A USA Today story reported the results of an Ipsos poll that found that 25% of Americans believe that Jesus will return in 2007 (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-12-31-new-year-predictions_x.htm).
These people believe, for no particular reason, that the Apocalypse will occur before New Year’s. You will see Jesus coming on the clouds before it’s time to return the blender Aunt Betty gave you for Christmas. A horse born this year will not be old enough for the Four Horsemen to ride. And don't even waste your time praying for your team to win the Superbowl. There won't be one.
Could this explain why nobody minds an endangered environment, a staggering debt, an unwinnable war, high interest rates, etc?
2007-04-29 10:44:17 · 14 answers · asked by Dan X 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
What are they basing this on? The bible says no one, not even Jesus himself, knows exactly when this will happen (I assume Jesus wears some sort of pager). People have been fearing an imminent apocalypse for 2000 years. It hasn’t happened yet—unless you believe that it has, and this is heaven, or hell. Paul wrote that “the time has grown very short…the form of the world is passing away” (1 Cor 7:29-31, RSV). But he also wrote that eating is unimportant (1 Cor 8:8). So I guess he’s been wrong before.
2007-04-29 10:44:52 · update #1
There is another scary angle to the story itself. Although this detail becomes the main subject of the headline (“Poll: 1 in 4 expects 2007 to bring second coming of Christ; more expect terrorist attack”), it is treated in the article as trivial. Those familiar with journalism are aware of the inverted pyramid format of writing; place the most important information at the beginning of the story, with each successive fact being slightly less important, and the least important facts at the end. This way, editors can cut as much of the article as is necessary to make each story fit in the issue without cutting essential information. This fact was
2007-04-29 10:45:11 · update #2
mentioned in paragraph 9 of 10. It should also be noted that journalists do not write their own headlines; editors do. The editor found the part about the rapture significant. The journalist found it inconsequential—perhaps even common knowledge.
2007-04-29 10:45:45 · update #3
SUN: Yes, it was Bill Maher (who brought this article to my attention in the first place) who surmised that the number was startingly similar to the 29% of Americans who still believe that President Bush is doing a good job, and the two groups probably contain many of the ssame people. He admits that this is just "a hunch," but I think it's a pretty good one.
2007-04-29 10:54:51 · update #4
About 25% of Americans are completely brainwashed and insane and have an inability to think for themselves with a healthy and rational mind.
2007-04-29 10:53:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
No, it doesn't scare me. This particular irrational Christian belief doesn't equate to nihilism, because nihilism requires effort. Most people are sheep, and while they may believe there is a wolf over the next hill, until they see the wolf they obliviously go along with their happy little lives. Unfortunately, the problems you've described are the work of the corrupt, intelligent power elite (a.k.a. the wolves)
2007-04-29 10:55:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
No human stupidity has been an established fact for centuries. The status quo likes it that way because stupid fearful people are easier to control and fleece. That's a polite way to say live off of like parasites.
2007-04-29 10:53:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You scare me more than that silly fact. Most people in this country are inbred yokels. That is a very scary fact. I've already seen jesus on a cloud in Albuquerque New Mexico. Big deal.
2007-04-29 10:55:56 · answer #4 · answered by nurserachet_0000 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
pathetic, actually.
it'd be nice if they get out of la-la land and help to make the eorld a better place instead of donig their Chicken-Little impressions.
2007-04-29 10:56:53 · answer #5 · answered by kent_shakespear 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. It is frightening. It reminds me of the UFO group.
2007-04-29 10:49:39 · answer #6 · answered by Justsyd 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
25%? Yes, that is truly frightening. Even scarier, I bet most of them vote.
2007-04-29 10:51:20 · answer #7 · answered by Sun: supporting gay rights 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
It is said noone knows the date or time he will come back except for GOD himself. So always be ready.
2007-04-29 10:50:21 · answer #8 · answered by momof3 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
That's what you call a big delusion
2007-04-29 11:07:32 · answer #9 · answered by Screamin' Banshee 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
not really, stupidity isn't very frightening
2007-04-29 10:59:14 · answer #10 · answered by BG 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