"I don't believe he has gotten people more interested in their faith at all."
That's OK if you don't think so, but don't condemn me for thinking differently. Some on this thread are assuming that Mr. LeHaye is greedy, and only in it for the money. I sense a little covetousness and resentment there...
In any event, I agree with you (really with Jesus) about no one knowing when, and I also agree that we shouldn't be obsessed with the end. BUT - Jesus himself emphasized that even if we don't know when, we need to be watching - not just ready, but WATCHING. So anything less than obsession and date-setting I can't see as being bad. LeHaye has NOT set a date, that I know of.
[Jesus speaking in Mark chapter 13]
32 But of that day and [that] hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
34 [For the Son of man is] as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Exactly - watch. Don't sit around guessing and speculating - you're not going to figure it out ahead of time, you're going to have to pay attention.