end times?! ugh

[susangail]

I was talking with my sister's boyfriend (devout Christian) about stuff relating to the news station we were watching (Fox or CNN or something like that). It went to the wildfires in No. Cali. I mentioned how Death Cab For Cutie wrote a song about the ones that happened down here in So. Cali. He made some comment about how it's another factor adding to all the signs of "end times" (though he didn't use that phrase). I asked him to elaborate and he paraphrased a lot from Revelations and said all the natural disasters that have been happening along with possibly electing a man of Middle Eastern decent (Obama) for president were signs that it's gonna happen soon (there was more to the Obama thing that I couldn't really hold on to).

So I decided to challenge him. (but thinks I'm a Christian). I made a comment about how we don't necessarily know that "times" are worse today than they ever have been. We only know history from books, we weren't there to experience it. "Times" could have always been "bad". He didn't get it so I added that you can read all you want about the Holocaust but you will never know what it was like unless you went through it. He either got my point or pretended to to shut me up).

I also asked what Obama's decent had anything to do his presidency. He said it was just ironic that he comes from those that we are at war with now. I didn't get as far to ask him how that had anything to do with "end times".

He went on to say more of what Revelations says about all this. He said that there are only a few more areas in the world that haven't heard the "Word", which is one of the things that has to happen (which I want to know where he got info from, didn't ask). Another is that some river near Israel will dry up, which has apparently (but he couldn't tell me the name of it). And  the powerful country will fall (the US in his opinion). I joked about how I think we will all "nuke" ourselves. He took me seriously and said that Revelations says that there will be no cites and that the people left behind (after the Rapture, I assume) will live in caves. I mentioned cavemen but no one laughed    I guess I don't take "end times" as serious as he and my mom do...

One of my last comments was how people have been saying for hundreds of years that "end times" are coming. Now isn't any different.

It was impossible. No matter what I said, he kept talking about what Revelations said. I think he thought I agreed with him though...


What do you all think of "end times"? Ever had tasty encounters with firm believers in it like this?

[Will]

Why is it atheists know the Bible better than Christians? It's a grave sin for a human to predict the end times. “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32)

Tell your friend in no uncertain terms that he is living in sin and will go to hell to burn for all eternity if he doesn't repent and stop talking about the end of days like a televangelist looking for blood money.

Not only that, but like most Christians he knows absolutely nothing about the book of Revelations.

[myleviathan]

I was talking with my sister's boyfriend (devout Christian) about stuff relating to the news station we were watching (Fox or CNN or something like that).

I'm so sorry.  

I asked him to elaborate and he paraphrased a lot from Revelations and said all the natural disasters that have been happening along with possibly electing a man of Middle Eastern decent (Obama) for president were signs that it's gonna happen soon (there was more to the Obama thing that I couldn't really hold on to).

Times are better than any in history for the majority of the world, if you look at life span and population rates. I hate when people start talking about hurricanes and wildfires as 'signs of the end times'. What a bunch a' shite. It's so arrogant and ignorant.

[Tom62]

I asked him to elaborate and he paraphrased a lot from Revelations and said all the natural disasters that have been happening along with possibly electing a man of Middle Eastern decent (Obama) for president were signs that it's gonna happen soon (there was more to the Obama thing that I couldn't really hold on to).

I assume that your christian friend confuses Obama with Osama. Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. His father came from Kenya and his mother from Kansas. Last time I looked on the worldmap, Honolulu was still several thousands of kilometers away from any Arabic country.

[Smallville]

Like Wilravel, I've referred them back with scripture and then proceeded to explain how the whole book of Revelation is full of mumbo-jumbo with its portents and signs, imagery, numerology, and damned near every type of pseudo-scientific imagining possible.

It suited the need of the early church to include an eschatological version to existence to scare the hang out of people when the rest of their offering of love and eternal bliss wouldn't attract followers.

Visions from God after wandering who knows how long under the desert sun, starving, etc. To me it always seemed like some of the bad acid trips I had back in the 60s.

[afreethinker30]

I was talking with my sister's boyfriend (devout Christian) about stuff relating to the news station we were watching (Fox or CNN or something like that). It went to the wildfires in No. Cali. I mentioned how Death Cab For Cutie wrote a song about the ones that happened down here in So. Cali. He made some comment about how it's another factor adding to all the signs of "end times" (though he didn't use that phrase). I asked him to elaborate and he paraphrased a lot from Revelations and said all the natural disasters that have been happening along with possibly electing a man of Middle Eastern decent (Obama) for president were signs that it's gonna happen soon (there was more to the Obama thing that I couldn't really hold on to).

So I decided to challenge him. (but thinks I'm a Christian). I made a comment about how we don't necessarily know that "times" are worse today than they ever have been. We only know history from books, we weren't there to experience it. "Times" could have always been "bad". He didn't get it so I added that you can read all you want about the Holocaust but you will never know what it was like unless you went through it. He either got my point or pretended to to shut me up).

I also asked what Obama's decent had anything to do his presidency. He said it was just ironic that he comes from those that we are at war with now. I didn't get as far to ask him how that had anything to do with "end times".

He went on to say more of what Revelations says about all this. He said that there are only a few more areas in the world that haven't heard the "Word", which is one of the things that has to happen (which I want to know where he got info from, didn't ask). Another is that some river near Israel will dry up, which has apparently (but he couldn't tell me the name of it). And  the powerful country will fall (the US in his opinion). I joked about how I think we will all "nuke" ourselves. He took me seriously and said that Revelations says that there will be no cites and that the people left behind (after the Rapture, I assume) will live in caves. I mentioned cavemen but no one laughed    I guess I don't take "end times" as serious as he and my mom do...

One of my last comments was how people have been saying for hundreds of years that "end times" are coming. Now isn't any different.

It was impossible. No matter what I said, he kept talking about what Revelations said. I think he thought I agreed with him though...


What do you all think of "end times"? Ever had tasty encounters with firm believers in it like this?

Well seeing the history of End days...it's been coming since the beginning.And looking at alot of those people who think the end is near most seem to be pretty insane or atleast off.It seems to be just another way of scaring people into religion.It makes me think of those who claim to be physic.It's always so everyday claims.Hmm I see a person falling off a chair,wearing a black shirt and jeans.Or horoscopes today you will meet a new person.Half of the time they are right the other half say it will happen soon.

[susangail]

I asked him to elaborate and he paraphrased a lot from Revelations and said all the natural disasters that have been happening along with possibly electing a man of Middle Eastern decent (Obama) for president were signs that it's gonna happen soon (there was more to the Obama thing that I couldn't really hold on to).

I assume that your christian friend confuses Obama with Osama. Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. His father came from Kenya and his mother from Kansas. Last time I looked on the worldmap, Honolulu was still several thousands of kilometers away from any Arabic country.

That's exactly what confused me about what he said. I think he was going by his name or something. Obama is a democrat so that has something to do with his dislike for him.

[weedoch]

Every culture throughout human history has had an annihilation myth, just like a creation myth, to be preoccupied by. Even secularists get all hot and sweaty thinking about global warming or asteroid impacts. I have a little theory that the draw of apocalypse is the secret belief that "I'll be OK". For religious types God will save them, for the rest of us our superior intellect will see us through! There is plently of evidence to show that at every stage of history a significant proportion of people fretted about slipping standards and the imminent destruction of all. The "End of Days" is nothing new, and it's quite fun to ask the fundies why they want it so much!

[EvolutionCalling]

The Tool song 'Anemia' was playing on the radio while I was reading this post, kinda fitting.