TOMORROW; cool and windy, chance of total apocalypse.

[Gob]

TOMORROW will be cool and windy, with a chance of total apocalypse.

That, at least, is the prediction of Harold Camping, the 89-year-old founder of a Christian cult that disseminates numerological interpretations of the Bible to followers via a network of FM radio stations in the US and podcasts on its website.

Familyradio.com says God ''wants us to know that exactly 7000 years after He destroyed the world with water in Noah's day, He plans to destroy the entire world forever''.

Through a complex series of calculations, Mr Camping has arrived at the date of May 21, 2011, as Judgment Day, when only true believers will be spared.

But if you're not quite ready for the Rapture, there's no need for total despair … yet. Saturday is just the beginning of the end. The final fiery ball of damnation won't visit us until October 21.

Mr Camping bases his calculations on a model in which the number 5 equals ''atonement'', the number 10 equals ''completeness'', and the number 17 equals ''heaven''.

Miraculously, the square of the multiple of those numbers produces the exact number of days from the birth of Christ to the day of judgment. (For a full analysis of his approach, see refutecamping.com.)

Bonkers though it may seem to the non-believers, enough people have been convinced by Mr Camping's reasoning that by 2007 his organisation had assets worth $US122 million ($115 million), according to ministrywatch.com, a website that assesses the suitability of various Christian groups as recipients of donations.

Family Radio was given a three-star ''financial efficiency'' rating (out of five) from the website, but come Sunday it's hardly going to matter.

That perhaps explains the proliferation of billboards in Australian capital cities booked by the free-spending Family Radio that urge people to ''cry mightily unto God'' because ''Judgment Day is coming''.


Like they say, you can't take it with you.

Of course, one man's eternal damnation is another man's golden opportunity, and American company Eternal Earth-Bound Pets has grabbed its chance with all four paws.

''You've committed your life to Jesus,'' its pitch begins. ''You know you're saved. But when the Rapture comes, what's to become of your loving pets?''

For a fee of $135, the ''confirmed atheists'' at Eternal promise to save one pet per residence ''should the Rapture occur within 10 years of receipt of payment''. They'll take additional pets for $20 each.

Meanwhile, there are some who see the end of the world as a good reason to party. The Atheist Foundation of Australia is planning a farewell shindig at the Elephant and Wheelbarrow in St Kilda on Saturday afternoon. Sunday, of course, could be hell

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/cult-claims ... z1MrGbYqYd

[dales]

This crackpot has been making news all over the SF Bay Area.

[Lord Jim]

Bonkers though it may seem to the non-believers, enough people have been convinced by Mr Camping's reasoning that by 2007 his organisation had assets worth $US122 million ($115 million),

Oh man, no doubt about it...

I'm in the wrong business...

Time to get my mail order ministry ordination and start rounding up a flock....(fleecing to follow...)

[Sean]

Well it's really going to bugger up any meaningful theological debate on here if the believers are taken up tomorrow. We'll have to have a quick head count on Sunday.

[Gob]

And if you're still here, you must have been eating pagan easter ham you sinners!!!!

[Timster]

God Dammit! Still here...

Ok. Starting me email campaign tomorrow. She said that she loved me! Arrrrrgh~ :p

[Lord Jim]

Gee, since it'll be the 21st in Australia before it is here, maybe you down under types could let us know if the lines at the supermarkets seem a lot shorter...

One thing's certain...

If it happens on Saturday, The Arch Bishop Of Canterbury will still be here to celebrate mass on Sunday....

[Gob]

Fucking genius!!!

[Beer Sponge]

Fucking genius!!!

Oh man, that had me laughing to tears! I might just give it a try!!

This right here is why I love this place! Thanks plan B!

[@meric@nwom@n]

Oh man! I just took a huge bag of things to goodwill. Damn.

[Sue U]

Jesus gonna snatch them up nekkid?

[Lord Jim]

It would be great to leave some out in front of the local Mosque in a small town....

[@meric@nwom@n]

I live near a Mosque, the biggest in North America apparently, but I doubt I could get anywhere near it, I am sure there is tight security.

[The Hen]

Well it's the 21st here today.

The world appears to be going along as usual.

I can see no naked people flying past my window.

Quite frankly, I am more than a little disappointed in that.

[Gob]

Party! Party!! Party!!!

US atheists are to hold parties in response to an evangelical broadcaster's prediction that Saturday will be "judgement day".

The Rapture After Party in North Carolina - "the best damned party in NC" - is among the planned events.

Harold Camping, 89, predicts that Jesus Christ will return to earth on Saturday and true believers will be swept up, or "raptured", to heaven.

He has used broadcasts and billboards to publicise his ideas.

He says biblical texts indicate that a giant earthquake on Saturday will mark the start of the world's destruction, and that by 21 October all non-believers will be dead.

Mr Camping has predicted an apocalypse once before, in 1994, though followers now say that only referred to an intermediary stage.

"We learn from the Bible that Holy God plans to rescue about 200 million people," says a text on the website of Mr Camping's network, Family Radio Worldwide.

"On the first day of the Day of Judgment (May 21, 2011) they will be caught up (raptured) into Heaven because God had great mercy for them."


The Rapture After Party in Fayetteville, North Carolina, is a two-day event organised by the Central North Carolina Atheists and Humanists.


"Though the absurdity of this claim is obvious to the majority of the world, it's a great opportunity to highlight some of the most bizarre beliefs often put forth by religious fundamentalists and raise awareness of the need for reason," said a posting about the party on the group's website.

Atheists in Tacoma, Washington, have headed their celebration "countdown to back-pedalling"


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13468131

[Gob]

Imagine if this had happened on the 21 st?

Tributes have been paid to a Somerset vicar who collapsed and died in front of his congregation.

The Reverend Roger Pittard, 61, was attending Evensong at The Good Shepherd Church in Furnham, Chard, last Sunday when it happened.

The Diocese of Bath and Wells said he was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, but could not be resuscitated.

Colleagues said Father Roger was a warm, outgoing person who would be much missed.

About 30 worshippers were attending the service.

Church treasurer, Gerald McCann, said: "It was a terrible shock. His poor wife was in the congregation.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-13466688

[The Hen]

Well, I am certainly NOT going to bother doing the housework today.

If I am still here tomorrow, I might run the Dyson over my sins.

[BoSoxGal]

run the Dyson over my sins

I love it!

[Lord Jim]

Yeah, well make fun of this guy all you want....

Have you got 115 million bucks?

Dude must be doin' something right.....

[Gob]

"No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American (religious) public."