# Should Fundamentalists Be Denied Drivers Licenses? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 10, 2004, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fundamentalists-be-denied-drivers-licenses/279153 "2004-12-10T16:52:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fundamentalists-be-denied-drivers-licenses/279153/41 "2004-12-13T22:25:04Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > The most important thing, of course, would be getting the right name for the device. Any suggestions? Well I suggest not using the word “fanny” when describing how it working in the UK. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fundamentalists-be-denied-drivers-licenses/279153/42 "2004-12-14T02:47:02Z")
> [@The Asbestos Mango](#): > > Hmmm… > > OK, yes, people do have heart attacks, strokes, epileptic seizures, narcoleptic episodes, etc. while driving, even though the statistical likelihood of any particular individual having such an occurrance while behind the wheel is fairly small. > > But, we don’t have incidents where drivers with heart conditions, epilepsy, etc., are having their medical malfunctins _en masse_. These seem to be fairly uncommon happenings, uncommon enough that the majority of people who suffer these condidtions seem to be deemed safe drivers. > > In the case of the Rapture, assuming the Fund’ist interpretation is true, massive numbers of people will suddenly disappear from the face of the earth simultaneously. Many of these people will, in all likelihood, be behind the wheels of their cars when this happens. > > So, let’s say that the Rapture occurs during morning or afternoon rush hour, or on a holiday weekend when there are more than the usual number of drivers on the road. Now you have a situation in which suddenly dozens, if not hundreds, of moving vehicles will become unmanned, all at the same time, on the Dan Ryan Expressway, the Jersey Turnpike, or, Heaven help us, the Spaghetti Bowl. This is a situation which would very likely cause numerous multi-vehicle collisions, again, occurring more or less simultaneously. You hit it on the head. The chances of any _one_ person having a sudden death while driving are slim, and the consequences are relatively minor. However if millions of people are called up at once then there will surely be a calamity. [Fifteen percent](http://www.drudge.com/discuss/viewTopic.php/23029) of Americans expect The Rapture in their lifetime, but insist on driving anyway. On the other hand, this is a really stupid thread that I wished I had never opened. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fundamentalists-be-denied-drivers-licenses/279153/43 "2004-12-14T07:12:39Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > Fifteen percent of Americans expect The Rapture in their lifetime, but insist on driving anyway. **Wrong**. “In the NEWSWEEK poll, 93 percent of Americans say they believe Jesus Christ actually lived and 82 percent believe Jesus Christ was God or the Son of God. Fifty-two percent of all those polled believe, as the Bible proclaims, that Jesus will return to earth someday; 21 percent do not believe it. _Fifteen percent believe Jesus will return in their lifetime_; 47 percent do not, the poll shows.” The number of Xtian that beleive in “the Rapture” (or that version of it) is very small indeed. Many Xtian’s might think that Jesus is coming in their lifetime- but also think that the whole “rapture” thing is a buch of hooey. Most dudes only know of “the Raputre” from the “Left behind” series. That’s not how it was taught to me in my Sunday School or Confirmation, nor how it’s taught to Catholics, etc. If it wasn’t for that stupid book, the % even knowing about “the Rapture” would be small indeed. As it is- I’d hazard a guess at under 10% of Xtains believe in _that_ version of “the Rapture”- which would mean maybe 1 or 2 % actually think it’s going to mean a lot of unmanned cars rather soon. Note that if God is capable of bringing the faithful up to heaven bodily- He is also perfectly capable of making sure their vehicles come to a safe stop. But you really started this thread to insult & belittle their beliefs, didn’t you? I mean, you could hardly be serious that a legislature would pass a bill requireing that Faithful Xtians not be allowed to drive- _just in case_? :dubious: :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fundamentalists-be-denied-drivers-licenses/279153/44 "2004-12-14T08:35:42Z")
I’ve never seen any evidence that Fundamentalist teachings say the Rapture is going to happen at any set date. Virtually every Christian sect I’m aware of basically says it’s coming when it’s coming. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fundamentalists-be-denied-drivers-licenses/279153/45 "2004-12-14T08:37:00Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > **Wrong**. “In the NEWSWEEK poll, 93 percent of Americans say they believe Jesus Christ actually lived and 82 percent believe Jesus Christ was God or the Son of God. Fifty-two percent of all those polled believe, as the Bible proclaims, that Jesus will return to earth someday; 21 percent do not believe it. _Fifteen percent believe Jesus will return in their lifetime_; 47 percent do not, the poll shows.” > > The number of Xtian that beleive in “the Rapture” (or that version of it) is very small indeed. Many Xtian’s might think that Jesus is coming in their lifetime- but also think that the whole “rapture” thing is a buch of hooey. Most dudes only know of “the Raputre” from the “Left behind” series. That’s not how it was taught to me in my Sunday School or Confirmation, nor how it’s taught to Catholics, etc. If it wasn’t for that stupid book, the % even knowing about “the Rapture” would be small indeed. As it is- I’d hazard a guess at under 10% of Xtains believe in _that_ version of “the Rapture”- which would mean maybe 1 or 2 % actually think it’s going to mean a lot of unmanned cars rather soon. > > Note that if God is capable of bringing the faithful up to heaven bodily- He is also perfectly capable of making sure their vehicles come to a safe stop. > > But you really started this thread to insult & belittle their beliefs, didn’t you? I mean, you could hardly be serious that a legislature would pass a bill requireing that Faithful Xtians not be allowed to drive- _just in case_? :dubious: :rolleyes: That poll mainly just shows that the 82 percent who believe in Christ Lord have not read his bible very well. The book of Revelation is soaking in double-meanings and avenues for interpretation but the return of Jesus to the Earth is one part of the book that really isn’t up to any theological debate. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fundamentalists-be-denied-drivers-licenses/279153/46 "2004-12-14T08:38:57Z")
