Damnit, if God were going to give us a date for the Rapture, he'd be forthright with it, not hide it in some complex puzzle.

So does this prove that athiests are right?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1389481/Rapture-The-...
Or does god just hate's idiots?

For the record-
My ultra conservative Catholic friend didn't think there was going to be a Rapture today.

Most people of faith that I know didn't take this seriously at all.

But please! Feel free to make a straw man out of this, and try and cast ALL believers as akin to those who believed the Rapture was going to occur today. I mean, isn't that de rigeur for RSP threads on religion these days???

:)

Isn't a more interesting question this-

WHY did these people believe that the Rapture was going to occur, and why did some take it so seriously as to quit their jobs, make arrangements to leave, and really get their affairs put to order in preparation? Moreover, why does this happen every now and again? Is there are a common pattern or reason, or is it just 'cultural static?'

Is this illustrative of a deep anxiety in America today, or is it just noise?

There are interesting questions- and answers- that I think could be found if we looked at this event critically. But just mocking them, patting ourselves on the back for being 'smarter' than them, just gets in the way of asking the right questions.

Darilian

Why does it seem that atheists often assume that all 'people of faith'/theists, are some monolithic block of automatons who say and believe the same thing? It's a patently stupid thought to assume that 'all Christians' were waiting for the Rapture yesterday. I'm Roman Catholic, and I can tell you I thought this was a ridiculous prediction, as did everyone I know, who are a mix of Catholics and Protestants. Perhaps to paint with a broad brush makes it easier to reinforce one's own notions, but it does nothing to foster understanding.

I don't know what you guys are talking about. I was raptured just fine! The view from up here is AMAZING! Internet in heaven is a little hit-and-miss, though.

And OH EM GEE, fellas! Guess who didn't make it!!!??? :surprise:

They don't, but we are not talking about the belief we are talking about the mindset that allows for that belief. I will note again that I say faith, not religion is what is at the heart of this ‘problem’. So do you agree that the issue here is the un-critical observance of statements made by an authority whose only claim to authority is from an unproven (and un-provable) source that is also the source of his statements?

So they are indeed trying to justify continuing to believe this loon.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/may/22/believers-re...
This is what I am talking about forcing yourself to believe the utterly ridicules. The idea that this is another test, rather then admit they (and the pastor) were wrong. This is the kind of (wilfully) blind faith that I am talking about. The kind of faith that looks like it could be a form of addiction (and should be treated as such). As well as the exploitation of them for personal gain (I wonder how much the loon gave up, I suspect he is still a multi millionaire, odd that

Steven - we all need faith to a certain degree, because the universe is too vast to be known and understood by mankind. We can't "know" or "prove" everything. Scientists are frequently quoted as being 'surprised' by various findings (e.g. especially in the fields of astro-physics, deep ocean marine biology, medicine, etc.), meaning that new discoveries have overturned their previously held beliefs. Who here on this dust speck of Earth can claim to know what is possible and what is not in the Universe, without displaying an astounding amount of hubris and arrogance. Faith to me is frankly the more intellectually honest admission that there may very well be entities and powers beyond our current comprehension.

Having said that, of course the concept of faith can be twisted and corrupted by those who wish to deceive or exploit others. That there are guys like this radio evangelist and that there are gullible sorts who will follow his kind is an unfortunate statement on the weaknesses of mankind in a general sense. But to invalidate the concept of faith as a sometimes necessary and beneficial aspect of human intellect because there are the occasional examples of mis-placed or mis-used faith is to throw the baby out with the bathwater, I think.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/21/harold-camping-fami...

In the video in this post you have a young couple that is expecting a baby in June and they quit their jobs in anticipation for the apocalypse that was to start yesterday. Now they are jobless and will have a baby on the way. I feel sorry for them. I find it amazing that a mothers instinct to protect and care for her baby was overridden by this malicious deception. Camping will be fine, he has millions in the bank and he will be dead soon.

Anyway I would hope that the religious would try to reel these fringe people in a bit when they see them. I don't think it is effective to mock them from a distance. I need to work on a 30 second pitch I can make myself if I ever meet one of these people.

Maybe something like

People have been predicting the end of the world for a very long time. Most people of your faith agree nobody will know the exact day the end of the world beforehand (Matthew 24:36). Just take a few moments to consider all the facts and consider who is giving you this information and what their motive is.

If the actual non-occurance is not enough to convince them they are wrong what chance reasoned argument?

Well there will be another round of this for, Dec 21, 2012. I did not get a chance to talk to one of these May 21st people, I just saw the billboards.

I did end the world yesterday. But I also prevented you from noticing.

LOL.

You of course raise an interesting (and amusing) point, How do we know it did not happen and that all those who were deserving were taken up and all those left are inn fact wrong about their beliefs?

Some suspicious looking holes in graveyards and clothing laying around the street may have been a hint:)

I thought I was Raptured earlier but then remembered I'd forgotten to take my pills.

Why does it seem that atheists often assume that all 'people of faith'/theists, are some monolithic block of automatons who say and believe the same thing? It's a patently stupid thought to assume that 'all Christians' were waiting for the Rapture yesterday. I'm Roman Catholic, and I can tell you I thought this was a ridiculous prediction, as did everyone I know, who are a mix of Catholics and Protestants. Perhaps to paint with a broad brush makes it easier to reinforce one's own notions, but it does nothing to foster understanding.

But is that the case, where is scripture does it say it will leave physical evidence behind?

I doubt scripture would ever bother to go to that level of detail. Most things in scripture is silly when you look past it. Unfortunately few do. When they do they say it means something else entirely.

So does this prove that athiests are right?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1389481/Rapture-The-...
Or does god just hate's idiots?