Rapture Lust: A Bible Lesson
T.A. Barnhart
The war in southern Lebanon has been greeted eagerly by the apocalyptic wing of Christian fundamentalism. These folks have been looking for signs of the "end times" ever since Jesus ascended into heaven following the resurrection:
He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:7-11, NIV)
Had the angels just kept their mouths shut, the entire Rapture/Millennium industry might have been nipped in the bud. The apocalyptic interpretations of the Book of Revelations mean nothing without the promise of a return from the sky. I speak with the authority of someone who spent ten years believing this fervently; I read books, attended Bible studies, studied the topic rigorously — and I believed. The Second Coming: this is its source.
What gets left out of the studies and books and Tim LaHaye pipedream novels, however, is the very first sentence in that passage, the words Jesus, not the angels, speaks: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority." It is not for you to know.... Religious dogmatists and propagandists (in all faiths) do this constantly: pick-and-choose what passages they will select for legitimacy. "Come back from the sky" is a big favorite; ignorance of when this will happen isn't so popular.
Here's another the end-timers tend not to publicize:
"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." (Matthew 24:42-44, NIV)
Or then there's this, also from Jesus:
"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come." (Mark 13:32-33)
The importance of the time of Jesus' return being a secret known only to the Father is so critical, it is covered almost identically by Matthew, Mark and Luke — a sign that this is something to pay strong attention to, the three gospels frequently differing in what was recorded. Jesus knew, however, that believers, in their eagerness for final redemption and the Kingdom of God, would be vulnerable to false claims of knowledge of his return:
Then he said to his disciples, "The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. Men will tell you, 'There he is!' or 'Here he is!' Do not go running off after them. For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other." (Luke 17:22-24)
In 1970, Hal Lindsey published "The Late, Great Planet Earth." I remember reading — devouring — the book soon after I became at Christian. I was 15 or 16, my parents had been divorced for several years, and I was a lonely, unhappy, self-hating kid. Both the redemption message of Christianity and the idea that there was a perfect happy ending were hugely appealing to me and millions of other Christians. How great to think that soon, very soon, all this misery would be over and I would be with Jesus forever. Lindsey, more than anyone else, promoted the idea that time was short: the UN was the "Beast", the USSR was Gog or Magog (I forget a few details), etc. I specifically remembered that once the Common Market reached 12 members, it would fulfill a certain prophecy of a 12-headed monster. Well, it did reach 12 — and then rushed right on past, more than doubling Lindsey's requirement. So much for prophetic interpretations of the End Times.
But this is typical of such "teachings." To paraphrase George Carlin, they call 'em as they see 'em, and if they don't see 'em — they make it up. There's nothing to see, not if the Second Coming is a fact of future history as Jesus and the angels said. Jesus was very explicit: no one would know when it would happen. In fact, he warned, if someone tells you they know, they are full of it. Don't believe these false prophets; that's exactly what Jesus called such people, those who would deceive the believers at the end:
"At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect — if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time. So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather." (Matthew 24:23-28, NIV)
The grotesque part of this is not the deception of believers; they have to answer to God for not paying attention to some of the clearest words in the New Testament. The part that sickens me is the eagerness that greats "wars and rumors of wars," the holy excitement when there are famines and earthquakes, even the stupid thrill of being persecuted in the United States! Which, of course, Christians are not, being the majority religion; but it always feels good to be a victim, especially when your victimization makes you part of Biblical prophecy.
So when Christians around the world should be demanding an immediate end to the horrors of the war in Lebanon and Israel, the Rapture junkies are salivating. Wonder why Bush is doing absolutely dick? Apart from the usual ineptitude of his administration? Because he, too, believes this is a sign of the end. If he were to emulate Clinton or Carter and bring peace to that region (to any region), he would be in service of the Anti-Christ, working to delay the Second Coming. As if that were possible, but a fundamental truth to be remembered in such things: These people have made God in their own image. What they believe is what they know God has transmitted to them as holy fact.
Christians — I would wish I could use the term "real" Christians, but that's not possible — remember what might be possibly Jesus' most important words:
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:34-40, NIV)
1 John 3 speaks of the expectations Jesus had for his followers: to love one another, to live without sin, to lay down their lives for one another. Jesus set the bar high: in Matthew 25, he said those who feed the hungry, visit the prisoners, care for the sick — those who live lives of love and service — would be those he recognized as his followers. High-fives for the slaughter of thousands of innocents in the vain hope of speeding the Second Coming hardly fits that requirement.
