Doomsday Finally Arrived For Him

[Tennesseer]

Harold Camping, an evangelical minister who predicted the world would end on May 21, 2011, has died at the age of 92. He'd been hospitalized after falling.


OAKLAND, California — Harold Camping, the U.S. preacher who used his evangelical radio ministry and thousands of billboards to broadcast the end of the world and then gave up public prophecy when his date-specific doomsdays did not come to pass, has died at age 92.

Camping, a retired civil engineer who built a worldwide following for the nonprofit Oakland, California-based ministry he founded in 1958, died at his home Sunday, said Family Radio Network marketing manager Nina Romero. She said he had been hospitalized after falling.

Camping's most widely spread prediction was that the Rapture would happen on May 21, 2011. His independent Christian media empire spent millions of dollars — some of it from donations made by followers who quit their jobs and sold all their possessions— to spread the word on more than 5,000 billboards and 20 RVs plastered with the Judgment Day message.

When the Judgment Day he foresaw did not materialize, the preacher revised his prophecy, saying he had been off by five months. The preacher, who suffered a stroke three weeks after the May prediction failed, said the light dawned on him that instead of the biblical Rapture in which the faithful would be swept up to the heavens, the date had instead been a "spiritual" Judgment Day, which placed the entire world under Christ's judgment.

More:  US doomsday minister Harold Camping dies

[Jaguar]

Well he can now tell us from the other side.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

There's always going to be another self-ordained preacher to pick up where he left off... and thousands of gullible people who'll continue to pour in their money/donations, and believe these radicals.

Shame that it's those who can can afford it the least who buy into this marketing gimmick hoping to strike their fortune - buying "miracles" and all the other cheesy merchandise/gimmicks they peddle on late night Televangelist programs. (Jerry Falwell, Jimmy Swaggart, Oral Roberts - and can anyone say Jim & Tammy-Faye Bakker)?

[billisonboard]

"Harold, now that you are here, want to explain that math to me."

[chiver78]

my repressed inner Catholic really wants to say "forgive me, father for I have sinned in offering up a link of Brother Camping with a comment of 'it's the end of the world as we know it......ooh, too soon?' on my FB page"

reality's a biatch though, as he realized when he dropped out of public life after all his public blathering...

[billisonboard]

Or maybe:



"Looks like God wasn't impressed with that little 'end of the world' stunt you pulled."

[Jaguar]

I remember starting a thread on old MSN TV General Board about this character, I wasn't impressed then with his blathering.

[Tennesseer]

My guess.

[Jaguar]

Tenn it's either that ^^^ or he's finding out now that karma is indeed a real bitch.

[Tennesseer]

Dec 17, 2013 21:16:39 GMT -5 Jaguar said:

Tenn it's either that ^^^ or he's finding out now that karma is indeed a real bitch.

My guess ìs ìf there ìs a higher power, it is quite benevolent and never could be bothered by our earthly problems and squabbles nor the problems of all the other millions of worlds with life forms in this universe.

[EVT1]

Dec 17, 2013 21:49:08 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Dec 17, 2013 21:16:39 GMT -5 Jaguar said:

Tenn it's either that ^^^ or he's finding out now that karma is indeed a real bitch.

My guess ìs ìf there ìs a higher power, it is quite benevolent and never could be bothered by our earthly problems and squabbles nor the problems of all the other millions of worlds with life forms in this universe.

  Not going to be persuaded by a group prayer before the super bowl either.  The enormous amount of senseless suffering on this world is proof enough to me that said higher power is not getting involved- there was a quote:

“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”
― Epicurus

People can argue about whether life has a lesson for us to learn, a grand plan, whatever- and then some 6yo gets ripped apart by an AR-15.
No wonder people invented the idea of hell.  The notion of hell is probably keeping a lot of people in line, and a lot of other people alive that would be dragged out and killed.

Reminds me of a Louis CK bit- laws against murder are the number #1 thing preventing murder.



 

[billisonboard]

Dec 18, 2013 0:24:31 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

...

People can argue about whether life has a lesson for us to learn, a grand plan, whatever- and then some 6yo gets ripped apart by an AR-15. ...

One hell of a set of lessons for a number of souls to learn in that happening.

[EVT1]

So far I don't think anyone learned anything after that.  I learned a lot of people are uncaring assholes...

When you take the world as a whole it is hard to accept there is any higher power at all- after all said higher power would have to have set the rules. The world seems too cruel for that to be true.  And on we go to philosophy.

