a review of religion and media
Everybody knows dogs don’t have souls. Nor do atheists. Now that the Rapture is back on for October 21, what could be more humane than having an earthbound atheist adopt your pet after Jesus has ushered you into heaven?
(h/t Adam H. Becker) Continue Reading →
Just as Ari Stillman predicted here on Sunday, Harold Camping found the error in his prediction and has determined that the proper date for Judgement Day is October 21, 2011. The AP reports one of Camping’s studio technicians has said, “I thought he would show some more human decency in admitting he made a mistake. We didn’t really see that.” Continue Reading →
by Ari Stillman
Christianity has mastered the art of being wrong. After all, it began as a reaction to the unfulfilled Jewish prophecy of the coming of the messiah. Its various traditions and uproots are rife with prophecies that have failed to come true. Given this 2000-year history of failed predictions, Christian leaders and theologians have gotten quite skilled at the art of re-interpretation or surviving the great let-down. Failed predictions like yesterday’s by Harold Camping, the California evangelical preacher who selected May 21st for the Rapture after a flawed prediction in 1994, are part of this lively tradition, a tradition that may give us clues as to what we can expect from Camping’s camp after faux doomsday.
As history has demonstrated, interpretation of biblical prophecy is common — and so far inaccurate when getting the dates right. While Jews measured Jesus up against their criteria for the messiah and claimed, “That’s not our guy,” Christians have perfected the art of predicting His precise plans. (If you’ve ever wondered about Jewish neuroticism, ask them how long they’ve been waiting.) Continue Reading →
by Ari Stillman
Christianity has mastered the art of being wrong. After all, it began as a reaction to the unfulfilled Jewish prophecy of the coming of the messiah. Its various traditions and uproots are rife with prophecies that have failed to come true. Given this 2000-year history of failed predictions, Christian leaders and theologians have gotten quite skilled at the art of re-interpretation or surviving the great let-down. Failed predictions like yesterday’s by Harold Camping, the California evangelical preacher who selected May 21st for the Rapture after a flawed prediction in 1994, are part of this lively tradition, a tradition that may give us clues as to what we can expect from Camping’s camp after faux doomsday.
As history has demonstrated, interpretation of biblical prophecy is common — and so far inaccurate when getting the dates right. While Jews measured Jesus up against their criteria for the messiah and claimed, “That’s not our guy,” Christians have perfected the art of predicting His precise plans. (If you’ve ever wondered about Jewish neuroticism, ask them how long they’ve been waiting.) Continue Reading →
by Ari Stillman
Christianity has mastered the art of being wrong. After all, it began as a reaction to the unfulfilled Jewish prophecy of the coming of the messiah. Its various traditions and uproots are rife with prophecies that have failed to come true. Given this 2000-year history of failed predictions, Christian leaders and theologians have gotten quite skilled at the art of re-interpretation or surviving the great let-down. Failed predictions like yesterday’s by Harold Camping, the California evangelical preacher who selected May 21st for the Rapture after a flawed prediction in 1994, are part of this lively tradition, a tradition that may give us clues as to what we can expect from Camping’s camp after faux doomsday.
As history has demonstrated, interpretation of biblical prophecy is common — and so far inaccurate when getting the dates right. While Jews measured Jesus up against their criteria for the messiah and claimed, “That’s not our guy,” Christians have perfected the art of predicting His precise plans. (If you’ve ever wondered about Jewish neuroticism, ask them how long they’ve been waiting.) Continue Reading →
Howard M. Friedman at Religion Clause notes that Americans United for the Separation of Church and State has announced a letter they presented to the Nebraska-based Todd Becker Foundation, an organization that offers presentations to high schools on the horrors of drunken driving. What’s so bad about telling teens to stay sober or away from the wheel? Here’s the foundation’s description of what they do: Continue Reading →