I cannot recall the source of this, so grain of salt is required) is actually an allegory calling out (essentially threatening) the end of the Roman empire. Which delights me, because that makes sense in the context of early Christianity, them thumbing their noses at the empire in a covert fashion.

[gaslightgallows]

I remember hearing a really interesting theory that Revelations (...from what I can remember, and I admit that I cannot recall the source of this, so grain of salt is required) is actually an allegory calling out (essentially threatening) the end of the Roman empire.

I also recall hearing this theory--I think it was in my Bible as Lit class in college. And it made me very happy! Because it means that the end of the world already happened, centuries ago! And now the entire species is living in a post-apocalyptic world that does not involve Thunderdome in any way.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Well, you know... from the Roman perspective, the world did end. ;)

[gaslightgallows]

Well, yes, but that's not the issue now... Unless you consider, like Eddie Izzard, that America is the New Roman Empire. ;)

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

The similarities are occasionally more than a bit striking, I must admit.

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

You're more charitable than I am; I totally think it's just "look at the fundie religious nutjobs!" Apparently the story's been popular, which is why everyone keeps hammering away at it. I suspect a lot of the people who've given up their lives and are actively a part of this are depressed or have mental illness, so I just think it's kinda gross the extent to which the story's been covered.

That's pretty much the interpretation I've come to when it comes to Revelation. At the time, learning about it with a youth minister who preached the Bible as being one hundred percent truth and no metaphor or allegory (which...I sometimes wonder how this dude ever managed to read the Bible, because seriously), I was just like, No. I cannot accept this. This makes no sense and I don't want this to be the way I look at the world. I mean, I didn't think of it quite so rationally, that was more subconscious, but yeah. Six years later and I was out!

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

I suspect a lot of the people who've given up their lives and are actively a part of this are depressed or have mental illness, so I just think it's kinda gross the extent to which the story's been covered.

I never know what to think with that sort of thing. Some of them certainly seem to be, but I often find that when I assume these sorts of things are all just people who have legitimate issues, there turn out to be people who seem to have nothing wrong with them at all. They just... got sucked into something.

This makes no sense and I don't want this to be the way I look at the world.

Same, if that could be translated into small-child logic. I wasn't really raised with religion, though - church was always a faintly odd thing that friends' families did and that I occasionally got dragged along on, much to my confusion. My mother swears she took me to Sunday school a few times when I was little, and I tended to just loudly and cluelessly ask where the dinosaurs fit in and things like that. I do distinctly remember arguing with someone at probably a friend's church about how the thing with Jonah couldn't possibly be true because whales don't eat people. I was very indignant.