[Vision2020] Humor in the News

[Joe Campbell]

If the world ends on May 21 I'm going to be pissed! I've got a log of things
scheduled next week.

On Wed, May 18, 2011 at 4:07 PM, Art Deco <deco at moscow.com> wrote:

>    Tick tock goes the doomsday clock<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/18/tick-tock-goes-the-doomsday-clock/>
>
> By *Jessica Ravitz*, CNN
>
> *(CNN)* - For months they’ve been spreading the word, answering the
> biblical call of Ezekiel 33 to sound the alarm and warn the people.
>
> Their message, which they say the Bible guarantees, is simple: The end of
> the world is near.
>
> And now, it’s suddenly really near - so near that if these folks are right,
> you should probably pass on buying green bananas.
>
> Perhaps you’ve already noticed, what with the billboards and signs dotting
> the landscape, the pamphlets blowing in the wind and the RVs plastered with
> Judgment Day warnings weaving through cities. Or maybe, as the birds chirped
> outside and you sipped your morning coffee, a full-page newspaper ad for the
> upcoming mass destruction caught your eye.
>
> May 21, 2011, according to loyal listeners of Family Radio<http://www.familyradio.com/index2.html>,
> a Christian broadcasting network based in Oakland, California, will mark the
> Day of Rapture and the start of Judgment Day (which, they say, will last
> five months). Those who are saved will be taken up to heaven, and those who
> aren’t will endure unspeakable suffering. Dead bodies will be strewn about
> as earthquakes ravage the Earth, they say. And come October 21, they’ll tell
> you, the entire world will be kaput.
>
> It’s the kind of belief that riles up churchgoers who insist no one can
> know when Judgment Day will come, and the sort that many say does a disservice
> to Christianity<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/17/my-take-may-21st-doomsday-movement-harms-christianity/>.
> And it’s the kind of message that delights the types who are planning
> tongue-in-cheek End of the World parties and are responding to a Facebook
> invitation to attend a post-rapture looting<http://www.facebook.com/#%21/event.php?eid=121968371215699>.
> Rapture events, including one at a tiki bar in Fort Lauderdale, are being
> hosted by American Atheists <http://www.atheists.org/>. News outlets,
> comedians and even Doonesbury <http://www.doonesbury.com/> can’t seem to
> resist a good end-of-the-world prophecy.
>
> Billboard battle over Judgment Day<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/25/billboard-battle-over-judgment-day/>
>
> Earlier this year, CNN traveled with a team of believers - all of whom had
> walked away from friends, families and jobs - as they set out to share this
> serious message aboard a caravan of Judgment Day RVs. These ambassadors or
> co-laborers in God’s work, as they see themselves, let us into their world.
> Along the way we met other supporters, as well as a sea of skeptics, many of
> them drunken pirates gathered for an annual festival in Florida.
>
> Read about that journey and the roots of this doomsday message<http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/03/06/judgment.day.caravan/index.html>
>
> With only days to go, we wanted to know how the ambassadors are feeling
> now. Are they making special plans and saying goodbyes? Have their
> convictions stayed strong, or have doubts crept in? Are they at peace,
> excited or maybe afraid?
>
> “We’ve been a little busy, as you can imagine,” said Fred Store, the team
> leader on our journey.
>
> Reached at a motor home park in Providence, Rhode Island, Store spoke of
> the surge of support he’s seen in recent months – the 60 like-minded people
> (including someone who works for Homeland Security, he boasted) who joined
> his small crew on the Mall in Washington, and the hundreds who gathered in
> Times Square in New York.
>
> But at the same time he said resistance from those who don’t believe has
> grown, too. The more people heard about the May 21 warning, the more they
> discussed it with their pastors and came prepared to argue.
>
> Learn about doomsdays throughout time<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/06/competition-for-when-the-world-will-end/>
>
> And the media, while they’ve helped spread the message, will be turned away
> in the coming days. CNN hoped to be with Store and his team on doomsday, but
> the members said they needed that time to focus on their relationship with
> God. Perhaps that’s just as well, as an official at Family Radio
> headquarters pointed out: “What makes you think you’ll be able to get to
> them? The roads will be a mess," he said, referring to the expected
> earthquakes. Plus, Store said, even if we got there, there would be no time
> to edit and publish, so what's the point?
