Just out of curiosity, does anyone on DU believe

[saracat]

in the Rapture? Inquiring minds want to know!

[malmapus]

1. I don't

..

[saracat]

4. Well, I don't either.. I was just wondering.

[malmapus]

10. I believe that Revalations was a message to the Christians of the day

that Paul wrote to be strong in the face of the oppresive Roman empire that there is hope.

Saw a cool documentary on Discovery, I think, where they talked about this too. Alot of the symbolism he used could be turned into things from the day.

But yeah thats my belief on the matter.

[knowbody0]

2. i believe heart and soul

all the bad guys are going to fall off the planet, but i am insane

[zann725]

9. I agree. Those that "believe" will create their own Raptured reality...

as a consequence of their own foolish actions...causing them to leave this "plane" of reality. But given the hatred and bad Karma they created here, they might not find the Rapture dreamed of.

[Swamp Rat]

3. Yes, Bush and the x-tian fundies have finally convinced me!

[FreedomAngel82]

5. I do believe in a better place

and that it's possible someday things can just be destroyed from natural reason's but not in the sense they do. I'm Christian but some things I've read in the book of Revelation is just too weird for me and everything. I remember watching a program on the final books of the Bible and how they all came to be as we know the Bible today and the scholars were saying how it was very close to not putting Revelation in cause it sounds so bizarre and crazy and some other books were left out. Supposivley Mary Magdelene wrote one as well. :shrug:

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[oscar111]

8. no. Theology around the world has lots of wild ideas. eom

[annabanana]

34. Hiya Goodfella12!

Welcome to DU
:toast:

[Heidi]

7. Nope, but it's OK with me for others to believe whatever they want. (eom)

[riverwalker]

49. not ok with me

if they want to believe that crap and stock up their canned goods and await the end, fine. But instead they are forming and implemementing foreign and domestic policy based on this fairy tale, and that affects everyone. The rapture has NEVER been part of christianity. It started at the turn of the century with some American nutcakes.
So, are they worshipping Jesus, or Scofield? They should call themselves Scofieldians and leave Christ out of it, because he never taught the "rapture".

[Heidi]

50. Essentially, we probably agree, riverwalker.

I'm one of those, "Your rights end where mine begin," folks. So when they start with the business (and it IS a business) influencing domestic and foreign policy for the rest of us poor lost sinners, that's where MY rights are infringed upon.

For me, the Rapture is fear-mongering propaganda, and I don't need the "hell" scared out of me in order to live as a good person.

(Edited for syntax error.)

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

11. Yes. n/t

[nolabels]

12. I only believe in the Easter Bunny

http://www.campbellsport.org/index.html

[housewolf]

13. I believe we are in a time of great changes

but I don't think that the story of the Revelations is a literal preview of what we can expect to see. Figurative, allogorical - perhaps, but I can't take it literally.

[sandnsea]

14. It doesn't matter to me

Because if I understand the rapture correctly, nobody can know when it's going to come. So people who think they know it's going to come soon are wrong by the vey nature that they think they know it's coming. Right?

[USAcitizen]

15. The word Rapture.......

Is no where in the Bible

[annabanana]

35. U R right, USAcitizen...

And,
welcome to DU!
:toast:

[Roxy66]

16. I believe Nastradomas was right...Bush is the Evil dictator

[thecai]

17. Yes

But I do not believe it will happen the way television or the "Left Behind" series portrays it...

[punpirate]

18. Just to clarify...

... the so-called Rapture is not part of the Bible. It is very loosely based on the Bible, but is the result of the weird suppositions of two principals--John Darby of the Plymouth Brethren, and later, C.I. Scofield, who published a version of the Bible which included his marginal notes on the Rapture, based on his readings of Darby's lectures and notes.

So, for the strict believers in the inerrancy of Biblical scripture, the Rapture is, technically, apostasy.

That it is has so many believers has more to do with human gullibility than with Biblical pronouncement.

M'self, I think it's just a variant on the very old Greek drama technique of deus ex machina--god out of the skies to solve all human difficulties (when the playwrights find themselves in a fix regarding plot resolution).

[thecai]

19. "Rapture"

The word is not in The Bible, but what Jesus describes in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, COULD be described as a "rapture", IMO.
The Bible is not something I argue about, but I'm offering my opinion (of my interpretation), in answer to a question.

[punpirate]

21. Nevertheless...

... you might look up the history of dispensational theory. I would particularly suggest the books of one Grace Halsell, particularly, Prophecy and Politics and Forcing God's Hand, for another view on how your faith is being exploited.

[H2O Man]

41. I agree ....

and hence, it already occured in 1960, when a mysterious being on a flaming lemon pie flew down to near eye level of a young John Lennon, and said, "Name your group 'Beatles,' with an 'a.'" It changed the world.

[nolabels]

20. Thank you for that information

I sometimes wish I would have been able to find the smarts and time to read a lot of literature like you obviously have :thumbsup:

[annabanana]

36. Thank you punpirate!....I WONDERED where the "rapture" came from!

And I believe you are on the money about "deus ex machina".

This info should be in the 'pedia..

