Posted by: sabaiko satru May 20, 2011
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http://galvestondailynews.com/story/232466 The end is near (again)
By Rick Cousins
Contributor
Published May 20, 2011
Judgment Day, as you might have heard, has been set for 6 p.m. Saturday, according to Family Radio founder and frequent end times’ prophet Harold Camping.
Camping, a retired civil engineer, has assembled a calculation he uses to assure his faithful followers of a rapid ascent to heaven just before earthquakes begin the unwinding of this world. He asserts each disaster will occur about sunset Saturday in every time zone with total planetary destruction culminating Oct. 21.
The Rev. Bob Bullock, pastor of Galveston’s West Isle Presbyterian Church, said such dire disaster predictions are nothing new.
“Every generation has its prognosticators, psychics and prophets of a new age dawning in their time,” he said.
“Times of uncertainty and chaos encourage crackpots who function out of a conspiracy theory mindset in which doomsday theories seem more plausible to those who are insecure.
“It is not surprising that present global financial crisis, wars, political instabilities in the world and even catastrophic events of the weather open the door for the crazies to draw attention to themselves.”
Social Distortion
Professor Sharon Hall, a psychologist at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, said Camping’s teachings might be attractive to a few for reasons beyond his convoluted, end-of-the-world equations.
“First, they see great trouble around the world daily,” she said. “Humans are social animals and are highly influenced by each other, especially under stress. It is literally hard for us to be critical thinkers when we are stressed.”
Second Guessing
This is Camping’s second attempt at predicting the end of all things earth. He originally predicted a world finale would begin Sept. 4, 1994, a fact noted by Michael J. Svigel, an assistant professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, who routinely debunks such claims in his blog.
“Throughout history, zealous but extremely misguided believers have tried to calculate the Lord’s return, contrary to the Bible’s explicit teaching that nobody can know the time of Judgment Day,” he said.
“One hundred percent of the time these calculations have been wrong. May 21, 2011, will simply be one more in a long line of falsely calculated dates for the Lord’s return. Unfortunately, I fear it won’t be the last.”
Blowing The Trumpet
To prepare Americans for Judgment Day, four RV-caravans have been crossing the country since September when some of Camping’s followers sold their homes and set out to spread his message by handing out tracts, putting up billboards and offering last-minute counsel to passers-by.
“Armed with the vital information needed to know the day of Christ’s return all true believers, as servants of God, (we) are commanded to declare what Christ’s Spirit has revealed,” Camping said in a prepared statement. “They must blow the trumpet and warn the world judgment is coming.”
‘Intrigued By The Unknown’
Societal shifts, job uncertainties and high gas prices certainly can induce stress, but there’s more to Camping’s limited appeal than that, Hall believes.
“We are intrigued by the unknown and do not tolerate ambiguity well,” she said. “When gurus say they have answers, many listen.”
The local Christian consensus seems to be that Camping isn’t doing local churches any favors.
“He has contributed to the further undermining of the Bible’s perceived authority in our increasingly skeptical and cynical culture,” Svigel said.
Although, the occasional reminder that nothing earthly lasts forever might be of some benefit, Hall said.
“Apocalyptic predictions are in the Bible,” she said. “Of course, my take on that as an historical document is a caution to do good while we’re here.”
+++
Q&A With Family Radio
The Daily News reached Tom Holt II, a spokesman for Family Radio.
DAILY NEWS: What advice would you extend to our newspaper readers vis a vis preparing for this Saturday?
HOLT: The scripture advise “watch and pray.” That (word for) watch (occurs) 34 times in the New Testament alone. In Jonah 3:8, the king and all Ninevites began to beg God for mercy when told of their impending destruction.
DAILY NEWS: How many people are expected to heed the warning being given? Are all members of the same group?
HOLT: There has never been any membership in the 52-plus years of Family Radio. (Have you ever heard of a radio station with a membership?)
DAILY NEWS: Is there any advice for those who would be left behind?
HOLT: Cry now to God for mercy — you have less than 48 hours, according to the Bible.
DAILY NEWS: Do you expect to witness the destruction that will follow the Rapture, the exodus of believers into heaven?
HOLT: No. For 2,000 years, serious Christians (have) expected to be raised into heaven just before judgment falls on Judgment Day ... The World Almanac says there are about 2.3 billion professing Christians in the world.
