More Verbiage from Camping

On Monday 23 May, the New York Times reports, Harold Camping gave what he said was his last interview ("we don't have to talk about this anymore"). He seems to have suggested that Saturday 21 May had indeed been a momentous day, but of an invisible and spiritual kind rather than a day on which Christ appeared visibly and spectacularly. Camping insisted that the end would still happen on Friday 21 October 2011.

Camping disclaimed responsibility for the disillusionments and future actions of his followers ("I am not the authority"), and said that his company would NOT return the money that his followers had donated in advance of his predictions about 21 May. He pointed out that he never asked people to leave their jobs and donate their life savings. (!)

He offered a brief apology, and said: "I pray all the time for wisdom". He added (in the truest words that he has ever spoken during the past quarter century): "I am not a genius".

The author of this blog is now heartily tired of Mr Camping and will say no more about him (though on Saturday 22 October we will observe briefly that Camping has once again been exposed as a false prophet).

Not a Happy Camper

Harold Camping, looking glum and disillusioned, spoke to the press on Sunday 22 May and said he was "looking for answers". So are we all, Harold, so are we all.

Readers of the International Business Times speculated what Camping will say when he releases a more detailed statement in a day or two. Will Camping admit that he was wrong about the date of the Rapture? Or will he claim that the Rapture did happen but in some sort of invisible way? Or will he say that God decided to delay the Rapture for a while to show his mercy to sinners? Or will he claim a calculation error and set a new date for the Rapture?

Foolish and Ignorant

For many months now, Harold Camping has been predicting that the Rapture will take place on Saturday 21 May 2011. Some of his followers are travelling around warning others, and a few have even quit their jobs.

Today is 10 May 2011, Harold. According to you, the Rapture is only ELEVEN days away. Are you getting bit nervous? Your sincere but gullible followers have given you their support, their money and their prayer.

What are they going to say to you when you stand exposed as a foolish, ignorant clown on Sunday 22 May 2011? More to the point, what are YOU going to say to THEM?

When God Goes Dark

"When God Goes Dark" - another honest and thought-provoking post from Michael Patton's "Parchment and Pen" blog.