An interesting article; I would note that one of the harshest arguments the Romans had against Christianity was that the Christians "hated the world" and desired the destruction of civilization. In other words, they were an apocalyptic cult.  That was mitigated the more they got to have temporal power (its not as sexy to wish for the destruction of everything when you're actually in charge of "everything" and pretty comfy) but the more that Christians today feel they are being culturally isolated by secular humanism, the more that apocalypticism has risen again.


http://alternet.org/story/46908/

RPGPundit

The christian right is losing the culture war for dominance of america to progressive secularists, so they want Big Daddy to come in and kick over the table.

Typical...

The radical christian right could say that the moon is made of blue cheese dressing and it wouldn't surprise me. With the Bush fiasco they're slowing slipping out of power and will eventually be nothing (at least compared to what they are now).

Quote from: James McMurrayThe radical christian right could say that the moon is made of blue cheese dressing and it wouldn't surprise me. With the Bush fiasco they're slowing slipping out of power and will eventually be nothing (at least compared to what they are now).

The Christian right never was in power to begin with.  They were just a demographic that the current administration tapped.

Doesn't that tend to give them a bit of power, especially when the president seems to agree with them on practically everything?

Quote from: James McMurrayDoesn't that tend to give them a bit of power, especially when the president seems to agree with them on practically everything?

From where I'm standing the Christian right looks like a bunch of patsies.  The president is good at giving lip service to their causes, and tossing them a few sops to keep stringing them along.  (The more meaningless the better, like struggling to keep some braindead woman in Florida on life support.  Bonus points there for being able to blame "activist judges" for failing to deliver.)

So let me get this straight. The last major rise in apocolypse cults was during the Black Plague in Europe.

This time around all it took was the "flight of manufacturing"?

God damn people have gotten soft.

Quote from: RPGObjects_chuckSo let me get this straight. The last major rise in apocolypse cults was during the Black Plague in Europe.

This time around all it took was the "flight of manufacturing"?

God damn people have gotten soft.

Yet I can see it all over Middle America's Suburbia:

Ted:  Dammit!  First the steel plant closed, then RCA ships this plant to Mexico just because we asked for $35 an hour for our manufacturing line jobs!

Phil:  I'm so damn tired of this.  Let's say Jesus is coming back right now to end the world.  Or a comet.  Or Jesus riding a comet.  Or Xenu.

Ted:  Well, I was just going to go apply for unemployment, but what the hell....

Quote from: hgjsFrom where I'm standing the Christian right looks like a bunch of patsies.  The president is good at giving lip service to their causes, and tossing them a few sops to keep stringing them along.  (The more meaningless the better, like struggling to keep some braindead woman in Florida on life support.  Bonus points there for being able to blame "activist judges" for failing to deliver.)

I certainly don't follow everything about politics, so you may very well be right. The big thing that springs to mind is that he used his first ever veto in two and a half terms on behalf of the Christian Right.

Quote from: Zachary The FirstYet I can see it all over Middle America's Suburbia:

Ted:  Dammit!  First the steel plant closed, then RCA ships this plant to Mexico just because we asked for $35 an hour for our manufacturing line jobs!

Phil:  I'm so damn tired of this.  Let's say Jesus is coming back right now to end the world.  Or a comet.  Or Jesus riding a comet.  Or Xenu.

Ted:  Well, I was just going to go apply for unemployment, but what the hell....

More like these people have lost their jobs and their lives.  They find themselves hating themselves and wondering what they've done wrong.

Fundie Christians then present these people with "the reason."  They're suffering because they're horrible people who deserve to suffer (something most people believe deep down anyway).  This feeds the sense of failure and deep self hate the people are feeling at a moment like that.  Then the fundies present the solution, the ultimate parent figure to kiss it and make it all better, "God."

It's psychologically very appealling when a person is in a vulnerable state like that.  Plus, the person now has a group to belong to.  After this person has lost their job, possibly their family, and is suffering the crippling financial burden of bills with no income and a probable divorce, they'll eagerly jump to join any group which validates their existence.

As for the apocalyptic end of it, those who are mired in the self loathing that the fundies encourage find the end of the world appealling.  Then there's the whole Rapture spin on it, that those who are part of the group are better than everyone else and will be laughing as everyone else suffers the end times.  Getting even in such a way is a pretty powerful psychological too as well.

So, no.  Ted and Phil don't lose their jobs and spontaneously decide to start a cult.  The cult was started long ago, and Ted and Phil suddenly see it's teachings as valid since they see their circumstances as a cataclysmic event.

And yes, we have gone soft.  Cults don't gain strong recruits.  They strike when people are weakest, and build them up (or tear them down further) into what the cult needs.

Quote from: GabrielSo, no.  Ted and Phil don't lose their jobs and spontaneously decide to start a cult.  The cult was started long ago, and Ted and Phil suddenly see it's teachings as valid since they see their circumstances as a cataclysmic event.

And yes, we have gone soft.  Cults don't gain strong recruits.  They strike when people are weakest, and build them up (or tear them down further) into what the cult needs.

That's right, this compels to once again quote Carlin, who always sums up religion better than anyone to me:

"Religion has convinced people that there's an invisible man. Who lives in the sky. And he has a list of 10 things he does NOT want you to do. And if you do any of these 10 things he will send you to a special (also invisible) place. Where you will be tortured for all eternity. But he loves us. And he needs money."

Eh, I'm a Christian, and I rather like my invisible friend.  I also happen to believe my invisible friend helps those who help themselves.

Then again, my invisible friend is a lot different than a lot of folks who claim to have the same invisible friend I do.  My invisible friend turned water into wine, didn't seem that concerned with fundage, hung out with hookers, and died with a thief.

Confidentially, sometimes I wonder if their invisible friend isn't made-up.

Quote from: Zachary The FirstPhil:  I'm so damn tired of this.  Let's say Jesus is coming back right now to end the world.  Or a comet.  Or Jesus riding a comet.

Aw fuck yeah.  Jesus riding a comet, bareback.  With spurs on his boots.  To end the fuckin' world.  Because this is the guy who turned water into booze, not the other way 'round.  In the words of Penny Arcade, "Jesus is F'ing metal."

Now, see, that'd be an apocalypse I could actually get behind.  An apocalypse with balls and a sense of humor.  Now I just need to figure out how to write that into an RPG scenario of some sort.

Quote from: TonyLBAw fuck yeah.  Jesus riding a comet, bareback.  With spurs on his boots.  To end the fuckin' world.  Because this is the guy who turned water into booze, not the other way 'round.  In the words of Penny Arcade, "Jesus is F'ing metal."

Now, see, that'd be an apocalypse I could actually get behind.  An apocalypse with balls and a sense of humor.  Now I just need to figure out how to write that into an RPG scenario of some sort.

Tony, no kidding, your post count was 666 when you typed that.  :eek:

Though not a Christian, or even religious, I think the most ironic thing for me is watching how acceptable it is for those people who are so against the Christians for being anti-homosexual bigots to be...anti-religious bigots.

It simply proves the brilliance of a system of government that doesn't try to force people how to think and feel.  Because once that starts...lookout...