Betting Against the End of the World

The Atlas Society - The Center for Objectivism ^ | May 17, 2011 | Edward Hudgins

[Ed Hudgins]

Throughout human history and especially in recent centuries, cults of all kinds have predicted the end of the world. You’ve probably noticed that they’ve all been seriously wrong.

The latest such silliness has come from 89-year-old Harold Camping’s Family Radio network of 66 stations. Based on his study of the Bible, Camping calculates that doomsday will be on Saturday, May 21, 2011.

Christianity is particularly prone to such nonsense. After all, the Book of Revelation is all about doomsday, though with details from a clearly delusional mind. The “son of man” appears out of the clouds with a two-edged sword coming out of his mouth: that makes it tough to eat and talk! He has seven stars in his hand: a star is a million miles in diameter and a million degrees at its core, making things pretty hot and crowded on the Earth. You get the picture.

American history is full of cults that saw no future for the world. Starting in 1843, William Miller and his followers predicted a dozen doomsdays. One would think that after the first few predictions failed, followers of the cult would disappear. Remarkably, more such cults and followers followed.

The problem is not only found in fringe Christian sects. The landscape of the twentieth century is littered with the failed predictions from a plethora of mystic and New Age groups. The members of the Heaven’s Gate flying saucer cult, to get ahead of the game, all committed suicide.

Rich Suckers

What is perhaps most disturbing about the adherents to cults that make such failed predictions or, more generally, are as crazy as March hares, is that they are not just the most poor, ignorant, or downtrodden in society.

[sergeantdave]

I thought the world ended when dad caught me behind the garage with a cigar and his favorite bottle of brandy.

I survived. I’ll bet I survive this end of the world, too. I’m good at that. So if God destroys the world on the 21st, I’ll probably hang behind and wait for the next heavenly chariot leaving Earth. There’s cigars to smoke and brandy to drink.

[xp38]

What? The Mayans cancelled Christmas 2012!?

[FreeKeys]

Since when do Randians care about the downtrodden?

I'm a "Randian," and not only do I give $thousands to poor, downtrodden people (of my own choosing), but I advocate for them, and help them navigate the byzantine health care system as well. As another Randian, Glenn Woiceshyn, has written, "One byproduct of individualism is benevolence -- a general attitude of good will towards one's neighbors and fellow human beings. Benevolence is impossible in a society where people violate each others' rights [as is built-in to the structure of the collectivist state]."

[DManA]

I can’t disagree with anything you say. I have a friend who considers himself a Randian who interprets these things completely differently.

He sees no difference between greed and self interest. Obviously you are self interested but not greedy.

Self interest is constructive. Greed is destructive.

[Ed Hudgins]

David Kelley who founded The Atlas Society wrote a book entitled “Unrugged Individualism: The Selfish Basis of Benevolence.”

[ArrogantBustard]

That article is even more inane than Campimg’s false “prophecy”.

[3boysdad]

Hey Camping, it can’t happen yet you freakin’ dipstick! It’s way too early. Plus there is no such thing as “the end of the world”, just the end of the age. Grow some balls and go through it with the rest of us.

[ApplegateRanch]

21st? HALLALUAH!

The 23rd is my wife's next dental appointment; I won't have to pay the dentist after all!

Unfortunately, too many events have not yet come to pass that MUST occur prior to the glorious return of Jesus for this to be anything but the "work" of a delussional person.

Camping has ignored far too many scriptures to put any credence, let alone faith, in his "calculations'.

[BaBaStooey]

It is my understanding that Camping is basing all of this off of the date on which he thinks Jesus died, and the number of days since then.

So going along with his calculations, Jesus died at 3PM. Jerusalem’s time zone is 7 hours ahead of New York City, so that means 8AM. Although, 3PM figure is an approximation.

[Pietro]

"I presume you would not quibble with the term "pseudo-scientific" to describe these cults"

The problem is they eminate from real universities and petition our real government for policies that will have major implications.

The doomsday cults in our religious community make for amusing side notes in the daily news; the, as you call them "pseudo-scientists", are in league w/ self-serving politicians working to control our daily lives.

One's funny, the other's not.

[Ed Hudgins]

Wow! What an insightful critique!

[Ed Hudgins]

So did he take your offer?

[dadgum]

Nope.
Big surprise.

[Larry Lucido]

After all, the Book of Revelation is all about doomsday, though with details from a clearly delusional mind. The “son of man” appears out of the clouds with a two-edged sword coming out of his mouth: that makes it tough to eat and talk!

YOU wrote this crap?? No wonder you cut off in mid sentence. I'd have been ashamed to post it all, too.

[Larry Lucido]

Got us a live one here. Brags about double-pimping.

I’m sure Ayn Rand would have been proud of his willingness to abuse his welcome on another site.

[humblegunner]

Why did you post this same story twice?

Because a pimp wants hits. It's what pimps do.

[DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis]

the Book of Revelation is all about doomsday, though with details from a clearly delusional mind.

You wrote this trashy article? Sad.

[DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis]

[Ed Hudgins]

I’m tempted to sarcastically say, “Ah, the religious mind at work.” But there have been religious thinkers—Aquinas come to mind—who were serious and subtle. There’s not much of a mind here to address, just impotent, unfocused lashing out. Sad.

[Ed Hudgins]

I’m tempted to sarcastically say, “Ah, the religious mind at work.” But there have been religious thinkers—Aquinas come to mind—who were serious and subtle. There’s not much of a mind here to address, just impotent, unfocused lashing out. Sad.