Serious question about the Rapture Right

[kohodog]

Do they thank God for the wars, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc that are plaguing our world? Do they secretly get excited with every tragedy that may herald the coming of the "rapture?"

There is something really sickening about the idea that they have been forgiven (for being human), and will continue to be forgiven for their "sins" and will be whisked off to heaven leaving all the poor unbelievers to suffer.

Where is the love?

[bahrbearian]

1. Where are the Teaching of Jesus ?

[Clintmax]

2. My sister is one of those...

She keeps e-mailing me that the rapture is going to happen any day now! :rofl: I asked her who she thought was the anti-christ was (you know...he has to be here on the planet if we are in "last days"). She said she thought it was someone named Maitreya. I have NO idea who he is, or if he really exists or not. She says he's claiming he's Jesus. :rofl:

[tanyev]

3. Tell her it already happened. Your neighbors just disappeared.

Too bad your sister didn't make the cut.

[Clintmax]

6. LOL!

:rofl: Good one! I think I will!!

[Booster]

There's a guy on one of the main street corners who says he's

Jesus, so maybe they're right.:sarcasm:

[MisterP]

11. Maitreya is the future Buddha, like the Hindu Kalki;

a second coming for a complete enlightenment--but only one Theosophist is claiming the title.
The fundies also think that there's a Belgian computer called "the Beast"--which is from a fundie fiction novel.
This confabulation is on top of all the supremely, almost inhumanly shoddy theology they cough up.

[IntravenousDemilo]

4. They'll sure look funny when they find out there IS no heaven.

Not that they'll know, because they'll be DEAD DEAD DEAD, insensate worm-food.

[progressoid]

5. Love? - that was 'Hippy Jesus' of the 60's and 70's.

Then we had 'Capitalist Jesus' of the 80's and 90's.

Now we have 'Apocalypse Jesus'. He's all about wipin' shit out.

[kohodog]

Or perhaps we've moved on to "Evil Jesus" n/t

[progressoid]

15. I think part of the popularity of this is that the "ole time religion"

ain't cutting it anymore. Regular go-to-church-and-pray-and-be-a-good-person religion is too stale for them. they need some excitement. And nothing say exciting like a Hollywood destruction of everything plot.

And for others, they do prefer the idea that we're all doomed. They can't accept life as it is upon this planet, so they give up and hope for a cataclysm to wipe the slate clean. Go figure.

[Name removed]

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[classof56]

10. Welcome to DU. The more I studied the Rapture the more I concluded...

it isn't gonna happen. Lost contact with some fundie relatives in the deal, but just can no longer buy into it. You're right, it's of very recent origin (early 19th century) and not long ago I heard Tim LaHaye, he of the "Left Behind" series, say that he thought the Rapture would happen in the next 40-80 years. Might have something to do with his recent 5-book deal with his publisher. Good advice on the diligent research. Redemption and forgiveness have nothing at all to do with the Rapture.

Blessings.

[Doctor Panacea]

8. No

*Do they thank God for the wars, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc that are plaguing our world? Do they secretly get excited with every tragedy that may herald the coming of the "rapture?"*

No.

Down deep they do not believe in the crap that they preach. They live in a state of controlled anxiety where they are constantly fearful that their metaphysical view will come crashing down. To prop up their creaky belief system they see the world as US and THEM. Their thinking is: "If you are not part of US, you are part of THEM, and therefore evil."

Their irrational support of criminals like Dubya comes from a deep-seated need to find support from on high for their belief system. It is all about a constant quest for certainty, release from the anxiety that they feel every time one of a million items from modern life threatens their antiquated worldview.

[Ilsa]

9. Ask her to send you all of her money and other expensive

shit. You'll need it while you're here and since she won't be, she'll have no use for it. You need it now because you may not be able to access it after she's gone.

[DinahMoeHum]

12. Are you familiar with the book "The Rapture Exposed" ??

In her book, Rev. Dr. Barbara Rossing rips the lid off this racket perpetuated by folks like Hal Lindsey and Tim LaHaye.


Links:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0813391563/qid=1129085642/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-1253390-3444721?v=glance&s=books

http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=7-0813391563-0

http://www.rutherford.org/oldspeak/blog/articles/religion/oldspeak-worldwar3.asp

O8)

[tanyev]

13. I second that!

The book is an excellent debunking written from a Christian perspective. Very easy to read, too.

[kohodog]

16. Thanks

It's hard for me to understand their worldview.

[lectrobyte]

14. Yes, it's all about feeling they are the true believers, and

everyone else is evil and sick, and destined to be "left behind." Whatever happened to tolerance and the sermon on the mount?

[longship]

17. All these things (and more) are good.

All this death and suffering means that they will soon be taken up to heaven in the twinkling of an eye. To Hell (literally) with those left to suffer. It's more of that neocon I've got mine, screw you mentality that we've all come to appreciate in the past two decades. That's why these folks spread their love all over the world. The more love they spread, the sooner they'll get the reward that they alone deserve. All that hard work! They've earned their rewards. And to Hell with the rest of them.

[Kailassa]

18. And wouldn't it be heaven ...

for us here if only the bastards all went tomorrow?

[longship]

20. Bingo!

nt

[GreenPartyVoter]

19. Yes, they really kinda do get hot over it

[tabasco]

21. They're gonna be really surprised when Thor lightning bolts their ass.

They shall become slaves of the Thor-worshippers!

But then Zeus will have the ass and mess up Thor's good thing.

Ra will take advantage of the situation and imprison them in the pyramids.

As far as superstitions are concerned, I respect the Native Americans more than others.