Prophecies of Doom and Death

[LostAngeles]

Always, always is it fire and brimstone, death and destruction. From World Wars to the World Trade Center, the prophets have called them all.

When, though, have they prophesied the end of slavery? The end of Jim Crow laws? Women's liberation? Gay rights? Better standards of working and living in industrialized nations? Cures for diseases? Longer life? (aside from Sylvia taking random shots yearly.)

Seriously, though... how come the world is ALWAYS ending? I mean, Zoroaster's Corn Dog, I'm depressed and I figure that the human race has got some awesome things coming and that we're not necessarily going to blow ourselves up. What gives?

Maybe we should have a contest for best positive Faux-stradamus quatrain.

[Brattus]

Well I'm gonna guess it's our ability to visualize our own death that brings it on.
Since we as individuals can visualize that we then naturally visualize every ones death.
But that's just a guess.
Plus visualizing human rights is just not as fun.

[Tumblehome]

I'd guess that generally, doom sayers, like conspiracy theorists, are disaffected types who don't get along too well in this world. It's not their fault they haven't made much of their lives, it's the government conspiracy to keep everyone down. They see death and destruction as sweet revenge, a victory of sorts. They wouldn't get any satisfaction out of feel-good prophesies that affirm society like a cure for AIDS, or incredible accomplishments like going to the moon.

I don't have a clue if that's right, but it at least might make someone who's depressed feel better for thinking there are some awesome things coming and that we're not going to blow ourselves up. With that attitude, you are way :xcool.

[MG1962]

Hmm - Not all prophets call for doom and gloom. It is just a perception, example

Arthur C Clarke prophetised that a string of communication satelites would ring the world allowing for almost instint communication anywhere in the World

John F Kennedy predicted that within 10 years the USA would send a man to the Moon and return him successfully

Jules Verne pedicted the submarine would become both a terrible instrument of war and an amazing vehicle of exploration

See my point? It's all in the mind set :)

[Hokulele]

Hmm - Not all prophets call for doom and gloom. It is just a perception, example

Arthur C Clarke prophetised that a string of communication satelites would ring the world allowing for almost instint communication anywhere in the World

John F Kennedy predicted that within 10 years the USA would send a man to the Moon and return him successfully

Jules Verne pedicted the submarine would become both a terrible instrument of war and an amazing vehicle of exploration

See my point? It's all in the mind set :)


Yeah, but these people were correct (and not as much fun to sneer at). :p

[LostAngeles]

Hmm - Not all prophets call for doom and gloom. It is just a perception, example

Arthur C Clarke prophetised that a string of communication satelites would ring the world allowing for almost instint communication anywhere in the World

John F Kennedy predicted that within 10 years the USA would send a man to the Moon and return him successfully

Jules Verne pedicted the submarine would become both a terrible instrument of war and an amazing vehicle of exploration

See my point? It's all in the mind set :)

Yes, but they're not the, "Mayan Calendar," or, "Merlin," or, "Mother Shipton," or, "Nostradamus..." (Yeah, History International channel spawned this thread)

That is, they're not what the woos hold in awe as being OMFG TWOOF.

I mean, aren't we supposed to be the miserable ones?

[DmKrispin]

I think it all comes down to fear. Fear motivates. Fear sells.

If a psychic or prophet can play on the audience's fear, they have a much better chance at getting their attention and convincing them. Of course, the psychic or prophet usually has some sort of plan or salvation to sell or promote.

[MG1962]

Yes, but they're not the, "Mayan Calendar," or, "Merlin," or, "Mother Shipton," or, "Nostradamus..." (Yeah, History International channel spawned this thread)

That is, they're not what the woos hold in awe as being OMFG TWOOF.

I mean, aren't we supposed to be the miserable ones?

I agree but my point, which seems to be agreed upon, we focus on the nut case preditictions, because they are nut case prediction. Yet set among the vast number of non venomous predictions, they really only make a small fraction, that gets over represented in the modern media.

Hey sex and death sell lol - deal with it ;)

[JoeTheJuggler]

Hmm - Not all prophets call for doom and gloom. It is just a perception, example

Arthur C Clarke prophetised that a string of communication satelites would ring the world allowing for almost instint communication anywhere in the World

John F Kennedy predicted that within 10 years the USA would send a man to the Moon and return him successfully

Jules Verne pedicted the submarine would become both a terrible instrument of war and an amazing vehicle of exploration

See my point? It's all in the mind set :)
That's a mighty loose usage of "prophecy" and "predicted". Clarke wrote an essay describing his idea for geostationary communication satellite technology. Kennedy set a national goal. Verne wrote a work of fiction. . .

[JoeTheJuggler]

I think it all comes down to fear. Fear motivates. Fear sells.

I agree.

There's a doomsday cult in Abilene, Texas where they have their members give a triple tithe (30%) to the church. The leader, a huckster named Buffalo Bill Hawkins (who now calls himself Yisrael or something like that) keeps making one after another prophecy of the end of the world by nuclear war. The dates come and go, and he keeps on. The sense of immediate urgency and fear is a great motivator.

I also find it interesting that a lot of these doomsday prophecies are based on the perception that current morals have decayed so much that it's obvious the end is near. Here's a list (http://www.abhota.info/end1.htm) of some of the more famous doomsday prophecy through history. From that same page, here's the description of the oldest known one:

ca. 2800 BC According to Isaac Asimov's Book of Facts (1979), an Assyrian clay tablet dating to approximately 2800 BC was unearthed bearing the words "Our earth is degenerate in these latter days. There are signs that the world is speedily coming to an end. Bribery and corruption are common." This is one of the earliest examples of the perception of moral decay in society being interpreted as a sign of the imminent end.

