# US Gripped in "Left Behind" Epidemic **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 18, 2001, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-gripped-in-left-behind-epidemic/58503 "2001-03-18T21:32:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [March 19, 2001, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-gripped-in-left-behind-epidemic/58503/21 "2001-03-19T23:02:51Z")
Sometimes bad literature can be so bad, it’s good. Like V.C. Andrews books-NOT the original ones, which were very dark and mysterious and thrilling, but the ones where the ghostwriter took over. Yeah, they’re predictable and trite and sappy now, but they’re fun reading. Beach reads, so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-gripped-in-left-behind-epidemic/58503/22 "2001-03-20T04:28:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE Bo Diddly \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > What’s next? LB Video Games? Prime Time sitcoms about the Revelation? Rapture Breakfast Cereal (Now with more Bad Acting!tm)? > > [Mel Brooks] > > “Left Behind, the breakfast cereal! Left Behind, the toilet paper!! _Left Behind, the flamethrower!_” > > [/Mel Brooks] \*\* What I don’t understand is why they didn’t offset the film’s disasterous box office performance through product placements, think about the possibilities. Good Christians are all drinking pepsi when they get raptured, Ford cars are suddenly out of control, people vanish from a Delta Airliner, etc… ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-gripped-in-left-behind-epidemic/58503/23 "2001-03-20T04:39:44Z")
I just realised that this is a good opportunity to post the following messages from the messageboard at the movie’s official site: > [@](#): > > \*\* > Rocketman2Junior Member posted 02-15-2001 11:28 AM Ohhh, the theaters here in town make me so upset. They are so freaking Indengent. I called up to ask if they had any plans to carry “\Left Behind\” the movie. And they claim they never heard of it. I tell them that it stars Kirk Cammron and Chelsie Noble and is based on New York times best selling book “\Left Behind\” and they still claim they never heard of it and that its not on their list of available movies.IP: Logged > > misterbobthetomatoMember posted 02-16-2001 08:51 AM quote: Originally posted by Chakotay:I can’t believe a theater manager had never heard of Left Behind. That’s sad . I hope you enlightened the person in a nice way. Actually, don’t be so surprised by this…My Aunt is a Sunday School teacher in a huge United Church of Christ (a protestant church for those who don’t recognize the name) AND is also an Elementary/Middle School English teacher…she hadn’t heard of the books either. She’s even a member of the New York Times “Bestsellers” Book Club. amazing what kind of blinders Satan can put on people who aren’t getting the “whole truth!” ------------------Psalm 33:3IP: Logged \*\* That’s right, people. Every true Christian on the planet has heard of “Left Behind”, and anybody who hasn’t heard of it is under the influence of Satan. Also, despite the fact that it’s a lousy movie that was a dismal flop, every theatre in existence should have shown it, and anybody who didn’t show it is lying to you. But it has Kirk Cameron and Chelsie Noble (who the hell are these people anyway?), so it has to be good. ---
**Author:** ![Protesilaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Protesilaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Protesilaus)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-gripped-in-left-behind-epidemic/58503/24 "2001-03-20T06:56:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ITR champion \* > **But it has Kirk Cameron and Chelsie Noble (who the hell are these people anyway?), so it has to be good.** [He’s](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Cameron,+Kirk+(I)) best known for playing Mike Seaver on _Growing Pains_, and [she’s](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Noble,+Chelsea) best known for, well, playing Mike Seaver’s girlfriend on _Growing Pains_, I guess. Only the best for Cloud Ten Pictures. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-gripped-in-left-behind-epidemic/58503/25 "2001-03-20T14:18:50Z")
> [@](#): > > _by goboy:_ Well, one good thing I can say about the LB phenomenon is that the books have weaned millions of slack-jawed yokels away from watching tractor pulls on ESPN and Jan Crouch, the demented Pomeranian lady on TBN and has actually got them reading books. Not very good books, admittedly, but starting a Fundie on the road to literacy can only be a good thing… **goboy** , my darlin’ – you’re an optimist. I worked at a bookstore last year and many of the biggest Left Behind fans proudly admitted to reading only Christian books. Several (at least three that I can think of offhand) told me that they hadn’t read anything other than the bible for years before becoming hooked on Left Behind. I don’t recall _any_ Left Behind customers ever coming in and saying, “Gee, I enjoyed these books so much, can you recommend something else?” This is in contrast to, say, the Harry Potter books. We got several people in every week looking for something to hold brand-new readers until the next Harry book is released. Personally, I haven’t read any of the books yet, so I won’t comment on their quality. However, they certainly don’t seem to be “leading souls to reading.” Unfortunately. Jess (who bought a used copy of Left Behind at a garage sale on the way home from her most recent DopeFest and who will soon be ready, willing and able to comment upon the quality of the book) ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-gripped-in-left-behind-epidemic/58503/26 "2001-03-20T14:22:02Z")
Krispy Original said: “Bone up on sarcasm and mockery and get back with me”\> Oh yes, Mr. Original Requires that we [b/improve\*\* our OP’s. Lets ALL work harder to help his “enjoyment” of this board… (how was that for sarcasm Kris?) ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-gripped-in-left-behind-epidemic/58503/27 "2001-03-20T15:37:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > **Yeah, they’re predictable and trite and sappy now, but they’re fun reading. Beach reads, so to speak.** 'zactly. Sometimes you need a quick and easy read. Great literature, they ain’t. But I read them. They’re okay, but you need to remember that they are the author’s **fictionalized interpretation** of events that may happen sometime in the future. And as Jess pointed out, I don’t think these books are leading any fundies to other types of books. The rabid Bible-only-reading fundies aren’t suddenly discovering there is a world of books for their reading pleasure. The ones who like to read are sticking with Christian fiction. The others are sticking with their Jack Chick tracts. > [@](#): > > **_Jester asked:_ > What’s next? … Prime Time sitcoms about the Revelation?** I have heard that a prime-time drama on PAX-TV is in the works for this fall. ---