>
> Store’s faith remains unwavering. Come Saturday, he and his team will be in
> Boston, standing in a spot with heavy foot traffic, passing out their
> pamphlets – which they call tracts – and doing what they believe God called
> them to do until the very end.
>
> No longer with the team is Darryl Keitt, who ditched his caravan on May 6.
> He said his time on the RV was a “gift from God,” but he decided he needed
> to spend the last couple of weeks focusing on his non-believing family and
> friends in New Jersey. It was a decision he prayed about for several weeks.
>
> His Elizabeth, New Jersey, apartment is pretty sparse, seeing as he gave
> away most everything before hitting the road.
>
> “I was able to get my old place back,” he said. “But we only have four days
> to go, so I don’t need much.”
>
> He’s reaching out to old friends and hoping his family will come around and
> believe what he says he knows to be true.
>
> “I have not seen any signs that they are believing the message,” he said.
> “But I can’t read anybody’s heart; only God can. And I’m still praying for
> them. All I can do is continue to share my convictions.”
>
> Tisan Dawud may not share his older half-brother's beliefs, but he supports
> the positive nature of what Keitt's doing and is awestruck by his
> dedication.
>
> "He's trying to spread what he believes is the word of God, and I can't
> knock him for that," Dawud said Tuesday evening. "I became Muslim when I was
> very young, and he remained Christian. But I've always had respect for his
> beliefs, and he always had respect for my beliefs."
>
> And rather than criticize or ridicule his brother, who he said isn't
> hurting anyone, Dawud wishes people would focus on those who deserve
> examination and condemnation - those selling drugs, molesting children,
> raping women or embezzling money, for example.
>
> Keitt spends his days in prayer, reaching out to people on Facebook,
> listening to Family Radio and walking around his neighborhood in his
> Judgment Day cap and T-shirt. He ran out of tracts some time ago, and at
> this point it’s too late to order any more, he said. As for where he’ll be
> on Saturday: “It’s a good question," and one he's still considering.
>
> He doesn’t like goodbyes, he said, and only told two people in his caravan
> team of 10 that he was leaving. He gave those two men, one of them Store, a
> quick hug and that was it.
>
> “Preferably we’ll meet each other again,” Keitt said, “in heaven.”
>
> Dennis Morrell was driving through Jacksonville, Florida, pulling his
> Judgment Day billboard trailer, when we reached him on his cell phone. He
> wasn’t part of the caravan of RVs but was among the Floridians who joined in
> to help Store’s team when they were in the city.
>
> Morell and his wife quit their jobs to focus on warning others, a move
> that’s left their four kids – ages 17 to 24 – thinking “Mom and Dad are
> crazy,” he said.
>
> He still hopes God will “open their spiritual eyes,” he said. “But they’re
> at an age where they love their lives. They don’t want this world to come to
> an end.”
>
> His faith, though, is as firm as ever, and he wishes others would open
> their minds and hearts to this possibility.
>
> “Why would you wait to see if this is actually going to happen? You have
> that option to cry out for mercy,” he said. “I don’t want to die and go to
> hell. Do you?”
>
> He plans to spend the last days praying, up until the early hours of
> Saturday - when he’ll both pray and wait for 16 hours.
>
> Why 16 hours? Morrell explained that the massive doomsday earthquake will
> start at the International Date Line before moving west. New Zealand, he
> said, will get hit first – at 6 p.m. local time. And then that wave of
> destruction will roll around the world, wreaking havoc at 6 p.m. in each
> time zone.
>
> While Morrell expects he’ll reserve Saturday for private time, Benjamin
> Ramrajie of Ocala, Florida, doesn’t have any special plans.
>
> We met Ramrajie in Tampa after his 7-year-old daughter issued a doomsday
> warning about how the sun would “turn red like blood.” He stood by and
> nodded his approval as she spoke about dead bodies and her fears of dying.
