False Religion Strikes Again
As I write this, it is almost 11AM here, island time, May 21, 2011, and approaching 5pm, on the Eastern seaboard. The time the apocalypse was predicted to occur at 6pm (don’t know what time zone) has obviously passed without incident. I almost want to laugh when I think of all of the people who quit their jobs, deserted their homes and the like to be at a train stations with bags pack for a train that was not coming today. These are the same people that shake their heads at the Jim Jones Guyana tragedy in November, 1978 and said they could not imagine being so misled as to drink the cyanide laced Kool-Aid, committing suicide on the orders of one man. They laugh at a tenet of the Islam faith that says that those that die in martyrdom will meet with 75 virgins in heaven. Are they so different? They let some multi-millionaire evangelist put them in a similar position. I watched television and took in the sheer magnitude of people that were willing to throw it all away based on the musings of some old fellow in Florida.
How easy it is to deceive people who would appear perfectly rational on the surface. The forces that deceive people on this scale and in a way that is so blatantly the antithesis of common sense would seem almost demonic in origin. One billboard sign advertised the event and on one side it said ‘read your bible’. Well, I read mine and in regards to the coming apocalypse it says that ‘no man will know the day or the hour’. It also goes on to say that neither the angels nor even the Son knows, but only the Father. Did they read that? So, armed with that knowledge, how does an old man in Florida have the secret? This evangelist says that he crunched some numbers to come up with the specific date and hour. God would not be God if he made it possible for clever men to determine what He says was not to be determined. The test is living a life consistent with that promoted by scripture. This is a test of faith, not one of who can clean up their act at the last minute and get their bags pack the most quickly.
I have spoken before about the link between false religion and greedy commercialism. You cannot serve two masters; you will love one and despise the other. Well this old fellow has done pretty well for himself in the commercial realm. When I think of Christian (Christ like) it does not resonate with this evangelist as Jesus said that the wealthy must be willing to part with their wealth, give to the poor to find favor with the Father. This is scary; the power of false religion is vast and puts a cloud over ones ability to reason. The scriptures did say that in the end times, people will seek to have their ears tickled. Basically, they are going to go with the things they want to hear and pick and choose the areas of scripture to emphasize like dining at a smorgasbord buffet. So, if people can be made to behave in this way, is it no wonder they make such suitable prey for the politicians and commercial interests? There are inimical forces that far exceed the reach of this old gentleman. We are all relatively oblivious and on our own primrose paths, more than willing to drink our own form of Kool-Aid as long as its ‘on the rocks’
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AUTHORHello, Perspycacious, We have been hearing of these doomday predictions since the beginning of time. People in the search for drama have always have to speculate on such things. Now. its the 2012 thing. When God said that no man will know the date nor the hour, that is good enough for me.
Reading about such things reinforce what I always have suspected and I quote from the late New York Mobster, Dutch Schultz, "People are Dumb"
I appreciate your comment, please visit again....
Wanting to believe is not the same thing as believing. Latching onto a belief and believing is more likely wishful thinking. A real testimony grows with undertanding, and understanding has to be based on knowledge and real experience. Surely if someone could actually calculate "the end times" someone with higher intelligence would have solved the mystery long ago. Imagine if this charlatan had only had the sense to say that God "told him" when the end would be! Scary thought but I bet research would show that has happened, too. For credibility sake it would be a good idea to declare a date well after one dies. Such as The Mayan Calendar did?
- AUTHOR
Hi, Stump thanks for weighing in, true christianity is a radical concept inspite of the fact that churches checkboard the American landscape.Most are hypocrites without the courage of their convictions and much of the rest are dupes willing to be led anywhere by the "great man". There is abig difference between the definition of Christian and what is acutally out there. Gandhi once said that if these people actually practiced what they preached, the world would very well become much more palatable, but alas..... South Carolina is definitely in the bible belt where you cannot be a good Christian unles you align yourself with all their political beliefs. Since they are Christians their beliefs must derive from God, so they all know best even though many could not write a complete sentence. My antennae goes up when people try to get alignment and commitment from me in this way.
