Smart or Scared?
"I’m not a genius, and I pray all the time for wisdom."
Oh Harold Camping, you’re such a little scamp.
So the world didn’t end. This weekend. But now he’s claiming that the true date will be October 21. Okay. Whatever. I just shake my head and laugh. A lot of Christians I know have been quoting Matthew 25. Even our visiting pastor preached on it that Sunday before the end of the world. Its main theme is that no one knows the exact hour, none but the Father. What I’m finding interesting is that for a man who claims to read his Bible so carefully, as do his followers, he seems to have missed that passage about false prophets who will attempt to proclaim the end of days and the coming Messiah.
Along with the above quote, it brings up an interesting point for me. I don’t claim to be a genius either and I’m often finding myself tripping over my tongue and words as I attempt to explain my faith to others. Still, there are certain things I do firmly believe in and can clearly state without hesitation. There are plenty of people who would laugh and scoff at me, much how the world is scoffing at Harold Camping these days. There are plenty who would argue with me, or heatedly debate what I claim as Truth. When I do not bend to their way of thinking, they think less of me. I’ve been accused of being brainwashed by Western culture and not really having a choice in believing what I do. I’ve been told I’m stupid and are thought less of because what I claim. I’ve been called ignorant and under-educated. All because the Truth I claim is something they do not agree with.
Is this any different than what the Christian community is doing to Harold Camping? Or does he deserve the ridicule and laughs? Is he claiming to be a false prophet, or merely declaring his beliefs? Am I smarter than him for keeping my mouth shut? Or am I a coward for not standing up for my faith?
Truth? Theory, at best, as no concrete evidence to back up the beliefs can be presented. True of any religion. Anyone who is going to draw conclusions from the bible, Aesop’s fables, or I Was Tortured by the Pygmy Love Queen (it’s a real book!), and state them as concrete fact, kind of deserves all the ridicule that can be heaped upon them.
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ryn: But you’re confusing belief with truth. Believing in the Tooth Fairy doesn’t “create” truth, a distinction lost by many. A child professing that Santa Claus is real is cute. An adult claiming the same truth is just disturbing.
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I want to nominate this for readers choice, but I do not want to open you up to a bunch of chaos…
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I like this entry. It made me think. Have a good day.
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what Camping did was create mass hysteria amongst people. What he did was no less a crime that screaming ‘FIRE’ in a crowded place. People sold their possessions, people killed themselves and their children. Would he be convicted in a criminal court? Probably not. But did he inflict pain and hysteria? Yes. A man of God, a PERSON OF MORALE would have known better than that. He preyed upon the weakminded. All of that aside, BELIEF and TRUTH and FAITH are three seperate things. Emeshed but not the same.
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I enjoyed reading your thoughts here…and you delivered a very challenging question in your closing. But as for what the Christian “community” is doing to Mr. Camping, I do my best never to view it as that; Christians are not a community–they are individuals. The media is championing what they want to give as the appearance of the “whole” by quoting particular individuals and labeling them as the “body”. Each of us stand alone in God’s kingdom, and He looks at each heart one-on-one. I enjoyed what I saw looking at this piece of yours’ today. Not sure if we’ve met before, but it was nice dropping in for a visit. Take care, Michael.
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Personally, I think Harold Camping’s actions have deemed him a false prophet; I don’t believe he, himself, has claimed to be such. He’s making predictions that only the Father should know, and that is a NO-NO! Now, that being said, being Catholic, I don’t think people are stupid if they don’t agree with my beliefs. Do I pray for them? Yes, I do. I know there are people out there who feeljust as strongly with their beliefs as I do with mine, so I don’t call anyone ignorant or stupid because shattering someone’s faith is a HORRIBLE thing, regardless of the faith. All I can do is continue to pray for them that they will find God the way He wants them to, WHEN He wants them to.
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Random noter… saw you on the front page. Like you, I think he’s totally misinterpreted the Bible. And yet I can’t help but think he’s sincere in his zealousness (as in I don’t think he’s trying to prey on the weak). Who knows? It’s pretty sad though.
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