Children are dying, horribly, shredded by bombs and falling buildings. Their parents are dying. Thousands are being demolished for life, losing eyes, limbs, sanity. The horror show in Lebanon and Israel is no grand prelude to God's Kingdom; it's a hell created by humans who have no regard for any God whatsoever. Religious words pass from mouths, but it's utter bullshit. It's sacrilegious, evil, arrogant and full of demonic hate. The inaction of Bush is every bit as sinful. Yet the Rapurists feel an inner joy: the End is coming! Jesus will return soon!
But if he does, I don't think it will be to sweep these people up in his arms. I think it will be to spit in their faces with contempt.
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Jul 31, '06
These same Theocrats who have taken over the Republican Party also commit great sin when they try to engage US troops in wars overseas to speed the Apocalypse. Although they called themselves "Right to Life" oriented, they seem to love to kill people: capital punishment, waging war, etc. Jesus made it very clear that killing was wrong, and God stated that He did not desire the death of a sinner. The Theocrats have turned the entire End Times theology into a money making machine. It won't change anytime soon. It reminds me how that Oral Roberts decades ago preached that getting a divorce and remarrying was one of the greatest sins before God, then when his son divorced his wife and remarried, Oral Roberts received a "vision from God" telling him that such behavior was morally acceptable.
Jul 31, '06
No,...you're right,..we're not to know the day or hour. But the Lord wants us to be able to distinguish the time in which we live. If for no other reason, to increase evangelism to the lost. He's given us unmistakable signs through "a more sure word of prophecy", that the hour is late,...he provides us with knowledge to discern the signs of the times so we won't be caught unawares.
The date setters concern themselves with the day and hour..The Christian who studies his word of prophecy, concern themselves with the overwhelming evidence,.. fulfilling the Lords warnings laid out through his word,..old & new testament. This in it's self is a powerful tool of witness!
As far as those that get excited over world events? Why is this such a disturbing revelation? Anyone who knows the promises of the Lord, and soon coming righteous rule of Christ on earth, can't help but wish it were tomorrow! It is perfectly normal as a Christian to hate this world, and look with excitement to his glorious return, in fact there's a reward in heaven for those that do.
Yes,..Children are dying, being shredded by bombs. You might want to take that up with the people who follow a religion that find no problem nor guilt in engineering such carnage. No qualms in placing their own brothers , sisters, and young ones in harms way to gain victory in war. You see,...those fifty three souls are now in paradise according to those who follow this religion. No judgment by their god, they died during a holy war, and according to their beliefs, these were translated straight to their eternal reward. Those who are responsible for their deaths can without any guilt what so ever justify this action, and probably feel they've performed a great service removing them from this wicked world, into everlasting bliss! Good God Almighty,..is it any wonder why we as Christians hunger for the end of this age!?
A 2000 year warning was given that these things would befall the earth,....and we're told be not afraid. A 2000 year warning was given on how to recognize this time we're living in,...we were told fear not!
Do I worry about the day or hour? Not in the least! Do I study scripture, and take a bearing on where I am in history, as laid out in prophecy? Absolutely! Do I look forward with great anticipation and joy the soon returning King of Kings who saved a wretched one like me through his own death and shedding of his own blood? Unequivocally!
I pray that you find a relationship with Jesus Christ, and through that, Peace....
8:27 a.m.
Jul 31, '06
But the Lord wants us to be able to distinguish the time in which we live. If for no other reason, to increase evangelism to the lost. He's given us unmistakable signs through "a more sure word of prophecy", that the hour is late,...he provides us with knowledge to discern the signs of the times so we won't be caught unawares.
So God doesn't care if the only reason people turn to him through Jesus Christ is because they're scared shitless of the end of the world and going to Hell?
Jul 31, '06
“But the Lord wants us to be able to distinguish the time in which we live. If for no other reason, to increase evangelism to the lost.”
