# Will the world end on May 21, 2011? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 11, 2011, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485 "2011-05-11T05:36:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485/41 "2011-05-11T14:42:18Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > No, Christ Himself said no man knows the day or hour. He contact you through e-mail or smart phone? ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485/42 "2011-05-11T15:00:10Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > No, Christ Himself said no man knows the day or hour. Maybe Camping heard it from a woman? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485/43 "2011-05-11T15:09:26Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > Maybe Camping heard it from a woman? Was he dressed like a slut? Maybe he was “asking for it”. ---
**Author:** ![Submerged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Submerged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Submerged)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485/44 "2011-05-11T21:42:52Z")
So what _will_ the spin be when they’re all still here on the 22nd? ---
**Author:** ![Submerged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Submerged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Submerged)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485/45 "2011-05-11T21:52:47Z")
Cite: [Is The End Nigh? We'll Know Soon Enough : NPR](http://www.npr.org/2011/05/07/136053462/is-the-end-nigh-well-know-soon-enough) Quote: \* “Knowing the date of the end of the world changes all your future plans,” says 27-year-old Adrienne Martinez…“God just made it possible — he opened doors. He allowed us to quit our jobs”…Now they are in Orlando, in a rented house, passing out tracts and reading the Bible. Their daughter is 2 years old, and **their second child is due in June.** \* Wait, what?? Their baby is due the month after the rapture? They believe that babies can be born in heaven? 😕 And wait, if the fetus hasn’t accepted Jebus as its savior by the time the rapture arrives, isn’t it going to hell? :eek: \* Joel says they’re spending the last of their savings. They don’t see a need for one more dollar. “You know, you think about retirement and stuff like that,” he says. “What’s the point of having some money just sitting there?” “We budgeted everything so that, on May 21, we won’t have anything left,” Adrienne adds.\* Can this couple have their kids taken away for “failure to provide” or something? **Anything**. Please? ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485/46 "2011-05-11T21:59:30Z")
> [@graceful1](#): > > … you need to read what Camping says to understand this. No, actually, since he was wrong once, I can dismiss him out of hand. He’s already proven himself incompetent at his calculations, and therefore I do not need to see his new ones to reasonably assume them to be equally incompetent. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485/47 "2011-05-11T22:13:36Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > No, Christ Himself said no man knows the day or hour. > [@RedFury](#): > > He contact you through e-mail or smart phone? [Matthew 24:36](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+24&version=NIV) (also [Mark 13:32](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+13&version=NIV)). Of course, as an atheist I don’t accept the Bible as an authority about the future and the end of the world, but if you’ve got someone claiming to know the world ends this month based on his analysis of the Bible, I think it’s pretty fair to quote the Bible back at him. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485/48 "2011-05-11T22:57:24Z")
> [@scissorhead](#): > > … > But before we rush to substitute the theologians for Camping on the cross of vindictiveness, let’s heed the words of Bart Ehrman: “For most people, the Bible is a non-problematic book. What people don’t realize is that they’re reading translations of texts, and we don’t have the originals… Given the circumstance that (God) didn’t preserve the words, the conclusion seemed inescapable to me that he hadn’t gone to the trouble of inspiring them.” This is interesting. Where’s it from, I want to read it? ---
**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 11, 2011, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485/49 "2011-05-11T23:42:31Z")
Anyways, as I’ve said Camping is an annihilationist who thinks unsaved souls simply get destroyed rather than punished in Hell. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485/50 "2011-05-11T23:56:30Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > You know that Camping also said that the world would end in 1994, right? It didn’t. Doomsday prophecies in Christianity aren’t new. Since the beginning of Christianity, almost, you’ve had people predicting the world would end on such and such a date. They’ve all been wrong. If you give me a year, I can probably work something out using the bible to predict the end of the world in that year. Just because someone says the world is going to end doesn’t mean you have to believe them. I have a great book called “The End of Time: Faith and Fear in the Shadow of the Millennium.” It traces millennialist thought since nearly the beginning of Christianity, as well as through other traditions around the world. There have been many, many people who have predicted the end of the world through various means. They’ve all been wrong so far. I don’t see any particular reason this one would be right. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2011, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485/51 "2011-05-12T00:11:33Z")
> [@Submerged](#): > > Cite: [Is The End Nigh? We'll Know Soon Enough : NPR](http://www.npr.org/2011/05/07/136053462/is-the-end-nigh-well-know-soon-enough) > > Quote: > \* > “Knowing the date of the end of the world changes all your future plans,” says 27-year-old Adrienne Martinez…“God just made it possible — he opened doors. He allowed us to quit our jobs”…Now they are in Orlando, in a rented house, passing out tracts and reading the Bible. Their daughter is 2 years old, and **their second child is due in June.** \* > > Wait, what?? Their baby is due the month after the rapture? They believe that babies can be born in heaven? 😕 And wait, if the fetus hasn’t accepted Jebus as its savior by the time the rapture arrives, isn’t it going to hell? :eek: > \* > Joel says they’re spending the last of their savings. They don’t see a need for one more dollar. “You know, you think about retirement and stuff like that,” he says. “What’s the point of having some money just sitting there?” > > “We budgeted everything so that, on May 21, we won’t have anything left,” Adrienne adds.\* > > Can this couple have their kids taken away for “failure to provide” or something? **Anything**. Please? Here’s a gory thought for you: the rapture comes, and Mrs. Martinez, as prophesied, ascends bodily into heaven. But her eight month old fetus stays exactly where it was before she was raptured. Mrs. Martinez’ body explodes into bloody tatters as her fetus tears through her body like a cannonball. Enjoy your dinner, folks! ---
