Will Children be Raptured?

[Kopji]

Just one of those horrific Christian-on-the-edge topics that had never occurred to me until I stumbled across it over on RR.

http://www.raptureready.com/terry/children-rapture.html

I have to hand it to them in the same way I give a nod to the Chick Tracts - they use a lot of words to say almost nothing, but the graphics can speak entire volumes.

Those people at the bottom being left behind while their screaming children are floating away after being ripped from their arms? Why, that's the unbelievers. And that thar stranger in the air? Yep, that's Jesus a-coming.

They almost touch on the subject of babies in the womb being torn from their unbelieving mothers, but maybe avoid graphics it as a nod to good taste.

I am mildly curious about this violent scene, offered with joy and anticipation, and how it reconciles with the notion that this kind of faith is associated with good mental health.

[Kopji]

Snipped graphic for fair use.

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/1061476b2ca974b9a.jpg

[drzeus99]

Crazy talk, I tells ya...crazy talk ;)

[V23]

this is the kind of stuff that makes even us pagans cringe . . .

[Kopji]

My general impression is that RR has mellowed. Deletion of posts and threads that don't meet their participation criteria will probably tend to give that impression.

Zero days lost due to reported injury

Honestly, I don't really have much experience or exposure to this kind of thinking. It is not only wacked, it seems difficult to hold in focus as a real belief.

It's like saying that 'people hate us' but also 'we believe that it is a glorious blessing for their children to be torn from them when Jesus comes out of the sky'. Well duh.

[steve s]

From that site...

These children will be those born AFTER the Rapture. And, there will doubtless be millions upon millions born. Sexual debauchery will explode, as the Holy Spirit withdraws from governing the consciences of men and women

Woohoo! Par-tay!



Also,

Every child below the age of accountability –including those in the womb—will go to be with Jesus when He steps out on the clouds of glory and shouts: “Come up here!”

I wrote this in a recent thread but it's worth repeating here. Demon. Haunted. World.

Steve S.

[DoubtingStephen]

I am mildly curious about this violent scene, offered with joy and anticipation, and how it reconciles with the notion that this kind of faith is associated with good mental health.

Christianity has always been a death cult. Life is nothing but suffering and being persecuted for Jeebus, the good stuff doesn't start until you're dead. Plus you can rape, murder, loot all you like if you mumble some magic words about Jeebus and get forgiveness before you die.

Once people buy into the basic backstory of Christianity they have taken so much crazy stupidity onboard that just having your children kidnapped by God isn't so bad, if at least everybody is going to die.

[Beerina]

Ironically, it just reinforces the notion that, properly speaking, children should be slaughtered before they have a chance to sin, and thus go to Hell.

It never occurs to these people that this is mentally diseased behavior by supposedly good, kind, and highly intelligent supernatural beings.

[negativ]

Snipped graphic for fair use.

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/1061476b2ca974b9a.jpg

I like how they all have their arms outstretched like airplane wings. I wonder if they'll make propeller sound effects with their mouths?

I think it would be utterly hilarious to watch Christian fundies zooming up into the sky going, "neeeoooowwrrrrrr" (with Doppler-effect pitch bend, of course).

[DoubtingStephen]

My son has gotten fairly heavy in the last few years, but I don't think he is in any danger of rupturing.

[Kopji]

As stated in the beginning of the article, God’s very character is at stake in the matter of whether ALL children (below the age of accountability) will go to be with Jesus at the electrifying moment of rapture. What, exactly, is wrapped up in 1 Corinthians 7:14 is a matter for another study. But, this much the overall context of God’s Word, when speaking to salvation matters—plainly, and loudly proclaims. The Bible teaches that the individual’s position in Christ, not his or her position in the physical family here on earth, determines the final disposition of the eternal soul. The rapture is an eternal matter, wrapped up in God’s salvation guarantee. And, it is a guarantee to the individual, not to the corporate –even though the collective will go as the Bride of Christ, the Church.


Maybe its getting late but this doesn't even make any sense.

So a child who misses the rapture by a minute or so is screwed if they don't accept Christ in the next few minutes before they were killed. But that's no different than the millions who went before, so God is just.

Their position to be rational, must include a God who one split-second partitions off someone to eternal hell, when a split-second before would have welcomed them into heaven.