Take a look at the sheer audacity and arrogance of your comments here. You take an ancient scripture, twist it and spin it according to your traditions and interpretation (and interpretation is all you have – all anyone of us have) and then label anyone who happens to have a different perspective on the nature of the metaphysical world as “lost.” And you wonder why we fear you.
“It is perfectly normal as a Christian to hate this world, and look with excitement to his glorious return, in fact there's a reward in heaven for those that do.”
Well then, if you “hate” the world so much, may I respectfully request that you take no part in it, and convince other like- minded fundamentalists to do the same? And please don’t vote, since you admit you hate the world, then your vote, I suspect, will reflect that hatred, and that just causes more trouble for those of us working for change.
“Those who are responsible for their deaths can without any guilt what so ever justify this action, and probably feel they've performed a great service removing them from this wicked world, into everlasting bliss! Good God Almighty,..Is it any wonder why we as Christians hunger for the end of this age!?”
Your brand of Christianity had a long history of just the same sort of atrocities you bring up here, and your support for Israel is not based on any moral absolutes, but rather it’s based upon your interpretation of the eschatology, and not all those who call themselves Christian fall for that version. So drop the sanctimonious self-righteousness. This is the worst form of justifying the ends by the means. In any event, innocent children are dying and you rationalize it (even welcome it) as part of some scheme to hasten the Second Coming. I’m sure those who are burying their children today take great comfort that they’re deaths will bring Jesus along quicker. I’m sure Christ is pleased with the whole thing too.
Actually, if Christ returned and saw what was being done in his name, he’d never stop throwing up.
“I pray that you find a relationship with Jesus Christ, and through that, Peace....”
And I pray you find some way out of your maze of fundamentalism and overcome your hate. Read your Bible, and not just the bits with which you agree.
Jul 31, '06
Theocrats who have taken over the Republican Party
I think this is a mistaken notion. Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, et. al were politicians who turned to religion to build their base of support. It is not Theocrats who have taken over the Republican Party it is Republican "Churches" that have adopted Christianity as a sort of brand name, twisting the teachings to fit their political agenda. This is hardly new, its been going on since Constantine adopted the Church. The results are always the same, churches that reinforce those in power rather than challenging them as Christ did.
Jul 31, '06
Dwight, as a Catholic Christian, I'm sickened by the attitude expressed in your writing.
Not all of us are premillenial dispensationalists such as yourself, Hal Lindsay, Tim LaHaye and the other folks who rejoice that this unfortunate conflict means the End Times are here.
Additionally, by using prophecy in this manner you pervert the original meaning and usage of the prophetic awareness--it was not meant as a definite foretelling of events to come, but a proclaimation of what might happen if people did not repent of their unjust behavior and turn to God. We are not supposed to be worrying about whether this is or isn't the end times. We're supposed to be going about our business and investing our talents. Go reread your Parable of the Talents.
As a Christian, I am not supposed to hate this world. I'm to be a steward of it and attempt to do justice and love righteousness, tend to those in need and to be an example of Christ to others. Rejoicing in the misfortune of others because that's a sign of Christ's immanent return is not very Christ-like, and glossing over the deaths of those innocents because they're Muslim isn't Christ-like, either.
For myself, I'm glad that the head of my church is calling for a cease-fire from both sides in Lebanon, rather than cackling with joy that the Rapture is forthcoming.
I also recall the wisdom my mother shared with me when I was going through a nasty spell of apocalyptic belief in the 60s--"There have always been wars, and rumors of wars, and it's our job to go about our daily tasks and do them to the best of our abilities. Everyone before us has thought they were living in the End Times."
Jul 31, '06
Dwight:
I'm curious where in the Bible you found that there is some 2000 year warning in the Bible ... Christ's disciples thought that this was happening in their lifetimes. Oops. If a "Christian" is supposed to live a life in the model of Christ, then I would hope a Christian would do everything possible to model that kind, loving behavior without regard to whether a prognosticator (who sets days in defiance of Christ's teachings, e.g. Hal Lindsey) thinks something is an end time.
From my relatively (OK, very) conservative upbringing, I recall that one argument in favor of supporting Israel was that until the "chosen people" were back in the land, the rapture would not occur. Query whether the state of Israel is the "chosen people" (vs. one group of Jewish people, who might be displaced by another group of Jewish people), and whether we might not be looking at the possibility of "the land" being occupied by any number of groups of Arabs, Jews, etc. over the next 1000 years or more.
