Dark0ne Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Unlocking it because it hasn't sparked any religious debate and I'd put this in the category of money scams, rather than religion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginnyfizz Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Ooh ooh, this just in. God decided to spare us for another 5 months. That could certainly be construed as a snipe at religion, and is not the only remark that could be construed that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark0ne Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 That could certainly be construed as a snipe at religion. It could. But I think it's more a snipe at this imaginary god this "kook" is making up in order to get ridiculous amounts of money, that's piggy-backing off a lot of very ticked off Christians. This guy definitely isn't talking about the Christian god; or any god from any of the recognised religions. The Christians I know on this forum, who I have spoken to, don't have any issue with this thread as they're well aware it's nothing to do with their god/religion at all. Mature approach. Looking for maturity here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quetzlsacatanango Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 If you are determined to be offended, I'm sure you will manage to find a reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginnyfizz Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 It is virtually impossible to explain some of this stuff without actually breaking the forum rules on religious debate, in particular to address Winterfall's post where he says "And second, why are people so eager to see the world end? Why would they want that to happen? If we are indeed the only living things in this universe why would they be so eager for us to die? Why would they be so eager to see the Earth, which is quite a rare planet. get destroyed? I mean seriously, i don't know what's wrong with these people." I cannot explain precisely why, although I believe "these people" are wrong in their precise assertions concerning knowing the exact dates, and would certainly agree that there is an enormous element of financial scam involved, that I can nevertheless see from whence they have developed their views. To do so would involve quoting the religious texts which they are misinterpreting. So we have people making assertions, some of them in a decidedly contemptuous tone "Oooh ooh...God Decided...", without being allowed to give a mature and considered response. There should not be any need to use such tone to express your disagreement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halororor Posted May 24, 2011 Author Share Posted May 24, 2011 That could certainly be construed as a snipe at religion, and is not the only remark that could be construed that way. Not really. I merely summed what Harold Camping said up in a single sentence. If I had wanted to say something with the intent of offending anyone, I would have made the intent clear, but seeing as such behaviour is likely to result in a ban, it would be unlikely for me to do so. But anyways, back on the original topic. I think this Harold Camping is just another one of those people who preys on people's fears. I'll admit it, when 6PM got closer in my country, even I started wondering just a little bit. It's just that tiny 'I don't believe it will happen, but what if?' I became athiest earlier this year, so I do not personally subscribe to the belief of the rapture, but there was still this teeny tiny doubt in the back of my mind, just for that little 'what if'. Now the thing with this is there's no sure way to prove it will or won't happen until it actually happens, so it's natural that some people get really scared about this, however illogical it seems. Remember, the Christian belief is more or less based around either leading a good life and going to heaven, or leading a bad life and going to hell, and for a lot of people the prospect of hell is terrifying. I can empathize with this, seeing as I used to be Christian and know how much the idea of hell scared me. I really don't blame people for being so scared. But with this fear there is often people looking to profit from it, and this is what I believe Mr Camping is doing here. He's using the rapture as a way to make money off people's fears. I don't believe for a second even he believes his own predictions. It's just way too ludicrous. The date of the rapture determined by choosing a few numbers he thinks represents certain stuff in the Christian religion, then multiplying them with other random numbers? Sounds fishy to me. Some people would say people who believe this are stupid, but I would concur. Stupidity and fear are two different things. Stupidity really makes people stupid, but fear can cloud even the most intelligent peoples' judgments. When you're really scared, you often choose to believe that which places you least in harms way. It's a natural human instinct based on self-preservation. Unfortunately this tactic to make money off people's fears is not restricted to religion. Back in '94 when Apartheid was abolished in South Africa, fear mongers got people to buy hundreds of cans of food to bunker up in their homes, stating that the country would go up in flames now that the non-white populace were freed of their oppression. I bet if you dig through some of the more backwards towns here you'd still find a few people holed up, waiting for the 'black danger' to strike. :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted1848331User Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 If the world will end, it will be on December 21st next year. The Templ-I mean Abstergo will be releasing a satellite that will have the Apple of Eden on it to control the world. No minds, no world. Simple ;D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginnyfizz Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 What I don't get is the reference to The Rapture (when this isn't exactly the way it is referred to in the Bible), and why they think God is going to make an appointment for the Second Coming (quite the contrary, according to said Bible). That's about as much as I can expound without entering into a theological debate, but that is why I actually agree with the general consensus that the nutty Reverend is a cross between a conman and a sad deluded old gent. So nobody need start worrying about the hour of doom at 6pm on 21st of whenever, you'll prolly get less notice than you would have a nuclear Armageddon. And how many people TRULY spend all day worrying about that? If you do, however do you get through a day at school or work? And at the same time, is it not naive to never expect to encounter anything scary in life? (You should have met the Reverend Mother at my school, hehe...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Namesaretaken Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 (edited) Rapture, 2012, Niribu, thats just "Stay down and down get involved" propaganda. Edited May 25, 2011 by Namesaretaken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackRampage Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 This guy managed to get 120 million out of "predicting" a rapture? Money scam indeed. Anyway, what's he going to do when it doesn't happen on 21 October? Make up a new date?Does he even know how much he's cornered himself with this? Or does he actually "believe" in it himself too. If so, then he's not only fooling his followers but himself too :wallbash: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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