**Author:** ![Submerged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Submerged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Submerged)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485/52 "2011-05-12T00:21:45Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Here’s a gory thought for you: the rapture comes, and Mrs. Martinez, as prophesied, ascends bodily into heaven. But her eight month old fetus stays exactly where it was before she was raptured. Mrs. Martinez’ body explodes into bloody tatters as her fetus tears through her body like a cannonball. Which would make god…an abortionist! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485/53 "2011-05-12T00:22:15Z")
I’ve already started a party on Facebook. Inviting anyone alive. It’s called “Countdown To Backpedaling”. 😃 What you do is go to your favorite bar on May21st, see friends, have a few, chat. Go home, wake up hungover down the Advil and off to work. This guy is an absolute fucking nutcase. Have you read about how some of the RV-ers have left their kids with relatives/friends so they can spread this rumor? If you belong to this group, your kids should never get within 100 feet of you. If you’d like, you can compare their website and a challenge website: > **[WecanKnow.com is for sale | HugeDomains](https://www.hugedomains.com/domain_profile.cfm?d=wecanknow.com)** > > Great domain names provide SEO, branding, and a memorable experience for your users. Get a premium domain today. [http://www.wecantknow.com/](http://www.wecantknow.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485/54 "2011-05-12T00:24:25Z")
> [@Submerged](#): > > Which would make god…an abortionist! 😃 And the bible supports you on this with the great flood, the city of Ai, the city of Jericho… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485/55 "2011-05-12T00:27:34Z")
> [@graceful1](#): > > Oh yes, I know about his earlier prediction. So do all the people who are riding around in caravans spreading the news about the Apocalypse. So what it is about THIS prediction that has enthralled so many people? And I mean, you need to read what Camping says to understand this. I _have_ read his droppings. The type of people that are flocking to him are weak-willed with no sense of purpose and no solid plans for the future, and he gives them the excuse _not_ to buckle down, work like other folk, and think about what is coming ahead in their lives. Please tell me you aren’t so gullible as to believe that Camping himself is going to have empty bank accounts come the 21st? When(NOT if) nothing comes of this prediction, will you rid yourself of him and his “teachings”, or will you wait for his next silly prediction? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485/56 "2011-05-12T00:34:41Z")
> [@graceful1](#): > > I am quite new to this forum and a little nervous about even posing this question. I notice all your posts in this forum are in this one thread that you started. Some gentle advice: explore a bit, broaden your horizons. I don’t think you have a sense of the flavor of this forum. For example, while there’s plenty of intelligent discussion of different OPs, there’s also a lot of rank mockery. The way you structured your OP is destined to get more of the latter than the former. If you’d like intelligent discussion, include the specific points that you find persuasive (or at least debatable) about this guy’s theory instead of just linking to a website. ---
**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 12, 2011, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485/57 "2011-05-12T00:47:07Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I _have_ read his droppings. The type of people that are flocking to him are weak-willed with no sense of purpose and no solid plans for the future, and he gives them the excuse _not_ to buckle down, work like other folk, and think about what is coming ahead in their lives. Please tell me you aren’t so gullible as to believe that Camping himself is going to have empty bank accounts come the 21st? When(NOT if) nothing comes of this prediction, will you rid yourself of him and his “teachings”, or will you wait for his next silly prediction? There is a certain apocalyptic feeling in the air, methinks, the strongest since 2000 and Y2K. The earthquakes, tornadoes, 12-21-2012, and this all serve to create in the minds of many a feeling that the end is near. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485/58 "2011-05-12T00:53:05Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > There is a certain apocalyptic feeling in the air, methinks, the strongest since 2000 and Y2K. The earthquakes, tornadoes, 12-21-2012, and this all serve to create in the minds of many a feeling that the end is near. I’ve been aware of people talking about the 2012 prophecy since the late '90s and I think it was in circulation decades before that. It’s slightly less nonsense than Camping’s theory in that it sounds like Camping made up some of his numbers out of whole cloth; the Mayans did exist and had a calendar; it just doesn’t say what the yutzes say it does. So I don’t think the present day feels apocalyptic, and what you’re seeing is not because of any recent natural disasters. ---
**Author:** ![koufax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ea924/32.png) [@koufax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koufax)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485/59 "2011-05-12T01:02:08Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > Is this related to the rumour of [an earthquake in Rome today](http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/italy-debunks-rome-quake-rumours/story-fn3dxity-1226054097136)? Is Rome in Spain? [http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/05/11/spain.earthquake.death/index.html?hpt=T2](http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/05/11/spain.earthquake.death/index.html?hpt=T2) ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485/60 "2011-05-12T01:41:07Z")
> [@monavis](#): > > If Jesus was correct the world should have ended in the first century. He was going to come in his father’s glory while some of them standing there were still alive! The flaw in this reasoning is that you aren’t remembering the Wandering Jews. See, they were in the crowd when he said this, and Jesus was being just a little more wink-wink nudge-nudge than usual. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-world-end-on-may-21-2011/581485.md?page=4)