"Age of accountability" is something Christians just made up out of whole cloth.

[Ralph]

[QUOTE=Kopji;3265335]My general impression is that RR has mellowed. Deletion of posts and threads that don't meet their participation criteria will probably tend to give that impression.

If they've mellowed--I'd hate to see what they were like in their non-mellowed form.

This is considered to be a rather controversial topic over there. Obviously--many of the posters are parents themselves and understandably abhor the thought of innocent children suffering.

Apparently though---there really isn't anything in the bible that says children under "the age of accountability" get a free pass.

In fact---there's quite a bit in the bible that says otherwise & god will be tossing the kiddies into the fire right along with the adults unless all the forms have been filled out & all the proper mumbo-jumbo spoken out loud.

Some of them will argue quite vehemently about the harsh judgement god'll be dishing out
and those with kinder hearts get pretty upset over it since roasting innocent kids seems to be backed by the all powerfull & magical "scripture".

The whole thing seems to make them very uncomfortable.

[articulett]

Maybe its getting late but this doesn't even make any sense.

So a child who misses the rapture by a minute or so is screwed if they don't accept Christ in the next few minutes before they were killed. But that's no different than the millions who went before, so God is just.

Their position to be rational, must include a God who one split-second partitions off someone to eternal hell, when a split-second before would have welcomed them into heaven.

"Age of accountability" is something Christians just made up out of whole cloth.

And it's the reason Andrea Yates killed her kids-- she believed she ensured their eternal bliss by doing so...

Beliefs have consequences. Why have kids if you fear they can be punished forever... oh yeah, god doesn't give you more than you can handle and he's against birth control and wants people to go forth and multiply, etc.

[DoubtingStephen]

Obviously--many of the posters are parents themselves and understandably abhor the thought of innocent children suffering.


Does not their own brand of woo teach that children are not innocent, but are born already sinners that must begin repenting ASAP and never let up? You know, because God tortured his own son to death so he could persuade himself to forgive them. But they are still going to Hell, unless, you know, the constant begging for forgiveness for the sins already forgiven.

[articulett]

I like how they all have their arms outstretched like airplane wings. I wonder if they'll make propeller sound effects with their mouths?

I think it would be utterly hilarious to watch Christian fundies zooming up into the sky going, "neeeoooowwrrrrrr" (with Doppler-effect pitch bend, of course).

Those kids appear to have their clothes on... I had heard that the clothes are supposed to be "left behind"....

I wonder if this worries out-of-shape or under endowed Christians?

[DoubtingStephen]

Those kids appear to have their clothes on... I had heard that the clothes are supposed to be "left behind"....


So God is going to kidnap children and strip them naked? That's one kinky old Jewish guy!

Hmmm, do they make God size ankle bracelets for sex offenders?

[articulett]

So God is going to kidnap children and strip them naked? That's one kinky old Jewish guy!

Hmmm, do they make God size ankle bracelets for sex offenders?

I wonder if sex offenders who are raptured because they believe the right unbelievable story will have their ankle bracelets "left behind"? I think seeing naked Christian adults floating into the sky could be very hellacious for those of us witnessing the spectacle. I'm staying inside that day... But I will join in the party once the nutters have raptured.

[Ralph]

I wonder if sex offenders who are raptured because they believe the right unbelievable story will have their ankle bracelets "left behind"? I think seeing naked Christian adults floating into the sky could be very hellacious for those of us witnessing the spectacle. I'm staying inside that day... But I will join in the party once the nutters have raptured.


Actually---being forced to watch this (from the ground looking UP)...is all part of the punishment involved for the unbelievers. (shudder)....

[DoubtingStephen]

Actually---being forced to watch this (from the ground looking UP)...is all part of the punishment involved for the unbelievers. (shudder)....

Meh, I'll just go design another website mocking religion, screw Yahweh.

[Alice Shortcake]

If this charmingly naieve rendition of the Rapture is trustworthy the Rapturees will be clad in jet-propelled nighties.

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd293/AliceShortcake/rapture.jpg :jaw-dropp

[articulett]

If this charmingly naieve rendition of the Rapture is trustworthy the Rapturees will be clad in jet-propelled nighties.

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd293/AliceShortcake/rapture.jpg :jaw-dropp

Oh my... it seems that Jesus has no cares for the tragedies that will happen as material people fly off leaving their material vehicles to crash into other material objects. And, look, even dead people are coming out of their graves bodily like zombies in jet-propelled nighties.