In my view, the problem with conservative fundamentalists who get wrapped up in prophecy is that they ignore the starvation, wars, hunger, etc. that they should be using every last ounce of energy trying to address and eliminate today, tomorrow, and into the future.
Jul 31, '06
Yes,..Children are dying, being shredded by bombs. You might want to take that up with the people who follow a religion that find no problem nor guilt in engineering such carnage. No qualms in placing their own brothers , sisters, and young ones in harms way to gain victory in war.
Can't you see how this applies to the phoney Christians in the white house who are supplying the bombs to murder the children? Jesus taught love, not hate and murder.
Jul 31, '06
i saw the front page of the oregonian this morning, with the lebanese child killed when israelis went after a bomb shelter full of children and almost busted out crying there in the plaid pantry.
interpreting these wars as something driven by strange religious views doesn't help stop it. only severe condemnation of israel's over-reaction and isolation until they stop killing innocent lebanese people will stop it. unfortunately, our country thinks collective punishment is a really great idea, too, so i don't expect our republicans to so much as slap israel's wrist any time soon.
Jul 31, '06
The post says: "The war in southern Lebanon has been greeted eagerly by the apocalyptic wing of Christian fundamentalism." How about some links to any groups or organizations that have made such statements? Just curious so that I can see for myself.
Jul 31, '06
It's pretty clear that scripture is all about interpretation, some self serving. It seems that many in the mid-east have added a bit of verbiage to Christ's admonition to: "Love Thy Enemy". The addendum is clearly: "To Death". Thus they kill in the name of the Lord, or whoever added that verbiage and sold it to the zealots. I prefer to adhere to the wisdom of a latter day apostle John who spaketh the words: "all we are saying is give peace a chance" Peace-out!
Jul 31, '06
Littlevoice:
Try this site for starters:
http://www.raptureready.com
1:22 p.m.
Jul 31, '06
I just visited my kiosk downstairs. there on USA Today's front page is a picture of bombed out Lebanon. The cashier mentioned to me, "hey, we've been in Iraq for years, and been bombing daily, and I've never seen a shot like that on the front page".
This war we both agreed seems to be a distraction for the world so everyone stops focusing on the United States for a couple news-cycles.
Great, now everyone can hate Americans and Jews. What fun.
Israel, nuff already, you don't have to do things like we do, really.
2:14 p.m.
Jul 31, '06
On that RaptureReady site, one of the signals that the end is near is ... Liz Taylor's many marriages. Okay...
2:15 p.m.
Jul 31, '06
Sorry about going off topic there. TA's words are sometimes harsh, and I think sometimes it's useful as an antidote to the language of polite atrocity into which we seem to slide so easily. This is a harsh, horrible time indeed. Hard to imagine it ushers in the Prince of Peace.
Jul 31, '06
It is perfectly normal as a Christian to hate this world
This is one of the saddest truths about fundamentalism and is the reason that underlies the inability of fundamentalist Christians to react appropriately to the outrages being done in the name of the U.S., a supposedly Christian nation, and its allies (in particular, God's "chosen nation" - Israel). When you hate the home God created for you the only way you can emotionally survive is to disengage from reality. You home school or send your kids to Christian schools. You only associate with church members. Instead of reading books written by studious and brilliant commentators on current events, you read only Christian books and focus only on your future in heaven, so that you do not even understand current events.
By withdrawing from the world you hate, you not only miss out on the life God gave you (a slap in God's face as thanks for an amazing gift), you also never learn to connect with other people as human beings. When "pagan" or "Muslim" people are bombed, you feel nothing; it is merely the inevitable judgment of God, not needless, evil destruction of innocent human life. You have no responsibility to do anything about it because this world is not your home. You turn your thoughts back to heaven and you continue your prayers and Bible-reading, feeling only a longing for a perfection you hope will come.
The failure to love life as it actually exists and those who are sharing this time with you results in a failure to invest in the future. The inevitable result is a neglect of your duty to work to make the world better (or even preserve its current state) for coming generations - a tragedy in the extreme. By withdrawing from the world, Christians are allowing the very evil they hate to gain ground and to destroy God's many gifts to all living things. Were they to engage in world events, live the giving, loving life that Jesus taught people to live, spread joy through generosity rather than through judgmental, detached preaching, they could join those working to overcome evil with good and the world would be much better for it.