Anyways, if this poll had been taken during the 19th century probably around 100% of all practicing Christians would know quite well about the rapture. Preaching in the 19th and 18th century was very “hell fire and brimstone.” Many preachers said Jesus would be coming back, and when he did all the sinners would be cast into hell to suffer for eternity, and that we wouldn’t escape judgment if we died before that time. Modern Christianity in most denominations focuses more in applying the teachings of Christ to every day life, as opposed to really getting into the nitty gritty of God’s prophecies. ---
**Author:** ![oh\_s](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b38774/32.png) [@oh\_s](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oh_s)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fundamentalists-be-denied-drivers-licenses/279153/47 "2004-12-14T11:11:12Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > Some fraction of fundamentalists believe in The Rapture when true believers will be called into heaven. Of course, if you are driving a vehicle at the time you will be putting a lot of people at risk. Now The Rapture may or may not be true, but by Pascal’s wager shouldn’t we at least ban those that believe in it from driving or operating nuclear power plants, etc.? ``` Talk about farken funny, Reminds me of that joker who went around door to door selling rapture holes, what this clown promised was, (for a fee) a fair dinkum hole in the bloody ceiling so that should you be raptured you wouldn't damage the roof of your house. Fair tradeing caught up with him for not doing the work he promised, strangly the people who lagged him in were really pissed off, not for being swindled but because they really wanted that hole. ``` ---
**Author:** ![oh\_s](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b38774/32.png) [@oh\_s](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oh_s)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fundamentalists-be-denied-drivers-licenses/279153/48 "2004-12-14T11:34:07Z")
> [@The Sonoran Lizard King](#): > > Epileptic driver chiming in. In Arizona, I’m required to be seizure free for 90 days before resuming driving. It’s on the honor system, basically. My license was never suspended for having a seizure, nor did my Doctor report me to the DMV. I didn’t cheat, though it was a PIA, last time, almost two years ago. Having to be driven around in my own car, while we made sure the new meds were efficatious. ``` Tony Greg the South African Test Match Cricket Captain, is an Epileptic. He's famous for 1. sticking his car keys into the pitch to show the cracks. 2. going around to schools telling children that it is a condition that can be controlled. That it doesn't stop them from playing sports or from setting goals to achieve. He also made a point of stressing just how common it is. ``` ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fundamentalists-be-denied-drivers-licenses/279153/49 "2004-12-14T16:31:57Z")
> [@Martin Hyde](#): > > Anyways, if this poll had been taken during the 19th century probably around 100% of all practicing Christians would know quite well about the rapture. Preaching in the 19th and 18th century was very “hell fire and brimstone.” Many preachers said Jesus would be coming back, and when he did all the sinners would be cast into hell to suffer for eternity, and that we wouldn’t escape judgment if we died before that time. > . What you say is somewhat true- except for “the rapture” part. The idea of the “Second Coming” happening like in the “Left Behind” series comes from a very small minority. Like I said above- there is a huge difference from beleiveing in the “Second Coming” (and/or “hell fire and brimstone”) and thinking that the Faithful with be bodily lifted into heaven like that. That’s the viww of a tiny minority- even amoung Fundamentalists. And remember- there were still a lot of Catholics, Orthodox and Dieists around in that century- not even close to “100% of all practicing Christians” would be “fire and brimstone” fundamentalists. True, that was rather common in the rural areas. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fundamentalists-be-denied-drivers-licenses/279153/50 "2004-12-14T17:21:42Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Not being too hip myself on the mechanics of this thing… > > Are the people that are Left Behind ultimately out of the running as far as salvation goes? Do they just live and ultimately die? What’s the deal? I forget exactly what, but we will suffer. Burning, and plaques, and boils, and wrath of frogs (or something). Not too pleasant. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fundamentalists-be-denied-drivers-licenses/279153/51 "2004-12-14T17:23:31Z")
Actually, the concept of the Rapture isn’t even Scriptural. It’s an eighteenth century invention. In Scripture, if you actually care to read it, it is clear that the “catching away”, if you will, of the Faithful is concurrent with the return of Christ. There is no “secret Rapture” in which all the Christians suddenly disappear, followed by seven years of nastiness and unpleasantry, after which Christ returns. Oh, and the Book of Revelation? Hint- a lot of it was symbolic, the actual prophetic parts were fulfilled during the first century. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fundamentalists-be-denied-drivers-licenses/279153/52 "2004-12-14T17:33:06Z")
> [@oh&s](#): > > Tony Greg the South African Test Match Cricket Captain,… [WHAT?!?!](http://www.cricinfo.com/db/PLAYERS/ENG/G/GREIG_AW_01001393/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fundamentalists-be-denied-drivers-licenses/279153.md?page=2)