End of Days in May? Christian group spreads word

[G_j]

:banghead:

http://www.charter.net/news/read.php?rip_id=%3CD9KGOH4O0%40news.ap.org%3E&ps=1011

End of Days in May? Christian group spreads word

By TOM BREEN Associated Press The Associated Press
Monday, January 3, 2011 10:01 AM EST

Raleigh N.C. (AP) — If there had been time, Marie Exley would have liked to start a family. Instead, the 32-year-old Army veteran has less than six months left, which she'll spend spreading a stark warning: Judgment Day is almost here.

Exley is part of a movement of Christians loosely organized by radio broadcasts and websites, independent of churches and convinced by their reading of the Bible that the end of the world will begin May 21, 2011.

To get the word out, they're using billboards and bus stop benches, traveling caravans of RVs and volunteers passing out pamphlets on street corners. Cities from Bridgeport, Conn., to Little Rock, Ark., now have billboards with the ominous message, and mission groups are traveling through Latin America and Africa to spread the news outside the U.S.

"A lot of people might think, 'The end's coming, let's go party,'" said Exley, a veteran of two deployments in Iraq. "But we're commanded by God to warn people. I wish I could just be like everybody else, but it's so much better to know that when the end comes, you'll be safe."

..more..

[DCBob]

1. "But of that day and hour no one knows.."

"not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only" -- Jesus the Christ

[phantom power]

2. beat me to it

Christianity would collapse without selective reading of its sacred text.

[Divine Discontent]

9. 1st thing I thought. Thanks, kindly, for posting His words.

[JBoy]

3. I love how the guy who mysteriously calculated the date also covers his ass:

Camping, 89, believes the Bible essentially functions as a cosmic calendar explaining exactly when various prophecies will be fulfilled.

The retired civil engineer said all his calculations come from close readings of the Bible, but that external events like the foundation of the state of Israel in 1948 are signs confirming the date.

"Beyond the shadow of a doubt, May 21 will be the date of the Rapture and the day of judgment," he said.

but he then goes on to say:

"If May 21 passes and I'm still here, that means I wasn't saved. Does that mean God's word is inaccurate or untrue? Not at all."

[left coaster]

4. "Camping, 89..."

Every day should be taken as a gift, for someone his age.. and, yet, here he is, spending his time and mental energy being afraid, and trying to spread that doom and gloom.. viva religion!

[ladjf]

5. No one that dumb is ever "safe". nt

[dmallind]

6. I will gladly finance these efforts

with one caveat - I will offer financing up to 75% of net worth to anyone who will sign over that net worth as of 5/22, when of course it will be useless to their raptured selves...

[jpak]

7. Maybe they can sell me their homes and cars to me for $1

They won't be needing them much longer and money will sooooooo pre-judgement after May 11

:D

[bemildred]

8. Well, I would welcome that, we need a better class of people running things. nt

[jmm]

10. I thought we had until 2012

;(

[DavidDvorkin]

11. Why are these twits getting news coverage?

[Adsos Letter]

12. From the article linked to...

"The doctrine known as the Rapture teaches that believers will be taken up to heaven, while everyone else will remain on earth for a period of torment, concluding with the end of time. Camping believes that will happen in October."

"'If May 21 passes and I'm still here, that means I wasn't saved. Does that mean God's word is inaccurate or untrue? Not at all,'" (Allison) Warden said.

It sounds as if for those who fully believe this particular brand of eschatology combined with Camping's teaching, such as stated by Ms. Warden, there are going to be some pretty heavy psychological impacts. Honestly desiring to be "saved" while concurrently believing that one is in a actual, irredeemably "lost" condition is going to be pretty psychologically devastating.

Makes me sad for those involved, and very angry at Camping for feeding this.

[murray hill farm]

13. I do not believe in the religion fairy tale...any religion,

But from what I have heard of the Christian "god", he is an awful god. Vengeful, jealous, cruel...just a horrible guy! So, if this god did exist, I am sure he has planned a really mean trick test. All those dumb enough to believe in the end of times garbage, he will Cull from the earth and banish to an eternal burny place. He seems to be big on that sort of thing and also such stupidity must have become a bore to him after all time.

[MrsMatt]

14. You're thinking of the Old Testament God

the Christian God (of the New Testament) is a straight up dude.

Most of the hellfire and damnation comes from the OT and Calvinist doctrine.

[murray hill farm]

16. I hear say that...

that the old testament god did mellow out some once he had a kid!

[G_j]

17. it really is

sad...

[sarcasmo]

15. How many will die of suicide because of this fairytale?