There does seem to be a correlation between some religions and mental illness... maybe those nighties are indicative of hospital gowns for those in mental institutions.

I was reading a forum calling "rapture ready" or something like that, and one woman was worrying that the rapture might happen while her kids were at school, and she was all worried about that and wondering how she should prepare her kids...

sad...

funny...

but ultimately sad.

[Iamme]

I'm trying to think if they'll be raprtured before or after 12-21-2012. Anyway, envision school teachers in the middle of a lesson and then...POOF....nobody there, except for a couple demons in class who God does not want. The Eddie Haskel type.

[advancedatheist]

What if a kid gets raptured, then rebels against god once she arrives in heaven?

[articulett]

What if a kid gets raptured, then rebels against god once she arrives in heaven?

it's hard to take rebellion seriously when the rebeller is wearing funny pajamas...

[tumnus]

That is a rather disturbing site. Clicked on the FAQs, and went to abortion for instance, and it was like being brainwashed by a cult. The twist on the bible and misinformation there is a million miles away from the earnest, thoughtful and compassionate approach I read from Carl Sagan in "Billions and Billions" - I'd hate to be confronted by a bunch of these guys :(

On a positive note, I think American Dad has the answer. Getting irate at a family who celebrate a secular christmas, Stan rants "OOOh, I can't wait for the rapture!" Then pointing at each of the family in turn, "You're going to get left behind, you're going to get left behind, etc..." He includes their young baby in this, so I think that we can use that as a good yardstick for god's plan.

[advancedatheist]

it's hard to take rebellion seriously when the rebeller is wearing funny pajamas...

Captain Hook didn't feel that way about Peter Pan's gang.

[Ralph]

What form does a raptured baby take in heaven.

Will it stay a baby physically & emotionally?

Will it grow up & mature just like it would if it stayed on planet earth or does it morph into a physically & mentally mature adult.

The parents want to be with their kids in heaven. Maybe the kids don't WANT to spend eternity as children.

This could turn into a real can-o-worms.

[fuelair]

Will Children be Raptured?



Only if the priest or Bishop really likes them!!

[Alice Shortcake]

I never see the phrase "rapture ready" without being reminded of "oven ready" turkeys.

[BenBurch]

I sure wish the Rapture would happen TOMORROW and rid us of both the Christians and their spawn.

[shadron]

What form does a raptured baby take in heaven.

Will it stay a baby physically & emotionally?

Will it grow up & mature just like it would if it stayed on planet earth or does it morph into a physically & mentally mature adult.

The parents want to be with their kids in heaven. Maybe the kids don't WANT to spend eternity as children.

This could turn into a real can-o-worms.

Heh, heh. St. John the Devine likely didn't have any kids of his own, did he? This is all the result of the need to maintain literal Bible inerrancy, in the same way that so many Christians do painful calculations to assure that all "kinds" of animals could have fit on the ark, or more lately, arks. Revelations doesn't detail what happens to kids, to cripples, to brain-dead but vegetably-alive people; it doesn't explain what happens to blind people who can't see it, etc, etc, etc, but extreme Christian theologians, uninspired but not letting that get in the way, have a need to fill all the gaps so that an sort-of-believing world can accept them as inspired. Add to this the belief in predestination that some protestant sects carry around with them, and you can feel the despair in the air. Glorious. It's no wonder that the whole book of Revelations is played down by the Catholic church, Bible or not. The ultimate bummer.

Heinlein's book "Job; a Comedy of Justice" does a real number on faith and Revelations in particular. I recommend it.

[shadron]

What if a kid gets raptured, then rebels against god once she arrives in heaven?

There's always the Pit out Back.

[articulett]

I sure wish the Rapture would happen TOMORROW and rid us of both the Christians and their spawn.

The spawn have a chance to be rational folks once the parents have raptured... of course that means we'd all be stuck with the deprogramming...

[joobz]

Those kids appear to have their clothes on... I had heard that the clothes are supposed to be "left behind"....

I wonder if this worries out-of-shape or under endowed Christians?
Of course not, we are all well hung in the eyes of the lord.

[articulett]

Of course not, we are all well hung in the eyes of the lord.

