# Really, Newsweek? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 17, 2008, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181 "2008-11-17T21:27:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181/21 "2008-11-18T01:59:37Z")
Knowing that belief in a near-at-hand apocalypse has waxed and waned a lot over the years, what I wonder is how long we’ll have to go without one till a lot of believers start to think maybe it isn’t coming soon after all. ---
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181/22 "2008-11-18T02:02:47Z")
> [@](#): > > The people who believe Obama is the Antichrist are perhaps jumping to conclusions, but they’re not nuts: “They are expressing a concern and a fear that is widely shared,” Staver says. WTF!!! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181/23 "2008-11-18T02:08:37Z")
> [@WF\_Tomba](#): > > Knowing that belief in a near-at-hand apocalypse has waxed and waned a lot over the years, what I wonder is how long we’ll have to go without one till a lot of believers start to think maybe it isn’t coming soon after all. I thought they would have decided to settle down and wait for the next millenium by now. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181/24 "2008-11-18T03:19:30Z")
> [@](#): > > The people who believe Obama is the Antichrist are perhaps jumping to conclusions, but they’re not nuts: “They are expressing a concern and a fear that is widely shared,” Staver says. That is pretty much the textbook definition of nuts. ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181/25 "2008-11-18T03:22:00Z")
> [@Frostillicus](#): > > That is pretty much the textbook definition of nuts. I think it’s a textbook example of cleverly steering the conversation onto your own point. "Yes, all these people believe something that’s probably not true, but here’s an entirely different reason for being concerned about Obama that I happen to want to talk about . . . " ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181/26 "2008-11-18T03:26:22Z")
Hell, someone started a topic on Free Republic about this, and while a bunch of them believed it, about half of the rest came in and said dude, this is completely insane. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181/27 "2008-11-18T04:15:07Z")
The History Channel also had a documentary on The Antichrist this week. You’d be surprised how many people have mentioned to me in casual conversation, “I fear Obama may be the Antichrist.” And I’m talking about non-fundie liberals, believe it or not – although they _were_ raised in the church, with regular Sunday School classes teaching this apocalyptic garbage as if it were the truth. Oh well, we shall reap what we sow… I just see media outlets keeping up with current topics; yes, it’s deliberate fear-mongering but what are you gonna do? It’s the media, duh. Nothing special to see here. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181/28 "2008-11-18T04:28:22Z")
Dang…There’s actually a Rapture Index? What’s next–a Rapture Wiki? ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181/29 "2008-11-18T04:29:40Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#): > > Dang…There’s actually a Rapture Index? [Yep, apparently.](http://www.raptureready.com/rap2.html) Sure wish it was interactive, though. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181/30 "2008-11-18T04:52:37Z")
I always thought Michael Jackson was the Antichrist? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181/31 "2008-11-18T06:00:26Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I always thought Michael Jackson was the Antichrist? Michael Jackson is merely the Anti-Al Green. ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181/32 "2008-11-18T07:05:40Z")
This is a smear job on Obama. If the “reporter” wanted to treat the idea that Obama is the Antichrist as a legitimate viewpoint, then why didn’t she interview Tim LaHaye, author of the Left Behind series, who has stated that Obama does not meet the criteria for the Antichrist? Newsweek is a rag. I’m glad I cancelled my subscription years ago. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181/33 "2008-11-18T08:17:32Z")
Maybe he’s really Christ himself in his second coming guise. Cunning. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181/34 "2008-11-18T08:45:08Z")
Even if he _were_, I still don’t understand why this is a bad thing. The hardcore Jesus fans _want_ the big guy to come back, don’t they? If I believed I was living in the End Times, and I also believed that I was right with Jesus, I think I’d be welcoming the supposed Antichrist with open arms. And on another note, would the Antichrist allow open speculation over his true identity? You’d think somebody as powerful as the Antichrist (and I guess the POTUS) would be able to suppress the truth and keep his identity secret until just the right time. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181/35 "2008-11-18T11:34:56Z")
> [@BrightNShiny](#): > > This is a smear job on Obama. If the “reporter” wanted to treat the idea that Obama is the Antichrist as a legitimate viewpoint, then why didn’t she interview Tim LaHaye, author of the Left Behind series, who has stated that Obama does not meet the criteria for the Antichrist? Newsweek is a rag. I’m glad I cancelled my subscription years ago. This is a beautiful perspective. “If Newsweek were REALLY serious about its Antichrist reportage, why didn’t they ask Tim LaHaye?” Is there a term for an argument that is simultaneously so wrongheaded and so true that the extremes meet on the other side? ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181/36 "2008-11-18T12:30:48Z")
> [@yanceylebeef](#): > > televagalists :eek: I’ve heard of the missionary position, but _that_ is just not right. 😉 > [@DianaG](#): > > my “Jesus was a socialist” tshirt OOooooooo, cool! Where’d you get it? > [@BrightNShiny](#): > > Newsweek is a rag. I’m glad I cancelled my subscription years ago. Seconded. Newsweek is not and never has been a reputable source of news or information. “Yellow paper” is probably pushing it, but it definitely gets more credit than it deserves. > [@Terrifel](#): > > This is a beautiful perspective. “If Newsweek were REALLY serious about its Antichrist reportage, why didn’t they ask Tim LaHaye?” Well, why not? He’s the recognized leader in domestic rapture nuttery, in terms of popularity, celebrity and mainstream appeal. Surely he’s a better source than the handful of lesser weirdos this columnist found who would help her come as close as possible to calling Obama the Antichrist. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181/37 "2008-11-18T13:16:32Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > I especially like it when people call Obama a socialist as evidence for him being the anti-Christ. Wouldn’t Jesus have been all over socialism? You’d think so, but socialism = Satanic & the Antichrist has been a recurring theme for a very long time in America. I recall a mention of the idea being around in the 1870s. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181/38 "2008-11-18T14:16:47Z")
> [@Hostile\_Dialect](#): > > Well, why not? He’s the recognized leader in domestic rapture nuttery, in terms of popularity, celebrity and mainstream appeal. Surely he’s a better source than the handful of lesser weirdos this columnist found who would help her come as close as possible to calling Obama the Antichrist. Doesn’t he write _novels_ about the Rapture? They don’t interview Tom Clancy when they’re writing articles about the Pentagon. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181/39 "2008-11-18T14:27:46Z")
Personally, I tend to laugh and ignore. Consider: we’ve had such luminaries as FDR, Henry Kissinger, and Barney the Dinosaur be accused of antichristhood, and yet there has been no hellfire, no brimstone, and the wacko lunatics move onto the next famous person whose letters add up to 666. Anyone who’s swayed by an article like that could have easily ended up a Scientologist or 9/11 truther, depending on which article they read first. Ehh. Whatever. Oh, and cite: [http://www.raptureready.com/rr-antichrist.html](http://www.raptureready.com/rr-antichrist.html) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181/40 "2008-11-18T14:36:41Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Doesn’t he write _novels_ about the Rapture? They don’t interview Tom Clancy when they’re writing articles about the Pentagon. Yes, well, the difference is, WRT to the Pentagon there are **real** experts to interview. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-newsweek/473181.md?page=3)