By Rick Cousins
Contributor
Published May 20, 2011
Judgment Day, as you might have heard, has been set for 6 p.m. Saturday, according to Family Radio founder and frequent end times’ prophet Harold Camping.
Camping, a retired civil engineer, has assembled a calculation he uses to assure his faithful followers of a rapid ascent to heaven just before earthquakes begin the unwinding of this world. He asserts each disaster will occur about sunset Saturday in every time zone with total planetary destruction culminating Oct. 21.
The Rev. Bob Bullock, pastor of Galveston’s West Isle Presbyterian Church, said such dire disaster predictions are nothing new.
“Every generation has its prognosticators, psychics and prophets of a new age dawning in their time,” he said.
“Times of uncertainty and chaos encourage crackpots who function out of a conspiracy theory mindset in which doomsday theories seem more plausible to those who are insecure.
“It is not surprising that present global financial crisis, wars, political instabilities in the world and even catastrophic events of the weather open the door for the crazies to draw attention to themselves.”
Social Distortion
Professor Sharon Hall, a psychologist at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, said Camping’s teachings might be attractive to a few for reasons beyond his convoluted, end-of-the-world equations.
“First, they see great trouble around the world daily,” she said. “Humans are social animals and are highly influenced by each other, especially under stress. It is literally hard for us to be critical thinkers when we are stressed.”
Second Guessing
This is Camping’s second attempt at predicting the end of all things earth. He originally predicted a world finale would begin Sept. 4, 1994, a fact noted by Michael J. Svigel, an assistant professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, who routinely debunks such claims in his blog.
“Throughout history, zealous but extremely misguided believers have tried to calculate the Lord’s return, contrary to the Bible’s explicit teaching that nobody can know the time of Judgment Day,” he said.
“One hundred percent of the time these calculations have been wrong. May 21, 2011, will simply be one more in a long line of falsely calculated dates for the Lord’s return. Unfortunately, I fear it won’t be the last.”
Blowing The Trumpet
To prepare Americans for Judgment Day, four RV-caravans have been crossing the country since September when some of Camping’s followers sold their homes and set out to spread his message by handing out tracts, putting up billboards and offering last-minute counsel to passers-by.
“Armed with the vital information needed to know the day of Christ’s return all true believers, as servants of God, (we) are commanded to declare what Christ’s Spirit has revealed,” Camping said in a prepared statement. “They must blow the trumpet and warn the world judgment is coming.”
‘Intrigued By The Unknown’
Societal shifts, job uncertainties and high gas prices certainly can induce stress, but there’s more to Camping’s limited appeal than that, Hall believes.
“We are intrigued by the unknown and do not tolerate ambiguity well,” she said. “When gurus say they have answers, many listen.”
The local Christian consensus seems to be that Camping isn’t doing local churches any favors.
“He has contributed to the further undermining of the Bible’s perceived authority in our increasingly skeptical and cynical culture,” Svigel said.
Although, the occasional reminder that nothing earthly lasts forever might be of some benefit, Hall said.
“Apocalyptic predictions are in the Bible,” she said. “Of course, my take on that as an historical document is a caution to do good while we’re here.”
+++
Q&A With Family Radio
The Daily News reached Tom Holt II, a spokesman for Family Radio.
DAILY NEWS: What advice would you extend to our newspaper readers vis a vis preparing for this Saturday?
HOLT: The scripture advise “watch and pray.” That (word for) watch (occurs) 34 times in the New Testament alone. In Jonah 3:8, the king and all Ninevites began to beg God for mercy when told of their impending destruction.
DAILY NEWS: How many people are expected to heed the warning being given? Are all members of the same group?
HOLT: There has never been any membership in the 52-plus years of Family Radio. (Have you ever heard of a radio station with a membership?)
DAILY NEWS: Is there any advice for those who would be left behind?
HOLT: Cry now to God for mercy — you have less than 48 hours, according to the Bible.
DAILY NEWS: Do you expect to witness the destruction that will follow the Rapture, the exodus of believers into heaven?
HOLT: No. For 2,000 years, serious Christians (have) expected to be raised into heaven just before judgment falls on Judgment Day ... The World Almanac says there are about 2.3 billion professing Christians in the world.