The End of the World

Apparently May 21st is the end of the world. You heard me right! One crazy group originating in Kentucky decided (based on gay PRIDE parades...seriously) that the world is ending May 21, 2011. Today is May 12th! The belief is that when the world "ends" that Jesus will come back and take all the Christians (specifically hateful evangelical ones. For example, I don't count as a Christian to these people), and the rest of us will be lit on fire or something like that. Life is so hard.

What do we do with this as Christians/non-Christians. Well, the end of the world thing is a good argument (not the specific date though). Biblically, when the world ends is unknown (just in case you were unsure of whether or not this group is crazy). However, there are tons of people who talk about Jesus coming back and a torturous five months or so where everyone who is not "Christian" burns and is tortured. This particular argument is some times effective because there is so much unknown about afterlife and God (god) so even if people logically know that doesn't sound right, some still wonder.

This is a scare tactic that can work for only bad. A wise woman once said that God is good. Because she knows this, her litmus test for crazy unbiblical claims is that if something doesn't fit into the realm of God is good, then it clearly isn't true. The "rapture" is one of the most misquoted and misunderstood books of the Bible. Why? Because we really don't know what the future brings. Our desire to constantly be one step ahead of the universe has resulted in taking one book of the Bible and treating it like a guide book to the end of times.

During a recession, this tactic is especially appealing because we're struggling. If you're losing your house this week and the world ends the 21st...well, that's a deal.

Being "saved" isn't exactly what the Bible says gets us into heaven. For me, when Jesus says he is the "way, truth, and light", to me it's his way of life. I am not saying that "good works" get us into heaven. But it's possible that our hearts do. I honestly don't know if I believe in hell. If it exists, it's strictly for evil (like when someone holds a "God Hates Fags" sign at a PRIDE parade where two men are trying to teach their young child how to use a swing set on a playground (I shit you not, I saw this happen two years ago).

I really think of heaven as when my soul, heart, and mind line up. Life is a journey and I may never get there. However, to me this way of life (that Jesus and so many other religious figures have and do symbolize/illustrate) is the way, truth, and light. It is the way to truth, truth is the only way to live, and leads to spreading your light or joy. Bad ass right? This is my spirituality that is still developing and comes from a lot of religious research and classes. So, figure out what your truth is (religious, atheist, whatever floats your boat and doesn't harm others). Until then, the "Christians" are leaving May 21st. Let the gayest party ever begin!