>
> “Most of my family doesn’t agree 100 percent, and I don’t blame them
> because it is far-fetched,” he said. “I strongly believe it’s going to
> happen. But I just figure I’ll relax, maybe watch TV. If that’s the day we
> get raptured, great. If not, we’ll move on.”
>     Posted by: Jessica Ravitz<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/author/jesravitz/>- CNN Writer/Producer
>
> Filed under: Bible <http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/category/bible/> •
> Christianity <http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/category/christianity/> • Culture
> wars <http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/category/culture-wars/> • End times<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/category/end-times/>
>  • Faith Now <http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/category/faith-now/>
>  ------------------------------
>  Next entry »Report on Catholic priests' sex abuse of minors finds no
> single cause<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/18/report-on-catholic-priests-sex-abuse-of-minors-finds-no-single-cause/>
> « Previous entryMy Take: May 21st doomsday movement harms Christianity<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/17/my-take-may-21st-doomsday-movement-harms-christianity/>
>   sound*off* (3,281 Responses)
>
>    1.  *Jean Hochu*
>
>    Atheists and non-believers are not concerned.
>    May 18, 2011 at 4:50 pm | | Reply<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/18/tick-tock-goes-the-doomsday-clock/?hpt=C1&replytocom=437425#respond>
>     2.  *Beth*
>
>    What's sad is the havoc some of these end of days believers have
>    wreaked on their families and children. NPR had a story where various of
>    them quit jobs, spent savings and the kid's college money, all because it
>    wouldn't be needed down the line.
>
>    In the larger picture, the extent to which fundamentalist beliefs have
>    infiltrated our politics and culture is far from funny. Politicians in order
>    to be "electable" have to feign religious piety. Schools are under fire to
>    ban books and add ridiculous "alternate to evolution" teachings to the
>    roster, science and history are under attack everywhere.
>
>    Doomsday is any day that facts and proven theories are allowed to be
>    set aside and shouted down and where anyone's on the soapbox opinion is
>    given the same respect as an expert one.
>
>    These people are dangerous and deserving of scorn. Like the "birthers'
>    they can't be convinced by facts and probabilities, and it is all driven by
>    a need to feel special and better than others, under the guise of religious
>    zeal.
>
>    I'
>    May 18, 2011 at 4:50 pm | | Reply<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/18/tick-tock-goes-the-doomsday-clock/?hpt=C1&replytocom=437426#respond>
>     3.  *Roy N. Vollmer*
>
>    This doomsday prediction is nothing more than an insult to all of the
>    people worldwide who have lost loved ones and property from the many natural
>    disasters that have occurred in recent months and must deal with this loss
>    always.
>    May 18, 2011 at 4:50 pm | | Reply<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/18/tick-tock-goes-the-doomsday-clock/?hpt=C1&replytocom=437428#respond>
>     4.  *Homer*
>
>    oh they are gonna feel soooo silly the next day, like I do when I got
>    drunk the night before.
>    May 18, 2011 at 4:50 pm | | Reply<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/18/tick-tock-goes-the-doomsday-clock/?hpt=C1&replytocom=437430#respond>
>     5.  *His Praise, His Glory, His Majesty*
>
>    This is real all you foolish people. You do not have 4 days left.
>    Bow on your knees now or face the wrath.
>    The Angels of death will smote all you sinners.
>    May 18, 2011 at 4:50 pm | | Reply<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/18/tick-tock-goes-the-doomsday-clock/?hpt=C1&replytocom=437431#respond>
>     6.  *Thinquer*
>
>    NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY AND THE HOUR, NOT EVEN THE SON. ONLY THE FATHER.
>
>    Matthew 24:36-42
>    So how is it that these people say they know what not even Jesus Christ
>    knows?
>    May 18, 2011 at 4:50 pm | | Reply<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/18/tick-tock-goes-the-doomsday-clock/?hpt=C1&replytocom=437432#respond>
>     7.  *Peter*
>
>    What a sad and pathetic bunch of complete losers.
