How odd. The cultists who believe the world will end today had bright yellow t-shirts and hats, and professionally printed signs, and have been waving them around to announce their imminent demise. That seems like strange behavior if you really believe the entire world will be annihilated. It’s almost as if they’re less interested in their assumed facts, and more interested in advertising their dogma.
Also, the person on the right seems lacking in confidence: The End of the World, question mark? If the world does actually end today, they’re going to be roasting in hell for their lack of faith, which means they lose whether the world ends or not.
Cuttlefish says
It’s Harold Camping’s influence from beyond the grave. Always was better with publicity than with predictions.
Sastra says
What, didn’t you get the memo? Right before the world ends rescue angels will be on the alert for bright yellow shirts.
If you have one, wear it, regardless of what it says. Once you’re safe up there it’s easier to get forgiveness than permission.
moarscienceplz says
Well, if the world does end today PZ, so long and thanks for all the cuttlefish!
Rob Grigjanis says
I’d have spent the money on a bottle of The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak.
some bastard on the internet says
Well, at least I won’t have to pay off the car I just bought.
Pierce R. Butler says
ebible.com takes you to a hyperchristian site promising to answer such burning questions as, “How did we become different races from one man, Adam? ”
ebible2.com, as advertised by the merry model above, provides (on my Firefox/Mac browser, anyhow) a set of warnings about a total lack of site-verification certificates.
Technical ineptitude or demonic interference with God’s Holy Word™? You decide!
grumpyoldfart says
21st century adults spout this rubbish! Not kids. Adults!
PZ Myers says
Uh-oh. I’ve already mentioned that my ensemble today includes dark blue underwear and a white t-shirt, but I’m also wearing a maroon shirt and blue jeans, with black tennis shoes. Not a speck of yellow anywhere. I guess god’s message to me today is “you’re goin’ to hell, buddy!”
ck, the Irate Lump says
ebible2.com looks like it came from Geocities in the 90s, although it is missing the requisite animated GIFs.
robro says
The eBible Fellowship and its leader, Chris McCann, is paying some bucks to advertise this: hats, shirts, signs, pamphlets, and paid distributors.
This Guardian article directly relates all this to Harold Camping. It says:
So anyone born after May 21st, 2011 is screwed. Sounds just like that Abrahamic/Christian/Muslim cult god who doesn’t give a shit about children (though I’m sure fetuses are still precious.)
I don’t get the 10,000 days, though. Is that in the past or coming in the future? Wait there can’t be any future because the world is ending. 10,000 days in the past is around 1988. Perhaps it has something to do with the end of Reagan’s presidency.
Saad says
Did they announce a time zone reference? Because here it looks like I’ve only got 10 hours left to enjoy life. And three of those will be spent at work. Dammit.
peptron says
Everybody knows that the world cannot end on 7th of october 2015. It has already been destroyed by planet Nibiru in May 2003. People just need to learn to let go.
Bronze Dog says
Oh. End of the world begins on my brother’s birthday. He’s big into the zombie apocalypse games, so I got him a rather special present. …Too late to return it?
Alverant says
Can I get the shirts in my size at a discount tomorrow?
UnknownEric the Apostate says
My sister went to the rapture and all I got was this lousy t-shirt.
wpjoe says
“Also, the person on the right seems lacking in confidence: The End of the World, question mark? ”
One little slip like that can cause the Great Pumpkin pass you by.
slithey tove (twas brillig (stevem)) says
I read the ? As being a snark at those who believe such announcements. Also the reason the shirt is so YELL_ow.
Or maybe I am falling into the trap named in Poe’s Law
Saad says
I don’t think her sign shows lack of confidence. She’s answering the question of the world ending with the Bible quote that follows.
UnknownEric the Apostate says
“One little slip like that can cause the Great Pumpkin pass you by.”
Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see.
a miasma of incandescent plasma says
So are they saying that the world will end before we get Tool’s follow-up album to 10,000 Days?? Gotta give them credit, it’s more creative than jumping on Tool’s FaceBook page and yelling “I want mah nu Rekord!”
Richard Smith says
Maybe they’re all Steven Universe fans, and they’ve gotten themselves all worked up about The Cluster..?
Marcus Ranum says
I wonder how many of them filed tax returns in April.
nomadiq says
Its already tomorrow in the Eastern Hemisphere. You think those hard core non-christians would be the first to burn. Maybe next time…
petesh says
I trust all are aware that in at least one state this is officially Zombie Preparedness Month.
http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/prairie-politics/article36850890.html
NateHevens. He who hates straight, white, cis-gendered, able-bodied men (not really) says
It is now 3:33 pm Eastern Standard Time. World’s still going strong.
I love surviving all these apocalypses (is that the correct plural?). It’s fun and hilarious.
Looks like we’ll be surviving yet another one. I hope these people get interviewed tomorrow. I get even more laughter at seeing how they twist themselves out of being wrong…
NitricAcid says
Why shouldn’t they be advertising their beliefs? They’re trying to warn everyone. Why not make up T-shirts? it’s not like they need to save up their money for next week.
robro says
Yep, it’s tomorrow in Islamabad and points east. Any word? No. See. Gone, Utterly and completely gone.
