By Associated Press, Published: May 21

OAKLAND, Calif. — They spent months warning the world of the apocalypse, some giving away earthly belongings or draining their savings accounts. And so they waited, vigilantly, on Saturday for the appointed hour to arrive.

When 6 p.m. came and went across the United States and various spots around the globe, and no extraordinary cataclysm occurred, some believers expressed confusion, while others reassured each of their faith. Still, some others took it in stride.

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You would think that after seeing this act countless times over the last couple of thousand years, at a 100% failure rate, that people would stop falling for it.  One guy is reported to have had a heart attack after co-workers staged a fake rapture scene at work and he felt he had been left behind. 

Would people keep buying lottery tickets if no one ever won?

Another thing I don't get is the attraction to rapture.  The common "going-to-heaven" belief is you live a good life and when you die you go to heaven to be with God.  How is this any different than the rapture concept?  The only real difference I see is you go as a group while the sinners are left behind on earth to die as a group.  Is the whole group thing the attraction or is it something else, like being one of the chosen and therefore that makes you special?

The story about the man who started the whole thing...

Quote from: Valeriedances on May 22, 2011, 07:09:25 AM
How do we really know there was no rapture? Maybe a few lucky souls made it out of here...

I thought rapture meant the end of the world follows?  I think most of us are still alive and well.  Or could it be said that everyone who died yesterday was "raptured" into heaven?  And did they all go to heaven... or somewhere else?

Oh, never mind!  I'm going to try to get in a round of golf.  I hear there's some openings that just came up.

I suspect a mistranslation of the original Aramaic, which actually heralded the raptors - so now there are suddenly a whole load of worthy but confused dinosaurs in heaven.

Quote from: Julie Marie on May 22, 2011, 07:54:23 AM
I thought rapture meant the end of the world follows? 

Ya, but not for another couple years. The "left behind" live on in a hellish earth until the end.

I think the attraction the "rapture" has for alot of people is the idea of going to heaven without the bother of dying.

As far as I'm concerned, the whole rapture idea is just another way of some people thinking they're better than others. Hooie!

Quote from: Padma on May 22, 2011, 07:58:44 AM
I suspect a mistranslation of the original Aramaic, which actually heralded the raptors - so now there are suddenly a whole load of worthy but confused dinosaurs in heaven.

A raptor rapture? I thought they said rappers! (God give us back Tupac and we'll give you Justin Beiber!)

I think it's sad and pathetic, how some journalists and others who should know better, seem to take such pleasure in humiliating and belittling an old man.

Quote from: spacial on May 22, 2011, 09:19:20 AM
I think it's sad and pathetic, how some journalists and others who should know better, seem to take such pleasure in humiliating and belittling an old man.

This is probably the case.  The media did not pay any attention to an old man like that, no matter his profession, in the 60's when I grew up.  This old fellow seemed clear but delusional, a sign of certain dementias that are common for his age. 
  There was this old fellow on the CB radio in the 70's when it was really a fad.  He came on my home channel and started saying the passages from the Bible all day and all night for nearly a week and didn't answer to anybody.  When we finally tracked him down, we found out that he attended my CB club dinner 3 months before and he seemed very lucid.  He didn't even sound like the same fellow at the dinner.  His wife went into the hospital for that time, leaving him alone, and he didn't take his medication his wife insisted he take.  He ended up in a home afterwards.
  Joelene

Kia Ora,

Look there's a couple of possibilities as to why no rapture...

One,  God must be quite old by now and as we all know old people's memories are not the best, perhaps s/he/it just got a little confused with the time, it's easily done, especially at hir age

Or perhaps s/he/it's a prankster and likes a good laugh  and is sitting up in heaven feeling quite pleased with hirself and thinking " Got you again suckers...You're too easy...What a load of plonkers!"

Metta Zenda

Quote from: Valeriedances on May 22, 2011, 07:09:25 AM
How do we really know there was no rapture? Maybe a few lucky souls made it out of here...

The rest of us are stuck, yikes!

As I shouted to a group of us mulling around outside a club last night, "For those of us still here, welcome to paradise!"

It was a fun evening though... goth night, and the TVs were playing Shaun of the Dead, followed by Fido.

Breathe, breathe, breathe. Jesus forgave for a whole more things done to him, than Julie can possibly do.
Julie Marie,
I can't believe your allowed to Moderate any part of this board. Seeing that you have zero sense of neutrality in regards to Christians/issues/Christianity. In fact your down right hostile to any and all who are Christian.

This flame, which is what this thread is, belongs in the Atheism section of Religion.

Just what does this thread have todo with Religious news that concerns the Transgender community?

Oh come on.  It is just in jest.  The news has made a bigger deal than a simple article.

It's not news on the way the OP intends.

It's meant to mock the whole. Based on the absurd actions of the few.

This thread, and others by the OP-a mod, makes me uncomfortable.

It's a Hate Thread.

Quote from: Michelle. on May 22, 2011, 05:52:49 PM
It's a Hate Thread.

It's a culture thread... this has become part of culture now, a sociological study.  It's not mocking, simply reporting.  At no point has anyone run in screaming that the actions of the few who believed wholeheartedly in a coming rapture were indicative of all Christians.

The story of all the people believing in a rapture was news.  Do we simply let it drop now that the time has passed?  C'mon... some good plays end with cliffhangers.  News does not.

I'm confused, why it is a hate thread?

I think a statement like that needs qualifying tbh.

I fail to see the GLBT connection of the thread. This isn't a news in general area. It's to cover that which relates to the purpose of the board.

It's part of the OPs ongoing antiChristian agenda/ hatred and bigotry.

Quote from: Michelle. on May 22, 2011, 06:08:10 PM
I fail to see the GLBT connection of the thread. This isn't a news in general area. It's to cover that which relates to the purpose of the board.

Common interest stories should, by nature, have something to do with the GLBT community, as the GLBT community is part of the populace.  There was a thread about Bin Laden's death that had nothing to do with the GLBT community either, but it wasn't outside the scope or purpose of the board.

Sounds like you have more a bone to pick with the OP than the news itself, and maybe that should be taken up in private...?

To clarify my objections which Zythra has resolved. Thank you! Your great.

JulieMarie posted this originally in the Religious Section of the News Board. Which is supposed to be "hard" news about the various religions and our community.

Done entirely to mock those of the Christian faith. She does this often in the Christianity section. See her locked thread. And other posts that relate to Christianity.

Hate was the sole motivation, behind the original placing of this thread.

I have moved this topic to another area of the forum. Please keep discussion on topic of the original post or it will be locked. If you have issues with any Moderator, that should be dealt with privately, as per below.

Quote
2. Any attempts to stage protests, dispute the site policy, the TOS/rules, or actions of the staff; in the public areas of this site will not be tolerated and will result in your removal. If you have issues I suggest you contact susan@susans.org and not bring your issues into the public spaces on this website. For the proper way to raise issues see term #20 below.

It bothers me when people from a bigoted organisation hide behind laws that are designed to prevent bigotry.