>    May 18, 2011 at 4:51 pm | | Reply<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/18/tick-tock-goes-the-doomsday-clock/?hpt=C1&replytocom=437438#respond>
>     8.  *Mike*
>
>    These same people were calling for the end of the world in the 80s as
>    well.
>    May 18, 2011 at 4:51 pm | | Reply<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/18/tick-tock-goes-the-doomsday-clock/?hpt=C1&replytocom=437439#respond>
>     9.  *The Bobinator*
>
>    Now that you've written all that, can you prove which bits are valid
>    and which ones are not, given the bible does in fact have sections that
>    contain forgeries (Snake handling for example).
>    May 18, 2011 at 7:57 am | | Reply<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/18/tick-tock-goes-the-doomsday-clock/?hpt=C1&replytocom=433207#respond>
>     10.  *xxsevensxx*
>
>    Cool story, bro.
>    May 18, 2011 at 9:07 am | | Reply<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/18/tick-tock-goes-the-doomsday-clock/?hpt=C1&replytocom=433258#respond>
>     11.  *HeavenSent*
>
>    Bobinator, snake handling is a metaphor ... knowledge how to or know
>    when ... dealing with evil people.
>
>    Amen.
>    May 18, 2011 at 9:18 am | | Reply<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/18/tick-tock-goes-the-doomsday-clock/?hpt=C1&replytocom=433269#respond>
>     12.  *The Bobinator*
>
>    > Bobinator, snake handling is a metaphor ... knowledge how to or know
>    when ... dealing with evil people.
>
>    Reading comprehension isn't your strong suit is it? I'm saying that
>    snake handling is known by biblical scholars to be added much later and a
>    fraud. I'm not commenting on the overall message.
>
>    If the bible contains errors, then every aspect of the bible needs to
>    be investigated. Like how it's mighty odd that Matt 27:52-53 says the holy
>    men rose from their graves and walked around town, yet no historian recorded
>    such an event. Just like how no historian recorded the slaughter of the male
>    children when Jesus was born.
>
>    Kind of odd wouldn't you say?
>    May 18, 2011 at 9:46 am | | Reply<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/18/tick-tock-goes-the-doomsday-clock/?hpt=C1&replytocom=433297#respond>
>     13.  *Helia*
>
>    Amazing! I guess you haven;t read profound in Revalation the verse that
>    says "...NO ONE knows the day nor time when the world will come to an end
>    NOT EVEN the Son of our Heavenly Father.." -- "..be ready because I will
>    COME AS A THIEF!..." Really are you trying to fight or challenge those
>    verses. Religions is what gives Christian a bad name [those who believe in
>    Christ are called Christian] . I don't follow a religion just the Father and
>    the Son because all these religion now days have misinterpratation! Can't
>    wait to see your post next month, it will be cool to see it on Monday!
>    May 18, 2011 at 9:50 am | | Reply<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/18/tick-tock-goes-the-doomsday-clock/?hpt=C1&replytocom=433305#respond>
>     14.  *hey*
>
>    too long. Did not read.
>    May 18, 2011 at 9:53 am | | Reply<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/18/tick-tock-goes-the-doomsday-clock/?hpt=C1&replytocom=433315#respond>
>     15.  *Holy Diver*
>
>    Last I checked; Jesus was Jewish. So, if you go to Temple on Friday
>    Night or Saturday Morning you can "Repent" for seperating yourselves from
>    Judaism, and giving Jesus a new Religon.... Jesus was a Rabbi and a good
>    man; nothing more...Get over it.
>    May 18, 2011 at 9:53 am | | Reply<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/18/tick-tock-goes-the-doomsday-clock/?hpt=C1&replytocom=433316#respond>
>     16.  *cliff*
>
>    seriously dude...it's like arguing about whether superman could beat
>    spiderman – it's ALL make-believe
>
>
> Wayne A. Fox
> 1009 Karen Lane
> PO Box 9421
> Moscow, ID  83843
>
> waf at moscow.com
> 208 882-7975
>
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