# A subset of Christians think the Rapture is 21may2011 based on the prediction of.. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 16, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-subset-of-christians-think-the-rapture-is-21may2011-based-on-the-prediction-of/582097 "2011-05-16T15:48:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-subset-of-christians-think-the-rapture-is-21may2011-based-on-the-prediction-of/582097/21 "2011-05-16T23:26:53Z")
This one of the times I wish there was a Department of Social Control monitoring and manipulating memetics… ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-subset-of-christians-think-the-rapture-is-21may2011-based-on-the-prediction-of/582097/22 "2011-05-17T06:31:32Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > OK, serious question. Are there any reports available as to how many idiots believe this guy? > > Is it a few dozen? A few hundred? Thousands? Tens of thousands? I saw some guys with their “May 21 is Judgment Day” signs outside of Penn Station last week. A former co-worker of mine believes May 21 will be the Rapture, to all of our surprise. He was a very nice young man, soft-spoken, early 20s. He never discussed religion at work until one time at a dinner he mentioned he was a Fundamentalist Christian, which was a bit of a surprise as we are all atheists or lapsed Catholics, but he never made mention of it again after that. A couple months ago, about two years after he quit, he sent us an email warning us about May 21 and telling us we had to repent and Trust in the Lord and prepare for Judgment Day whatever else those folks go on about. It was really bizarre. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-subset-of-christians-think-the-rapture-is-21may2011-based-on-the-prediction-of/582097/23 "2011-05-17T10:31:08Z")
Well, I am pretty certain nobody in this household is going to be included in their little rapture event, and theoretically post rapture is going to be the 1000 year reign of Satan, should we take up practicing satanism to get on the evil dudes good side? Sort of making evil brownie points, or would it be pointless:confused: ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-subset-of-christians-think-the-rapture-is-21may2011-based-on-the-prediction-of/582097/24 "2011-05-17T12:15:12Z")
I understand Satan, being a Mormon, eschews chocolate. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-subset-of-christians-think-the-rapture-is-21may2011-based-on-the-prediction-of/582097/25 "2011-05-17T20:02:17Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Well, I am pretty certain nobody in this household is going to be included in their little rapture event, and theoretically post rapture is going to be the 1000 year reign of Satan, should we take up practicing satanism to get on the evil dudes good side? Sort of making evil brownie points, or would it be pointless:confused: No the world’s supposed to end according to Campingite theology, five months after 5-21. I mean seriously, if you’re going to mock Campingite theology, then actually read up on what they believe. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-subset-of-christians-think-the-rapture-is-21may2011-based-on-the-prediction-of/582097/26 "2011-05-17T20:14:55Z")
I don’t even know anyone who believes in “rapture.” Thank god. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-subset-of-christians-think-the-rapture-is-21may2011-based-on-the-prediction-of/582097/27 "2011-05-17T22:10:26Z")
> [@MaddyStrut](#): > > Is it judgement day or the rapture this Saturday? I’m kind of hoping for the latter. It would make my commute much less crowded! Both, at least according to that dude. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-subset-of-christians-think-the-rapture-is-21may2011-based-on-the-prediction-of/582097/28 "2011-05-17T22:14:36Z")
Even as someone who believes in God, I say it’s bullshit. The bible specifically says “No man” will know the day. So that automatically nullifies it. : p ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-subset-of-christians-think-the-rapture-is-21may2011-based-on-the-prediction-of/582097/29 "2011-05-17T22:16:03Z")
[I read on CNN today](http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/17/my-take-may-21st-doomsday-movement-harms-christianity/?hpt=C2)that he claims the Rapture is the 21st, and then the rest of us get done for in October. I must say I’ve never heard of that idea before–that the end of the world would be so soon after the Rapture. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-subset-of-christians-think-the-rapture-is-21may2011-based-on-the-prediction-of/582097/30 "2011-05-18T01:20:38Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > [I read on CNN today](http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/17/my-take-may-21st-doomsday-movement-harms-christianity/?hpt=C2)that he claims the Rapture is the 21st, and then the rest of us get done for in October. I must say I’ve never heard of that idea before–that the end of the world would be so soon after the Rapture. I thought somewhere it mentioned 1000 years that Satan had dominion over the earth, wouldn’t it be pretty boring with no people on the earth to torment? Jackass neighbor was over again today with a couple of others from his congregation pounding his bible at me. I told him since he was not going to be needing it after this weekend, why didn’t he sign over his pretty new truck to me effective June first … he went away. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-subset-of-christians-think-the-rapture-is-21may2011-based-on-the-prediction-of/582097/31 "2011-05-18T04:24:01Z")
He’s based out of Alameda, so it’s been getting a bit of local attention. Our pastor chose to speak on it last Sunday. There are people who believe it, but I gather a pretty small percentage, even amongst Fundamentalists. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-subset-of-christians-think-the-rapture-is-21may2011-based-on-the-prediction-of/582097/32 "2011-05-18T12:42:34Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > Even as someone who believes in God, I say it’s bullshit. The bible specifically says “No man” will know the day. So that automatically nullifies it. : p Maybe he was born by c-section… ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-subset-of-christians-think-the-rapture-is-21may2011-based-on-the-prediction-of/582097/33 "2011-05-18T15:56:02Z")