[punpirate]

38. As mentioned in another post in this thread...

... Grace Halsell's books are helpful in explaining this phenomenon, socially. You might also look in the DU front page article archive for "The Armageddon Policy." There's a tiny bit more explanation of it and the politics behind it in that.

And, truthfully, it never occurred to me to add this to Demopedia, perhaps because I thought most everything that might occur to me had already been added by others. :)

[Tux]

22. No

It always seemed silly and arrogant to say god prefers some people over others based on beliefs or ethnicity.

[Behind the Aegis]

23. Not as such

I don't believe that people will be "scooped up" or anything along those lines. However, I do think we, as a species, may suffer a severe set back. Somebody famous said something like: the 4th world war will be fought with sticks and stones. I know I butchered that like Shrub and his "fool me once" saying.

However, I also believe the age of "magic" will return and new ideas will advance us beyond what we could imagine!

[malmapus]

25. Albert Einstein

"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." -Albert Einstein

[Behind the Aegis]

28. Thanks!

I thought that was who it was, but I didn't want to look too stupid! Thanks for the actual quote :thumbsup:

[malmapus]

32. anytime

glad to help :D

[Benson]

24. OK, Just for arguments sake: "What if it happens?"

Just for the sheer sake of argument....
What would you do if it did happen?

[uhhuh]

26. Nobody would notice

It would consist of about 4 people who hadn't completely distorted Christ's message for their own purposes.

[driver8]

27. I like the song "Rapture"...

but don't believe in "THE RAPTURE"!!!

[fleabert]

29. don't know about anyone else, but I don't.

raised a baptist too! not that there's anything wrong with that.

[VOX]

30. No.

And I was baptized in a Methodist church.

As tempted as I am to be critical about belief in the Rapture, I'll refrain from doing so.

[xpat]

31. No, but I have a sign above my bed that says

"Divine service held here daily." ;-)

[DoNotRefill]

33. I do, and I hope it happens SOON.

I need a new (to me) vehicle, and figure all those empty cars on the highway will be up for grabs, first come, first served!

:evilgrin:

[Divernan]

44. Nope! They all get to take their SUVs with them so they

can pollute the hereafter.

[malmapus]

45. lol first dibs on Black exterior / charcoal interior 05 Mustang

...

[kliljedahl]

55. Dibs on the '54 T-Bird

Just to look at, and an '00 T-Bird to drive.


http://www.kliljedahl.net

[blogslut]

37. My feeling is...

that humans have always known about their tendency to screw things up. The belief that we'll go too far one day is probable one.

[LittleClarkie]

39. I tend toward the theory that "the beast" was the emperor at the time

and that Revelation was written to give the Christians of the time hope, and was written in that cryptic way so that if it fell into Roman hands, they'd never be able to make heads nor tales of the writings.

Sort of, now that I think of it, like the Christians were wearing blue paper clips, if you know what I mean.

[LostinVA]

42. That's what the majority of all Xian denominations believe, too

It is actually only a few Christian denominations that believe in "The Rapture," and that Revelation is something that WILL happen, versus being something that DID happen about 2,000 years ago.

[B Calm]

40. I believe in science..

[patricia92243]

43. Yes.

[nonconformist]

46. Simply put... NO.

But consider the source, I'm not Christian.

However, my parents and in-laws both are but they don't believe in that either.

[mmonk]

47. I prefer the Easter Bunny

[Fleshdancer]

48. no. it's a pretty ridiculous story in my opinion

It's a perfect story if you want to scare the living shit out of little kids though.

[MissB]

51. No.

[theboss]

52. Not exactly

I do believe in the Second Coming, but I don't believe that the Rapture is necessaritly part of it.

I also think it is close to a sin to spend too much time dwelling on it. The Bible is clear that Christ's return will be like a thief in the night and we should focus on our lives.

[Protagoras]

53. I believe the world will end

it's just the timeline most people have no clue about :D

On a long enough timeline...

[Straight Shooter]

54. Nope. But I'm waiting for Big Pharma to make a medication called Rapture.

We can only guess what "ailment" Rapture will cure. :evilgrin:

[Bouncy Ball]

56. Nope, and I consider myself to be Christian/spiritually eclectic.

(Thanks Pacifist Patriot, for that term! It fits me to a tee!)

[Connie_Corleone]

57. I used to before I actually read the bible to see if it was there.

n/t

[Phentex]

58. No

no no no no

[nolabels]

59. Kind of was an interesting question (for people who need beliefs)

I often wonder why I live the life of a dog, then I realize it's easier that way. No need to plan your day out, worry about what happened yesterday, or save for the future. The master will figure it all out when the time comes. I just need to think about the next thirty five to forty seconds, everything else is irrelevant as long as do my trained duty set out by master.

Gee, isn't life sweet :crazy:

[Telly Savalas]

60. I'm a fan of the Toronto Rapture

[JohnnyBoots]

61. Nicely done.

[NoSheep]

62. No. Although everytime I can't find someone I'm looking for, like

my boyfriend in the grocery store, I always think he may have been taken! I guess it's just a joke to me that I can't seem to forget.:crazy:

[JohnnyBoots]

63. I think it was created by the guy who started the7th day adventists