As I mentioned in my last post some people are making money from rapture and end of the world claims. Some of these people are the very people propogating the ideas, but then, there are those who see the radical support and belief in the claims as opportunity to make some money. (see offering long-term care for post-rapture pets (those left behind)).
Regarding the absurdity of predicting the rapture, Atheists Pope, Richard Dawkins said,
An aspect of religion that intrigues me is its capacity to con money out of a seemingly endless supply of gullible idiots. Is there anything so stupid that, if you put it out there, you can't find thousands of people (and their money) to believe it.Interestingly (ironically), those who believe what Dawkins preaches can buy his books, DVD's, trinkets, T-shirts, etc., from his website. I am sure there is an endless 'line' of people who do.
Pictured: Atheist Earrings & Necklace Set Just $38I'm just saying......
3 comments:
Funny, I was just immersed in Dawkins' drivel this weekend, reading some of his gorp, and watching some of his pretentious blathering in various videotaped colloquia. (I was sucked in because I only just this past week learned he is married to Lalla Ward, the actress who played Romana II in Doctor Who in the late 1970s--it turns out one can't even google her image without Dawkins mug appearing in her place. What can I say, I was a huge Whovian in high school and wondered where some of my favorite actors from that show are now.)
It was utterly depressing. He makes some very sound, logical arguments. And then wraps them in the smug swagger and hubris that is the 'secret handshake' of atheists. I always wondered why atheism bothered me so much--much more than agnosticism, with its more humble "I just don't know"--and it occurred to me (as it has to many others, it turns out) that it's because atheism is practically a cult. I've concluded that atheism is nothing much more than an extreme form of Protestantism. It's as if they are uber-reformers, who keep stripping away "non-essentials," until they conclude there's nothing left.
The problem with this, to me, is despite its pretentious claims to being fully even-handed in its dismissal of all deities, in reality its focus is almost entirely in refuting Christianity. Atheists are almost all former Christians or Jews. If one needs further proof of my thesis beyond these trinkets you present here, and Dawkins "super-pastor" status, there is always the American Humanist Association's "ordaining" of "celebrants"
http://humanist-society.org/celebrants/inquiry.html
I might start to think that atheism has something to say if it starts producing thinkers from non-Abrahamic faiths and non-western countries. Until then, it seems a better term for it is probably just "anti-Christian."
"in reality its focus is almost entirely in refuting Christianity."
TC...yes. This is the essential doctrine of the "New Atheism". Ravi Zacharias wrote a book in response called "The End of Reason: A Response to the New Atheists"
And I would agree - agnosticism is more reasonable and rational than really any viewpoints. It takes no risk nor faith to believe as an agnostic does. It is probably the most comfortable view. ;)
Chris! Hi, there, friend.
I largely try to ignore Richard Dawkins, so I had no idea that this whole thing has emerged into such a culture. I can't help feeling sorry for the man--I know that sounds condescending but there is such a seed of bitterness there that it makes a person wonder.
A very interesting post. Here's hoping you and your family are well. Getting ready to head into summer with all the joy that will bring. Life is so rich. God is so good.
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