Thanks for the tip on the hub Credence. I started to feel sorry for the people who quit their jobs, ect. And then...Reality set in. This is no different than the lady who sued McDonalds over their coffee being hot. Stupidity is now an accepted defense. The biggest problem I have here in SC is that the baptist church has way to much power down here and it has very little to do with chriatianity anymore. I am assuming it did at some point however, I'm not convinced of this. I have spoken with people of numerous christian sects and branches and the amazing thing is...everyone of them knows in their heart that their particular brand of jesus makes them one of the only true christians in America. If there are so few true christians, why does the christian faith have so much support? I assume the answer is that it keeps politicians in office.
- AUTHOR
Thanks, for reading and commenting Feenix, this particular event "was like a spectre in my eye'. It is best to go to the source rather than subscribe to men and their traditions that ruin a simple and beautiful concept.
Credence2, this is an awesome hub and I "graded" it as such.
I am a devout Christian but I am not into listening to very much of what preachers have to say.
I get my orders directly for The Lord. In other words, Jesus is my Commanding Officer.
- AUTHOR
Hi, Lela, thanks for the comment. I have always been astonished as to how people go along with this. I say if people are really this dumb, we are in trouble!
Regards, Cred2
Hi Credence,
It is not surprising to me that there would be a false prophet in the religious community, but it is surprising how many people would believe this person, especially given how many times he has already prophesied the end.
As Malcolm X once said, "A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything."
Thanks for another great article.
Lela
- AUTHOR
Hi, Wil C, these snake-oil salesmen will always be with us. WC Fields use to say that 'there is a sucker born every minute'. It just remained floored as to how many people were taken in by this guy. Feels like you are standing there with pie on your face.
Thanks for weighing in, regards Cred2
- AUTHOR
Aloha, Jillian, thanks for your comments. If I were willing to put my ethics on the shelf, I could be rich beyond all dreams of avarice. Imagine being able to dupe millions with the equivalent of a "pigeon drop" con. These pliant, anencephalic people make great targets for the rightwinger to prey upon. My dear departed auntie used to tell me that people needed to use their heads for something other than a hatrack!!
Regards Cred2
- AUTHOR
Hi, Chuck, thanks for dropping by. I don't know if the evangelist needs to be institutionized any more than all the crazies that follow him. Do you remember that one cult that was associated with the passing of some comet, sometime in the 1990's? Some people committed suicide near San Diego so that they could "go with the comet". As a said, people are dumb!! Good luck to you and as for your tea party, we will see. Thanks again for taking the time to visit and cross over the fence, see you around the hubs....Cred2
This vile act committed by this evangelical soothsayer reminds me of the indulgences that Martin Luther used as a platform to begin the protestant reformation. It is truly sad these people allowed themselves to believe they could buy their way into heaven. This man should be charged with crimes against humanity. He tried to get people in a frenzy and tricked people into putting their lives in jeopardy by giving up their jobs and their possessions. Nice article credence2.
Dear Credence2,
What can I say? So many stupid people! I really laughed when I read your take on this whole 'end of times' fiasco! And people keep sending this idiot and others like him millions!
Maybe we should just all get our minister's license! Pays better than AdSense, for sure! I could be a good televangelist! Bet you could, too! Something to think about, don't you think?
Very well said. Though out the history of the human race there have always been people (wackos) that have predicted the end of days. I call them doom sayers, I can think of a few just in my life time. In 1982 with all the planets in our solar system lining up. The 2012 crap that some are talking about, the Y2K BS that the main stream media had a hay day with for the whole year of 1999. And of course this evangelistic wacko that belongs in a mental institution. I enjoyed this Hub.
Thanks
Chuck
Long live the T.E.A. Party
- AUTHOR
Thanks, rafken, Believe me, I had as much fun writing it as you did reading it. Thanks for allowing me to join your team Cred2
Good hub, thanks for the read, i'll look out for more good quality feelings.
- AUTHOR
Mr. Jay, thank you for your comments. I prepared this at the spur of the moment, but I was quite moved by this event. I will look into your publication. thanks for allowing me to join your team
Regards, Cred2
I enjoyed this very much. You have this laid out beautifully and it is easy to understand. Keep up the great HUBS. Up one and Useful. Hey! I'm now your fan! I am working a series of 5 novels Seeds from Heaven that touches on a lot of the things you mention. It is now published as of this week. Read about it at http://www.amazon.com/Lean-against-Seeds-Heaven-eb...
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