I was trying to avoid writing about the rapture predictions. I really was. I cannot though. It is just too beautiful.
Most people are a little fuzzy about my religious beliefs, I am a bit fuzzy about my religious beliefs, but most people think I am an atheist. I’m not. I believe in faith and belief. I don’t care about what you what you have faith in (God, family, science, the great flying spaghetti monster, anything) , just that you have it. I believe that faith should bring us together not separate us. I also kind of get a rap for being anti-Christian. I have earned this one a bit. Let us get something straight. I am not actually anti-Christian, I am kind of anti organized religion in general. I don’t think there shouldn’t be organized religion, I just think it needs to take itself a bit less seriously. I am not okay with religion dictating current social policies. I am not okay with being preached at by people who know less about their faith than I do. (And, btw, part of the reason for Christianity’s early success was that it accepted everyone and taught them love. I wish anyone who tried to convert me would remember and tried that angle not the “fiery pit of hell” and “be right or be punished” angle.)
So know when I make fun of the rapture nutjobs it is not because they are Christian, it is because they are idiots. I look at it this way: if they are right, they have eternity to be filled with smug self satisfaction, if they are wrong, then, seriously, don’t they look silly for following Harold Camping.
This is not Harold Camping’s first go at this rodeo. He predicted the apocalypse in 1994. He was sure about it to then. He and is followers packed into an auditorium and waited for the Rapture. I really wish I was there for that “Aw, fuck” moment. So he goes home redoes some math, revamps his media spin machine, waits for mother nature to go freaking bonkers, then comes back out and says, “Dood, this time it is for realz.” Life is hard right now. The world is in turmoil and people are scared and insecure so people buy into it. I am not surprised that people bought into it, I am just surprised about how many people drank that kool-aid.
I read a bit of his methodology. I know faith is about, well, faith and not proof but that does not mean you should completely divorce commonsense from your beliefs. Seriously. Billboards and radio talk programs do not mean it is legitimate. Also, these are the same people who mock me for believing in evolution.
So, to you folks who believe that Harold Camp is another prophet and at 6pm you will shuffle off this mortal life and ascend to Heaven, please understand we don’t feel bad for poking fun of you. The entire internet is mocking you. Also understand that at 7pm, if you are still here, the world will giggle at you but tomorrow morning all will be forgotten. You will have to take some teasing but the people who loved you at 5:45 pm today will love you tomorrow morning. They will just think you are a sucker.
Personally, if the rapture happens, after my chagrin at my arrogant assumption that I knew it possibly couldn’t happen passes, then I am really stoked at the shorter wal-mart lines.
Geeks a Geeking