A christian sceptic's "take" on "the rapture"

^{(With thanks to my former colleague Bob Ginn. His Facebook posting inspired this screed.  He is not responsible for what I write!)}

^{So, the “rapture” did not happen today (unless I have been hangin’ around with the wrong people and am therefore “left behind” (lol).}

^{I am not sure who is the most stupid in all of this kerfuffle.}

^{Is it Harold Camping, the California pastor who “crunched the numbers” based on Noah’s universal flood (itself unhistorical and mythical)?  (Garbage in – garbage out - as if God’s word is all a matter of numerology).}

^{Is it his sad followers, some of whom liquidated all their assets in preparation for the “great hoax”?  I could feel sorry for them – except that they too have minds, minds which have been closed to history and science, and have been opened to speculation alone.}

^{Or is it the media – press, T.V., blogs, social networks etc -  the list goes on -  who have reported Pastor Camping’s nonsense as if it were somehow “true”?}  

^{Excuse my language, but I am pissed off that so-called reliable news sources such as N.P.R., the New York Times, the B.B.C. and the Guardian would waste a minute of broadcast time or an inch of newsprint on this f-cking nonsense.}

^{I strive to be true to my christian heritage and convictions.  It’s a struggle.  I waver between unbelief and christian agnosticism.}  

^{I move t’wards unbelief when I read “Camping’s Crap” and the serious way in which some christians accept his garbage.} 

^{On the other hand, my “christian agnosticism” leads me to understand that the Kingdom of G-d is already here when humans strive for justice, feed the hungry, welcome the alien, protect the vulnerable etc etc.} 

^{I believe that is what Jesus meant when he said “the kingdom of G-d” is within you” – the “you” being a plural.}

^{That same agnosticism does not look for some magical intervention from the skies to solve all earthly woes.   That’s our task folks.}