Did any of your Christian/Muslim/Religious friends mock Mr.Camping?

I had a few making fun of his 'end of the world' prediction. I asked why their beliefs weren't just as ridiculous and irrational as his. They had little to say in return. One told me his religious beliefs aren't irrational because they aren't rational ideas to begin with. I suppose he may have meant the idea of what is rational is man made and his religion is not. Oh those lost sheep how I weep for thee (nah, not really).

And I mean ALL the beliefs.

Religion that encourages good behavior is rational enough. Religion that's misused for spreading hate, bilking people out of money, and scaring them for no good reason DESERVES to be mocked.

Even when religion encourages good behavior it's for reasons that feed irrationality. E.g.: "Don't kill people because god will get pissed."

--imm

I have pity on these people and on those who pay attention to them.

people.

and we had fun at church last week mocking Camping and pretending that this would be our last service, so we'd better get it all in. Remember, the Rapture is actually a fringe doctrine in Christianity. It just seems like it isn't because the fundamentalists are so vocal and seem to get most of the attention. And even most of those who do put stock in the rapture doctrine didn't believe Camping. The media gave an awful lot of attention to something that the vast majority of people, including Christians, put no stock in at all.

Me, I try not to hang around people who call my beliefs "ridiculous and irrational," and I extend the same courtesy to those I call friends.

Like it or not, the very definition of religion is based on the irrational.

Really, in all seriousness - what do you get? A fleeting sense of superiority, for having put the irrational believers in their place?

I have no desire to engage with anyone rude enough to tell anyone else that their beliefs are irrational, evil, stupid, etc. That goes for believers who are intolerant of those who don't share their faith and people like you who can't wait to tell believers how "irrational" they are.

I can see that all you're going to do is essentially plug your ears and scream.

The truth hurts.

You're rude, uncivil, and why on earth would anyone listen to you? What incentive do I - does ANYONE - have to listen to anyone who has nothing but stupid insults and asides? What have you accomplished? Really? Have you enlightened anyone? Have you changed any minds? Convinced anyone of your rightness? Or have you just further alienated people from your cause?

People who are their own worst enemy and don't realize it amuse me. Really. Bless your heart.

when others mock their superstitious beliefs.

Don't worry. I believe the Flying Spaghetti Monster controls my life. I've been touched (and blessed) by His noodly appendage. Maybe tonight I'll beg Him for forgiveness for something, only to do that same something again tomorrow.

Look...I've had anxiety disorders longer than some people here have been alive.

Many of my phobias...especially Agoraphobia... are based on irrational beliefs.

I know this.


I don't mind if people call them irrational beliefs because I know they're right. They are irrational. In fact, I want to know they're irrational so my panic doesn't get out of hand and totally overcome me.

When I was a child, I believed there were invisible monsters living under my bed. I couldn't sleep unless there was a nightlight in the room, and I covered my ears with the blanket because I was afraid the monsters would bite my ears off. Invisible beings. Things that didn't exist. Irrational beliefs.

So yeah...when I look at the size and scope of the Universe (and have seen what our planet looks like from the outskirts of the solar system) I have a real hard time believing that there's some big Santa in the Sky who gives a shit about us comparative nothings here on planet Earth. Might as well believe that my neighbors actually care what the ants are doing in my yard.

I don't think human beings are all that rational, anyway. I do think that most animals are way more rational than we are. And they don't bother fighting over things like whose invisible being is better than someone else's.

that's NOT rational.

Are they trying to be polite so they don't have to discuss religion in public?

Are they being obtuse and not willing to acknowledge an embarrassing episode of rapturism by a fellow christian?

Are they thinking I'm a jerk for bringing it up? and thus they respond in polite denial?

It's a mystery.

and saying that extending basic human rights to gay folks was a sign of the impending apocalypse? THAT Mr. Camping?

Yeah, he was mocked by both my religious and non-religious friends.

I wish they'd all just go away and let us celebrate diversity.

Those that were aware of him viewed him as a kook ... they didn't assign his crazy ramblings to a religion ... more just the ravings of a nut

Nice guy, huh!

Even the priest saying Mass made a little joke about it.

I'm not religious, but I've have several friends who are. Since they hang out with me I suppose it goes without saying they're the inclusive type of religious, not the judgmental and excluding type. We laughed about the post rapture parties knowing it was foolishness. None of my friends found it funny when the stories began emerging of people who had spent their life savings supporting Camping. Be they religious or not, the ones I spoke to about it all found that side of the story sad and more than a bit disgusting. But, then, that's why they're my friends. They're pretty cool people to hang out with.