You guys are not being fair to Camping. He has analyzed the bible and assigned numbers. 5 is the atonement 10 represents completeness 17 is heaven You add those up and then square them. Really what else would you do with them? Then you know those are the days of the earth being in existence. If you decide when the earth started, and he has, then add this Camping number you arrive at May 21st, 2011. How he got to 6 oclock at night ,I do not know ,but under this kind of proof, how can you mock? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-subset-of-christians-think-the-rapture-is-21may2011-based-on-the-prediction-of/582097/34 "2011-05-18T16:54:24Z")
I wonder if it will be 6:30 in Newfoundland? ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-subset-of-christians-think-the-rapture-is-21may2011-based-on-the-prediction-of/582097/35 "2011-05-18T17:01:29Z")
I am not much in the religious department, but I know a couple folks who are. One is Protestant, the other a J’s Witness. Both have told me that they believe that Judgement Day/2nd Coming/Whatever will be within their respective lifetimes. They don’t know which day, but within their lifetimes. I did not delve deeper into these beliefs, so I am not sure why they feel the end is relatively imminent (2000+ years of Christianity compared to one lifetime). But Christianity attempts to offer hope of a better [after]life for the righteous after Judgement Day. I doubt it would be just as satisfying to be told that JD is still hundreds or thousands of years in the future, compared to believing it is “soon”. (I assume you’re supposed to be following the directives of living a righteous life as if it will end tomorrow anyways.) Maybe the followers of this prediction are just “playing it safe”? If they’re wrong, no fuss, they just go back to the same old jobs and wife and kids and the dog peeing on the carpet. God still “notices” how faithfull (if misguided) they were, and they earn Rapture points? Nuthin to lose, possibly salvation to gain. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Runestar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/74df32/32.png) [@Runestar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runestar)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-subset-of-christians-think-the-rapture-is-21may2011-based-on-the-prediction-of/582097/36 "2011-05-18T17:07:02Z")
Just about every die-hard Christian throughout history seems to have believed that the Rapture/Judgement Day/whatever would happen during their lifetimes. It’s all basically down to ego: “I’m so darn important”, their unconscious thinking goes, “that the world couldn’t possibly keep going after I’m dead!”. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-subset-of-christians-think-the-rapture-is-21may2011-based-on-the-prediction-of/582097/37 "2011-05-18T17:58:56Z")
I am very very disappointed that I don’t know any of these people! Sounds like a great way to get some free stuff, not like they’ll need it. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-subset-of-christians-think-the-rapture-is-21may2011-based-on-the-prediction-of/582097/38 "2011-05-18T19:07:02Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > That audience group wants to beliive. Scratch that, they need to believe in something, anything. The crediblity of the source of what they choose to believe doesn’t enter into it at all. > > If only I could get them to believe that all their problems would be solved if they just sent me all their money. And if they’re cute, sent themselves too. Actually, it’s just the opposite: there are millions of skeptics and NON-believers who want desperately to believe that most Christians are loonies running around screaming “The world is coming to an end this week!” I’m a Catholic who goes to Mass every Sunday, and I never heard anything about this particular Apocalyptic scenario until I saw it mentioned in “Doonesburry” the other day. And while Austin is certainly far more liberal and secular than most Texas cities, it IS in the middle of the Bible Belt, so if any significant number of Texas Christians was awaiting the Rapture this week, I think I’d have heard something about it. I firmly believe there are more secular comedians following this story in order to mock Chrisitans than there are actual Christians getting ready for the Rapture. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-subset-of-christians-think-the-rapture-is-21may2011-based-on-the-prediction-of/582097/39 "2011-05-18T19:10:22Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > You guys are not being fair to Camping. He has analyzed the bible and assigned numbers. > 5 is the atonement > 10 represents completeness > 17 is heaven > You add those up and then square them. Really what else would you do with them? Then you know those are the days of the earth being in existence. If you decide when the earth started, and he has, then add this Camping number you arrive at May 21st, 2011. How he got to 6 oclock at night ,I do not know ,but under this kind of proof, how can you mock? I’d point Mr. Camping to Matthew 24, in which Jesus says he himself doesn’t know when the end will come, and that ONLY the Father knows. So, Mr. Camping, if the date of the Rapture could be figured out just by leafing through Scripture, don’t you think JESUS was smart enough to figure it out? or are you saying you’re much smarter than he was? I have no idea when the world will end- if it happens in my lifetime, fine. But I’m still buying life insurance and paying into my son’s college fund, just in case the world decides to carry on for a while without me. ---
**Author:** ![sophia108](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sophia108/32/7558_2.png) [@sophia108](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sophia108)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-subset-of-christians-think-the-rapture-is-21may2011-based-on-the-prediction-of/582097/40 "2011-05-18T20:01:09Z")
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