Alas, they hate the world. To invest in it seems blasphemous to some because it would be like saying there is no heaven. To work for good with non-Christians would be to say that mankind can somehow do good without God. They see that as blasphemous, as well. I would ask these people, doesn't the Bible teach that God feels sorrow for every sparrow that falls? That he knows the number of hairs on every person's head? That he knew each of us from the womb? That the universe displays his character and love? From the very beginning, didn't God expect man to "dress and keep" the garden he created? Does that sound to you like a God who approves of withdrawing from the world? Or does it portray a God who expects each of us to value the world and everything living in it, and thus to strive to take care of it?
Jul 31, '06
It is perfectly normal as a Christian to hate this world
This is one of the saddest truths about fundamentalism and is the reason that underlies the inability of fundamentalist Christians to react appropriately to the outrages being done in the name of the U.S., a supposedly Christian nation, and its allies (in particular, God's "chosen nation" - Israel). When you hate the home God created for you the only way you can emotionally survive is to disengage from reality. You home school or send your kids to Christian schools. You only associate with church members. Instead of reading books written by studious and brilliant commentators on current events, you read only Christian books and focus only on your future in heaven, so that you do not even understand current events.
By withdrawing from the world you hate, you not only miss out on the life God gave you (a slap in God's face as thanks for an amazing gift), you also never learn to connect with other people as human beings. When "pagan" or "Muslim" people are bombed, you feel nothing; it is merely the inevitable judgment of God, not needless, evil destruction of innocent human life. You have no responsibility to do anything about it because this world is not your home. You turn your thoughts back to heaven and you continue your prayers and Bible-reading, feeling only a longing for a perfection you hope will come.
The failure to love life as it actually exists and those who are sharing this time with you results in a failure to invest in the future. The inevitable result is a neglect of your duty to work to make the world better (or even preserve its current state) for coming generations - a tragedy in the extreme. By withdrawing from the world, Christians are allowing the very evil they hate to gain ground and to destroy God's many gifts to all living things. Were they to engage in world events, live the giving, loving life that Jesus taught people to live, spread joy through generosity rather than through judgmental, detached preaching, they could join those working to overcome evil with good and the world would be much better for it.
Alas, they hate the world. To invest in it seems blasphemous to some because it would be like saying there is no heaven. To work for good with non-Christians would be to say that mankind can somehow do good without God. They see that as blasphemous, as well. I would ask these people, doesn't the Bible teach that God feels sorrow for every sparrow that falls? That he knows the number of hairs on every person's head? That he knew each of us from the womb? That the universe displays his character and love? From the very beginning, didn't God expect man to "dress and keep" the garden he created? Does that sound to you like a God who approves of withdrawing from the world? Or does it portray a God who expects each of us to value the world and everything living in it, and thus to strive to take care of it?
Jul 31, '06
It is perfectly normal as a Christian to hate this world
This is one of the saddest truths about fundamentalism and is the reason that underlies the inability of fundamentalist Christians to react appropriately to the outrages being done in the name of the U.S., a supposedly Christian nation, and its allies (in particular, God's "chosen nation" - Israel). When you hate the home God created for you the only way you can emotionally survive is to disengage from reality. You home school or send your kids to Christian schools. You only associate with church members. Instead of reading books written by studious and brilliant commentators on current events, you read only Christian books and focus only on your future in heaven, so that you do not even understand current events.
By withdrawing from the world you hate, you not only miss out on the life God gave you (a slap in God's face as thanks for an amazing gift), you also never learn to connect with other people as human beings. When "pagan" or "Muslim" people are bombed, you feel nothing; it is merely the inevitable judgment of God, not needless, evil destruction of innocent human life. You have no responsibility to do anything about it because this world is not your home. You turn your thoughts back to heaven and you continue your prayers and Bible-reading, feeling only a longing for a perfection you hope will come.