That reminds me of a joke (do not read further if you are a Christian).

Why do girls like Jesus?

He's well hung.

(alternate: "he's hung like this"--spread arms apart as if on a cross also indicative of big "godtube")

[JoeEllison]

Guys and gals... I had the image of a woman being raptured up during childbirth(watch out for the hospital roof!!!!), infant child trailing behind by the umbilical cord...

I need to either start drinking heavily, or never drink again.

[Nogbad]

The word rapture appears where in the Bible?

This is a relatively modern concept as far as I recall.

[BenBurch]

The word rapture appears where in the Bible?

This is a relatively modern concept as far as I recall.

Correct! When Patent Medicine was outlawed, many of the same charlatans took up running traveling tent revivals where that is one of the things they invented to sell to the credulous. Just another sort of snake oil.

[Nogbad]

Correct! When Patent Medicine was outlawed, many of the same charlatans took up running traveling tent revivals where that is one of the things they invented to sell to the credulous. Just another sort of snake oil.

How it seems to have become part and parcel of evangelical doctrine is a study in itself. It has a whole language and mechanics that is completely separate from nearly 1,850 years of standard Christian doctrine yet they talk as if it was always there.

[BenBurch]

How it seems to have become part and parcel of evangelical doctrine is a study in itself. It has a whole language and mechanics that is completely separate from nearly 1,850 years of standard Christian doctrine yet they talk as if it was always there.

They explain that as the Devil On Earth (the Pope) keeping down the truth all those years.

Jack Chick's little tracts are full of hating on the Pope;

http://www.chick.com.nyud.net/tractimages31689/5023/5023_18.gif

[Madalch]

Snipped graphic for fair use.

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/1061476b2ca974b9a.jpg

Is that Jesus, or New Hampshire?

<Checks map>
Okay, maybe Maine, or Georgia.

[Beerina]

So since all those people "kept down" for that millenia and a half all went to Hell. And "God" is deserving of worship for this just why again?

[BenBurch]

So since all those people "kept down" for that millenia and a half all went to Hell. And "God" is deserving of worship for this just why again?

Ummm... Because he's the biggest bully there is? :eye-poppi

[Complexity]

No.

Neither will adults.

[Kopji]

Oh sorry, I forgot about this thread. (You too can do it with practice).

The word 'rapture' is not used in the Bible but the idea comes from
Matt 24:37

For just as the days of Noah, thus the coming of the Son of Man will be. (38)For as it was in those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the day Noah entered into the ark. (39)And they did not know until the flood came and swept everything away. Thus the coming of the Son of Man will be. (40)At that time two people will be in the field, one will be taken and one will be left behind. (41)Two people will be grinding with the mill stone, one will be taken and one will be left behind. (42)Therefore be alert, because you do not know which day your Lord comes...

If you are lost unbelievers, you can review the story of Noah's flood here:
http://www.thebricktestament.com/genesis/the_flood/gn06_11.html

And if you listen to Sylvia Browne, well you'd already know that everyone is 30 years old and perfectly healthy in the afterlife.

[Beerina]

Is that event distinguishable from the event where the seas and oceans give up all their dead, etc. and people go stand before Yahweh? Is it one mass judgement, or are there two events, one for the living, and one for those who have already died? (Which, IIRC, also suggest a cosmology where your dead gramma isn't in Heaven, but dead as a doornail, until some future unspecified time.)

[articulett]

Oh sorry, I forgot about this thread. (You too can do it with practice).



I was practicing... but lo'-- it was resurrected... if only it would be raptured instead of just zombie-fying the forum.

[XBoxWarrior]

While this thread seems a 'bit' funny......

Really it's just child like ranting against some mystical ********.

So some people 'believe' they will 'go to heaven'.

"Whatever gets you through the Night"

Let it be?

p.s. I believe this forum is just waiting for another Mayday post to jump on, and perhaps another 20 pages of sarcasm.......

p.s.s. You can always argue the truth, as it is, but some will always want to have their place in Heaven.

P.s.s.s. Does it really do any good to make fun of them? Think about it.

p.s.s.s.s. Some day soon, the myth will expire.

[articulett]

it amuses us... that counts for something, right?

They might not get their heaven... but we can derive enjoyment from their imaginations right here on planet earth without hurting their feelings at all thanks to the internet. Coolio.