It’s just past 9:30AM tomorrow in Kiritimati (Christmas Island). No word from them, either? A few years ago during one of Camping’s predictions, someone claiming to be on Kiritimati reported the events of the day. Do I need to tell you there were no unusual events? I didn’t think so.
I would like to thank the writers and editors at the Guardian for telling us that Camping’s predictions had not come true. I wasn’t too sure.
robro says
NitricAcid — Why are they trying to warn us. God’s already made up his mind back in 2011. They say so. Alea iacta est.
brucej says
Obligatory soundtrack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0GFRcFm-aY
perodatrent says
It is just 50 years ago when Leo Festinger’s “When prophecy fails” was published.
But everyday a new fool is born.
Johnny Vector says
Rob Grigjanis:
INFIDEL! A True Scotsman drinks Laphroaig.
slithey tove (twas brillig (stevem)) says
when I tried reading the baffle-gab justifying the date, being 10,000 days from ___|?|___. It seemed to say May 21, 2011 was the first day of JUDGEMENT, so we are now due for “closure”.
Yet, calculating 10,000 days before today’s date, puts it at May 22, 1988
*head meet desk*
refresh my memory of May 1988. What was the significant indicators of Judgement beginning? I’ll assume it was just some crude calculation by this Evangelical Nutter,
tigtog says
Just waving at you all from tomorrow morning here Down Under. There are some bushfires in our southern state of Victoria that have destroyed a couple of houses, but that doesn’t quite reach the level of apocalyptic catastrophe. Bushfire season seems to start earlier every spring though, is this Camping guy to blame for that?
blf says
And then The Macallan. And any other single malts they can grasp, even when lying horizontal on the ceiling.
Richard Smith says
@tigtog (#33):
More likely camping guys…
robro says
Johnny Vector @#31
I like my Ardbeg Uigeadail. If the world doesn’t end, and I get confirmation about a job, I’ll have some tonight.
robro says
slithey — So, May 1988. A few highlights from Wikipedia:
• May 15 — The Soviet Union began withdrawing from Afghanistan.
• May 16 — US Surgeon General Koop compared nicotine addiction to heroin and cocaine.
• May 16 — The UK passed a law outlawing promotion of homosexuality in the schools…ummmm?
• May 27 — Microsoft released Windows 2.1.
• And, May 31 — Ronald Reagan gave a speech in Moscow to Moscow State University students.
I’m pretty sure it was the release of Windows 2.1 that marks the beginning of the end.
Now if we could stretch to June 6, we have “Elizabeth II strips jockey Lester Piggott…” There’s more, of course, but if you read just that as you scan the list it’s a pretty amusing (or awful).
unclefrogy says
if this prophesy is based on some 2000 tear old prophesy that god/jesus was going to come and take up the righteous to heaven and leave the rest to a time of tribulations who is to say that it did already happen some time ago but no one noticed the 2 people who vanished and that we are all now living in the time of tribulations because it sure looks to me like these are pretty trying times to me.
uncle frogy
blf says
Well, it’s almost 23h00 here, and no sign of destruction or extra cheese. However, MUSHROOMS! season has started, so can we please put off the planetroast for a few weeks? (Checks calendar…) Hum, not much seems to be happening in November, so how about, say, during the first week or so? Oh, and by the way, fire is awkward. Have a giant crocoduck eat the planet. Much easier to arrange, and far more entertaining.
eeyore says
Someone needs to inform them that the Bible says that a prophet who makes a prediction that does not come true is to be put to death, since that’s proof of being a false prophet.
Michael says
I’d like to run into a local believer and see if they really believe it enough to give me their life savings or sell me their house at a ridiculously low price.
changerofbits says
They seemed to have confused the apocalypse with a major sporting event. Go team!
whheydt says
I hope the vendors of the hats, shirts, signs, hired sign holders, etc. all insisted on being paid in advance….in cash.
ck, the Irate Lump says
eeyore wrote:
I’m sure that’s the part of the bible that is supposed to be taken metaphorically, or something. The book also says that no one will know the date of the end, which must also be metaphor.
timgueguen says
Camping seemed to have had a thing for 1988 in his prophecies, using it as a basis for his calculations. In part this may have been because he left the Christian Reformed Church in 1988.
ebotebo says
Aye! Laphroaig 10 yr. old cask strength, if it can be found! The Bastards!!
microraptor says
So have the t-shirts become collector’s items yet?
mykroft says
Well, I have my towel ready so I guess I’m prepared.
Dave, ex-Kwisatz Haderach says
Well, they did say the world would end in flames, and today is the Calgary Flames home opener. Come on, admit it, that’s surprisingly close for prophecy.
david says
Still here?
Saad says
It’s almost as if religion is bullshit.
thebookofdave says
I think it’s about time to print t-shirts with the message: “I survived the _______ apocalypse”, with a velcro strip in the blank area. Then sell commemorative patches for each doomsday prophecy.
Numenaster says
@thebookofdave #52, It also works to leave a blank space and fill it with hash marks. Easier to update on one’s own ;)