The failure to love life as it actually exists and those who are sharing this time with you results in a failure to invest in the future. The inevitable result is a neglect of your duty to work to make the world better (or even preserve its current state) for coming generations - a tragedy in the extreme. By withdrawing from the world, Christians are allowing the very evil they hate to gain ground and to destroy God's many gifts to all living things. Were they to engage in world events, live the giving, loving life that Jesus taught people to live, spread joy through generosity rather than through judgmental, detached preaching, they could join those working to overcome evil with good and the world would be much better for it.
Alas, they hate the world. To invest in it seems blasphemous to some because it would be like saying there is no heaven. To work for good with non-Christians would be to say that mankind can somehow do good without God. They see that as blasphemous, as well. I would ask these people, doesn't the Bible teach that God feels sorrow for every sparrow that falls? That he knows the number of hairs on every person's head? That he knew each of us from the womb? That the universe displays his character and love? From the very beginning, didn't God expect man to "dress and keep" the garden he created? Does that sound to you like a God who approves of withdrawing from the world? Or does it portray a God who expects each of us to value the world and everything living in it, and thus to strive to take care of it?
Jul 31, '06
(bows to Becky)
Well done, even if you posted it three times ;-)!
Very well written and articulate. Thank you for writing this.
Jul 31, '06
TA,
I commend you for actually bringing in the scriptures as the basis of your post. I
You are spot on with respect to the majority of the televangelist nonesense that gets passed on as authentic worship as well as the LaHaye religious fiction that does much more harm than good
There is no reason though to ruin a very solid post by turning it into an attack on GW. He's not perfect. Nobody but Christ is!
To speak of his motives when you don't know them is just wasted breath.
"Judge not lest ye be judged"
Becky,
Please don't paint Christians as negative world haters just because they send their kids to Christian Schools or socialize with fellow church members. Many non-Christians send their kids to Christian & Catholic schools also.
The overwhelming majority of Christians (yes, even fundamentalists) send their children to public schools. Let's ease up on the stereotypes.
Jul 31, '06
spicey wrote:
"Israel, nuff already, you don't have to do things like we do, really."
Actually, the US has adopted Israel's longstanding strategy of destruction through occupation. Heavy bombardment of civilian areas is an old and respected war crime, predating both of these "democracies."
Jul 31, '06
Dan -
My comment was never meant as a blanket statement applying to all Christians, and if you will notice, I wasn't the one who brought up the world-hating thing - it was a Christian. However, having been a fundamentalist, I know that the truest believers among them do see things that way. I didn't pull it out of thin air.
9:21 a.m.
Aug 1, '06
Dwight, i had my "relationship" with Jesus, and it didn't work. it wasn't Jesus' fault; he's done nothing wrong. it's the whole idea of Christianity being the only way to God, along with the idea that the Bible is infallible. the concept of faith cannot allow either of these ideas to be true; the possibility of being wrong about everything is vital to faith being faith and not knowledge (or its dark side twin, dogma).
after 2,000 and god knows how many "it's time! get ready!"'s, i don't know why we would be the chosen people to see the end of the world. imagine living in 1666 with plague and fire and darkness; talk about end times. it's comforting to think one's faith is special and pre-eminent, but comfort and truth are frequently mutually exclusive. i don't need your prayers, Dwight, but thanks for the thought. pray for the "true believers" instead. they're the ones causing the great harm.
9:27 a.m.
Aug 1, '06
Jeff, i had not thought of my words as "harsh" -- interesting perspective. i'm going to think about that in the future. i know they are angry words, and i didn't expect to make anyone comfortable. as a Christian, it angers me that the 7 little verses about homosexuality have greater meaning to many Christians than Jesus' many words about love, acceptance, etc. i could put up with a lot more if the face of modern American Christianity wasn't one of hate and intolerance. it's hard to say that without sounding harsh, i guess. maybe that's why the few people who can do that -- the Dalai Lama -- are so special. i'm just happy to be read.
Aug 1, '06
The "Christianity" of the haters is nicely captured in this Jesus: soft on defense video.
Aug 3, '06
-A heads up on the Jehovah Witness-
There is no Armageddon that will annihilate 6.5 billion people,and install Watchtower leaders as world rulers.
The core dogma of the Watchtower organization is that Jesus had his second coming 'invisibly' in the year 1914.Their entire doctrinal superstructure is built on this falsehood.
Jehovah's Witnesses door to door recruitment is by their own admission an ineffective tactic. They have lost membership in all countries with major Internet access because their false doctrines and harmful practices are exposed on the modern information superhighway.
