I would like to propose a law. Every time someone wishes to publicly declare that they are making public policy or Mideast wars based on THEIR interpretation of a religious prophecy, they must append a list of apocalyptic disclaimers. Just as cigarette packs, beer cans, and pharmacological ads are required to give caveats, so too must the Branch Davideans, Hal Lindsey's, and the entire Left Behind crew.
At the very least, the American Fundamentalists would be required to state
"1. We are following Hal Lindsay ("The Late Great Planet Earth"). 2. He said it would come in 1988" 3. It didn't. 4. We would still like America to spend taxes and lives in the belief that Hal Lindsay is still correct."
This would include people from Ronald Reagan's cabinet.
Chris Nelson writes "James Watt, Secretary of the Interior under the Reagan administration, felt that there was no need to protect the environment because the end was coming SOON! In 1981, he told a Congressional committee, "I don't know how many future generations we can count on until the Lord returns."
Some info on the Christian-Zionist voting block at Wikipedia and Jack Chick Tracts
After the LHC failed to end the world a few months back, I believe the next apocalypse has been tentatively scheduled by the Mayans for 2012 (http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4093)...or maybe the LHC will be up and running and beat the Mayans to the punch, or perhaps its still Jesus's game. How will you celebrate the End of Days?
Posted by: noyes | January 20, 2009 at 07:38 PM