**Author:** ![Lauralee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lauralee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lauralee)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-gripped-in-left-behind-epidemic/58503/28 "2001-03-20T16:36:46Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t recall any Left Behind customers ever coming in and saying, “Gee, I enjoyed these books so much, can you recommend something else?” Well, personally, I’ve always been able to pick out my own books. It’s a talent that comes in handy when the people who work at your local bookstore are too “busy” to be of any help. And not all Christians are raving Left Behind fans. [This thread](http://thebruces.stormbirds.org/forums/showthread.php?threadid=2961) at the Pizza Parlor as proof. ---
**Author:** ![Lil\_Lurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@Lil\_Lurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lil_Lurker)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2001, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-gripped-in-left-behind-epidemic/58503/29 "2001-03-20T22:18:58Z")
I know I am going to regret this BUT– I read the LB books faithfully. I saw the movie (and didn’t like it at all.) Not only that, but I buy the hardback books the day they come out and finish them before I turn the light out that night. I know it is fiction. I get very engrossed in them. But I also read other things the same way. I read Amy Tan’s books as soon as they come out too. But then again, Amy Tan probably doesn’t make anyone question whether or not he or she is living the right way so there are no “Amy Tan novels are taking over the earth” threads. Funny thing about free choice-- most bookstores do not have armed people who will force you to examine a table full of any type of media. For example, I do not enjoy comic books or graphic novels or whatever they are called and wouldn’t waste my time looking at any kind of display of them. I might add that I also wouldn’t start a thread making fun of people who did like them. Oh well. He is risen. He is risen indeed. (LB reference there…deal with it) ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-gripped-in-left-behind-epidemic/58503/30 "2001-03-21T01:37:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wring \* > \*\*On the OP, I guess I’ve led a very sheltered life, I’ve never heard of the LB stuff except for here. \*\* I’ve seen them in Greyhound Bus station gift shops. They’re also in the Los Angeles Public Library (I just searched their catalog.) So it is possible to read one without giving money to the writers and publishers. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2001, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-gripped-in-left-behind-epidemic/58503/31 "2001-03-21T01:46:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Protesilaus \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by ITR champion \* > > **But it has Kirk Cameron and Chelsie Noble (who the hell are these people anyway?), so it has to be good.** > > [He’s](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Cameron,+Kirk+(I)) best known for playing Mike Seaver on _Growing Pains_, and [she’s](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Noble,+Chelsea) best known for, well, playing Mike Seaver’s girlfriend on _Growing Pains_, I guess. > > Only the best for Cloud Ten Pictures. :rolleyes: \*\* Not only that-they’re like Michael J. Fox and Tracey Pollen-they’re married. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-gripped-in-left-behind-epidemic/58503/32 "2001-03-21T01:58:25Z")
Frankly, \*\* Lil Lurker \*\*, I doubt that the LB books are making anyone “question the way they live their lives,” except perhaps to make them ask, “Why am I wasting my time on crap like this?” Seems that people who like them are already believers, and people who aren’t believers are using them as alternative fuel sources. Also, try to remember that “people who don’t like what I like” doesn’t equal “people who don’t like me.” They’re just books. Don’t take it personally. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-gripped-in-left-behind-epidemic/58503/33 "2001-03-21T02:15:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lil Lurker \* > \*\*He is risen. He is risen indeed. (LB reference there…deal with it) \*\* Since when is that an LB reference? (Instead of, well, just a generic greeting and response used in the church at large and especially on Easter?) ---
**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:** [March 21, 2001, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-gripped-in-left-behind-epidemic/58503/34 "2001-03-21T02:27:45Z")
It is especially used in the Eastern Rite Churches. “Christ is Risen!” the first person will say, as an Easter greeting. The next person responds saying, “He is Indeed Risen!” The daughters of Tsar Nicholas II, when they were separated briefly being transported between prisons (Maria went with her parents, Olga, Tatiana and Anastasia stayed behind with their brother Alexei), greeted each other like this in a letter. Deal with THAT. ---
**Author:** ![ubermensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bcef8e/32.png) [@ubermensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ubermensch)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-gripped-in-left-behind-epidemic/58503/35 "2001-03-21T04:39:45Z")
my apologies if someone mentioned this before… anyway, i work at a bookstore. what do i see this morning when i walked it? an email from my district manager announcing the street dates (as of last week) of the next 4 LB books. 10/30/01–desecration 06/04/02–armageddon 06/03/03–left standing 06/01/04–glorious appearing so…only a little more than 3 years till it’s over… unless the writers eat it before then…but the next 4 novels are probably written already… ---
**Author:** ![Lil\_Lurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@Lil\_Lurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lil_Lurker)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-gripped-in-left-behind-epidemic/58503/36 "2001-03-21T21:31:25Z")
Oy Vey Actually, Nimune, I don’t give a rip who likes the books and who doesn’t. I like 'em and I am glad to see them everywhere, including the best-seller lists. I did take issue with the joking around about what will happen to us when the rapture occurs, but I expect that around here. And thanks for the history lesson, Guinastasia. I knew that the expression “He is risen, he is risen indeed” is not an exclusive LB reference. But those who have read all the books know what I meant by it. No big deal tho. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-gripped-in-left-behind-epidemic/58503.md?page=1)