There is good and valid reasons why there is such an outrage against the Watchtower for misleading millions of followers.Many have invested everything in the 'imminent' apocalyptic promises of the Jehovah's Witnesses and have died broken and beaten.
<h2>Every Jehovah's Witness member will grow old and die just like everyone else.</h2>Danny Haszard Bangor Maine 'expert witness on the Jehovah's Witness'
Aug 3, '06
T.A.:
Thanks for this. While I share your disdain for the unbalanced and warrior wing of the body of Christ, I hope you'll one day renew your r'ship with Jesus. God and the church need you!
These are difficult times for progressive Christians. Potentially depressed by world events (no, some of us don't believe the Apocalypse is coming next month!), ostracized by most other liberals and certainly not welcomed in a lot of churches either, we are the ultimate ducks out of water these days.
Fortunately, there remains true inspiration from the likes of Jim Wallis and now my latest personal hero.
To the progressive community here at BluOR, I say: hope you'll avoid painting all of us believers with a broad (red) brush!
Aug 9, '06
Religion is nothing more than bull shit to ease an inmature mind. The state of Israel is no more or less important than china. Debating these type things go nowhere because the problem is in people's heads and not in the real world. All those that are expecting streets paved with gold and 72 virgins won't ever know the truth because one of the few things in the bible that's true is the "dust to dust" part. Just because it's the 21st century people shouldn't expect the human mind to have kept up.
Aug 10, '06
I think I have to stop and chuckle to myself at the pure ignorance of meoh. Just the thought of you with your secular mentality, I am sure you're probably a Ill will minded flower child that also claim to "support the troops" while you and your loser junkie buddies sip kool aid and smoke dope in your moms van. Get a Life, this discussion was created for those of us that believe in a higher power, A calling from our creator. If you choose to believe you evolved from a monkey, that would explain your lack of intelligence. As for the state of chaos that Israel is in, I find it disturbing. I do not believe that this is a sign of the end. I find that people who chase these signs have little time to read the rest of Gods word, so many prophecies have yet to be fulfilled. to this day and everyone after it I will continue to wait eagerly yet patiently
Aug 13, '06
Jesus said the night is coming when no man may work. I think we are entering that time. Evangelism may be coming to a close for the church age. The rapture will take the church out of this world...then God will prepare Israelite evangelists, the bible says 144,000 of the twelve tribes..just a remnant. He will place in them a new heart and they will evangelize the world during the tribulation period where millions of people will be converted to christianity. Then Jesus will return with ten thousands of his saints to set up the millenial kingdom. My opinion of what is to come. We are to carry on daily showing Gods love to mankind including our neighbors. We can in no way influence the rapture in the time of it happening. You can't force God. He sets all the times himself. Just follow his commandments the best we can and keep watch as prophecy unfolds by itself. Jesus says therefore watch! No man knows the day nor the hour...but we can know the generation and the season by the signs as they occur. Be careful what you read...the bible is the best answer.
Aug 15, '06
Religion is a comfort to the lost, the downtrodden, the victims of injustice. Whenever I am afraid, I find myself wishing I could believe in something or someone more powerful than myself, a hero who will save me from whatever unpleasant circumstance I find myself.
But then I remember just how many bible stories were stolen from even more ancient Babylonian and Egyptian myths, and I suck up my fear and rely on my own damn self. Amazingly enough, I've managed to get through every trial and tribulation on my own, by myself, without any assistance, singlehandedly, independently, and above all, without supplication to mythical superheros.
Religion is a coward's crutch. I would feel sorry for them, except they continually attempt to force everyone else to live according to their own inane beliefs. It is past time to end this nonsense.
Aug 15, '06
Your coding is messed up. I never bolded anything, and it only lets me use the scroll buttoms to move the cursor, nothing else. Plus, your catchapu thingie is too hard to read.
http://paganizingfaithofyeshua.netfirms.com/astro_theology_sun_or_son_on_the_cross.htm
http://www.hermetic.com/sabazius/dionysus.htm
http://heritage.scotsman.com/diagrams.cfm?cid=2&id=41692005
http://whywontgodhealamputees.com
<h2>http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/index.</h2>