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.
WTF!!!
I thought they would have decided to settle down and wait for the next millenium by now.
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 . . . "
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.
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.
Dang…There’s actually a Rapture Index?
What’s next–a Rapture Wiki?
Sure wish it was interactive, though.
I always thought Michael Jackson was the Antichrist?
Michael Jackson is merely the Anti-Al Green.
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.
Maybe he’s really Christ himself in his second coming guise.
Cunning.
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.
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?
:eek: I’ve heard of the missionary position, but that is just not right.
OOooooooo, cool! Where’d you get it?
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.
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.
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.
Doesn’t he write novels about the Rapture? They don’t interview Tom Clancy when they’re writing articles about the Pentagon.
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
Yes, well, the difference is, WRT to the Pentagon there are real experts to interview.