What I do believe- in the whole nature/nurture argument- is that the genetic lottery and location of birth has a hell of a lot more to do with success or failure, religious beliefs, politics, etc. than any internal ability.

With a different mother/father any one of us might be strapping on a suicide vest, could have wound up a gang banger, welfare abuser.  What kills me is when people that had all of the advantages bag on those that had not a single one and blame them for their situation and pontificate about it. 

I am starting to think the idea of heaven is as offensive as the idea of hell- sounds like an exclusionary club for like minded people- at least that is the way it is being tossed around.  Don't worry- only us Christians in heaven.... Yep- it is offensive.

[EVT1]

Will share a quick bit about one of our very popular church leaders:

This man killed another person during a drug deal, went to prison, found God, and now runs a huge church raking in the bucks.  Lives large.

Had the gall to give a sermon and explain why he decided to stop 'lying' to members who had deaths in the family that were not part of the church/not a reborn Christian, etc.  He stated he could not comfort these people anymore and pretend their loved ones were not in hell- as everyone that doesn't accept Jesus goes to hell-so he quit doing funerals.  How ironic I wish there was a hell for people like him

[billisonboard]

Dec 18, 2013 1:20:51 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

So far I don't think anyone learned anything after that.  I learned ...

[Green Eyed Lady]

While I wasn't a believer of his teachings, I am saddened by his death as he more than likely has friends and family who mourn him.  To me, anyone's death isn't a cause for celebration or derision.  I guess I was just raised differently.

Rest in Peace. 

[shelby]

" as everyone that doesn't accept Jesus goes to hell-so he quit doing funerals. How ironic I wish there was a hell for people like him "

I have always viewed the Abraham God as a bit of a narcissist praise me or I will smite you. Very much like an abusive parent who also plays the favorites game. Maybe enjoys watching others suffer....either way not somebody I want to worship.

[Green Eyed Lady]

Telling a child to respect their parents, do as they are told and to behave themselves or suffer the consequences does not make a parent abusive.  Nor does it make God narcissistic. 

"Praise" simply means to express approval or adoration.  I'd venture to guess most people feel that way about their parents, too.  It's not like praise is some horrible thing to be avoided at all costs.  If a person has children, I'm guessing their praise them for things - doing their chores well, excelling in school, etc.  Hell, I even praise my dog when he goes a whole week without climbing up on the kitchen table. 

People make way too big of a deal over a simple word.

[shelby]

I don't think it is that easy considering you could be the most peaceful loving person possible, but unless you call him out by name and give constant praise you are going to hell. He doesn't seem to give as much care about action as he does lip service.

I also don't believe in fearing my children into obedience. I feel like a belief in god takes away from personal responsibility and honest work on becoming a better person and attaining peace ie it comes from within not from a separate entity. Maybe take out the fear and judgement I would get on board. I also believe that was more of the original Jesus message.

[Green Eyed Lady]

Dec 18, 2013 13:40:44 GMT -5 shelby said:

I don't think it is that easy considering you could be the most peaceful loving person possible, but unless you call him out by name and give constant praise you are going to hell. He doesn't seem to give as much care about action as he does lip service.

I also don't believe in fearing my children into obedience. I feel like a belief in god takes away from personal responsibility and honest work on becoming a better person and attaining peace ie it comes from within not from a separate entity. Maybe take out the fear and judgement I would get on board. I also believe that was more of the original Jesus message.

I do believe actions count.  I believe God does, too.  You can pray aloud 50 times a day, but unless you "walk the talk", it won't do you a bit of good, IMO.  I believe He cares very much about the actions.

I don't know a thing about raising children other than my experience is being a child and being raised. I'm betting, tho, that your children fear something if they don't obey you. I'm certainly not saying they fear a beating or anything like that. Maybe it's a loss of privileges they fear. Or maybe it's disappointing you they fear. I'm betting they fear something.

We all judge, Shelby. You do. I do. Anybody who says they have never judged another person would be judged, in my opinion, as a big fat liar! Why are we so quick to condemn God for the same thing?

I understand what you are saying about personal responsibility, etc. I just don't agree. If anything, my belief adds to my sense of personal responsibility. I absolutely believe a person who doesn't believe in God can be a good person just for the sake of being a good person. As far as their eternity? I have no idea. Not for me to say.

Have enjoyed your posting, but any further discussion along these lines will earn us a scolding because God is being mentioned other than the one exact place He is supposed to be mentioned.  Thanks for the discussion.

[shelby]

I will add I don't believe judgment is an enlightened quality. God should give guidance and knowledge not judgment and punishment, those things I cannot get past.