[shadron]

All of the above. The writers often see the next world, in which they sit on the right hand of god or other deserved seat of power, rather than the slum/jail cell/empty house they're now in, as necessitating the demise of this one.

[JoeTheJuggler]

All of the above. The writers often see the next world, in which they sit on the right hand of god or other deserved seat of power, rather than the slum/jail cell/empty house they're now in, as necessitating the demise of this one.

Good point. When I was conversing with this House of Yahweh member in the days right before one of the dates that nuclear war resulting in the death of billions was supposed to take place, he said something like, "It's getting close now. I can hardly wait."

Man--how much do you have to hate your life to look forward with happy anticipation to widespread death and mayhem?

[AliasN]

Maybe we should have a contest for best positive Faux-stradamus quatrain.
Here goes:

The cone in the hands placed in the middle of summer
With the napkin he moistens and the cheek and the chin
A fear and voice trembling from the intolerant
Divine splendour. A supplementary pill is nearby.

This prediction is clear and unmistakable: ice cream for everyone!

[MG1962]

That's a mighty loose usage of "prophecy" and "predicted". Clarke wrote an essay describing his idea for geostationary communication satellite technology. Kennedy set a national goal. Verne wrote a work of fiction. . .

I agree, and it was the reasons these examples where chosen. Clarke wrote at a time when the technology to do what he wanted did not exisit. He extrapolated a need and the ability for technology to fill that need.

With Kennedy, after his death. In comming administrations, and voter back lash could decided a Luna trip was a lead pelican. But it was a positive vision, that excited man. The United States diverted a lot of resources in a time of war, got the job done.

Aside from talent, were Vernes stories any less or more stories than Planet X, Bermuda Triangle, The Jupiter Effect. In the end it became a self fulfilling prophecy when the US navy built the first nuclear submarine and named it after the vessel in Vernes story.

[quarky]

I blame the second law.

[Beerina]

Clarke and Jules Verne extrapolated from new tech to suggest interesting and theoretically possible uses for it. Kennedy was laying down a plan of operation to achieve a goal. These aren't predictions in the psychic sense, but rather in the thinking sense. Hence they came true.

Nostradumbass & Co. regurgitate generic things that can be most aptly described by the Bible's own "prediction" that "there will be wars and rumors of wars..."

Which is to say, just like there had been through all recorded history to that time, and that it would continue to be so was therefore highly likely.

[Steven Howard]

In addition to what other people have already said, doom and gloom predictions have a built-in "out" that sunshine and rainbows predictions don't. If I predict some horrible catastrophe and it doesn't happen, then in the off chance that somebody calls me on it, I can say, "Aha! Because of my predictions people got their act together and prevented all those awful things! Aren't you glad I was here to warn you in time for you to do something about it?"

[shadron]

Good point. When I was conversing with this House of Yahweh member in the days right before one of the dates that nuclear war resulting in the death of billions was supposed to take place, he said something like, "It's getting close now. I can hardly wait."

Man--how much do you have to hate your life to look forward with happy anticipation to widespread death and mayhem?

Heh. Read Clancy's "Rainbow Six". There are two major plots running in it, one of which is a green organization wanting to kill all but a very few humans off (themselves, of course) to free nature.

[Wauthan]

I think Steven Howard makes a good point. If you predict that something awful will happen, and it doesn't, then that's a cause for celebration and general thank-the-merciful-powers-that-be.

If you predict that something wonderful will happen, and it doesn't, then the soothsayer better be wearing his good running shoes.

Heh, come to think of it doomsayers might have evolved from an originally bipolar stock of seers.

[quarky]

personal death happens.

that's all the conspiracy we need to be in on.

larger events imply a fluffy ego.

[Soapy Sam]

LA- Bad news: The world is always ending.

But not today.

[DmKrispin]

Well, I don't know about you all, but I simply can't wait for the Atheist Apocalypse (http://www.viruscomix.com/putthatinyourpipeandsmokeit.jpg)!!

[Steven Howard]

Well, I don't know about you all, but I simply can't wait for the Atheist Apocalypse (http://www.viruscomix.com/putthatinyourpipeandsmokeit.jpg)!!

That's hilarious. "Logic shall rule the seven continents with an entirely-tolerable fist."

And if we're lucky, Wolfman won't see it and come to give us his standard lecture.

[LostAngeles]

Well, I don't know about you all, but I simply can't wait for the Atheist Apocalypse (http://www.viruscomix.com/putthatinyourpipeandsmokeit.jpg)!!

That's fantastic!

[DmKrispin]

I laughed so hard I hurt myself!

To be fair, it was posted elsewhere on the forum, but I thought it should be mentioned in this thread too.

[manofthesea]

Always, always is it fire and brimstone, death and destruction.

Maybe we should have a contest for best positive Faux-stradamus quatrain.

He looked down upon us
With tears in His eyes;
Sad yet Angered

She walked along the street,
Ancient as Time itself,
Dressed in black or dark grey,
Matching her hair;
I dared not to look upon her face,
The Angel of Death!

[Apology]

I predicted that it would rain kittens on Dec. 12, 1986, and nobody believed me. :(

[Tricky]

It is maddeningly difficult to control a crowd with threats of retribution and punishment that occur, "I dunno. Sometime in the future." All good lawgivers know that the most effective use of the threat of punishment depends on it being swift and brutal.

But I find it interesting and amusing that over at the Rapture Ready forum, where I participated for a while before being tossed, they have a strict rule: No setting dates. They all agree that it is any day now, but are forbidden to say, on the forum, which day. Of course, they have a lot of forbidden topics of conversation there.

[quarky]

Without a belief in the imminent end of the world, aren't we pretty much obligated to pay our bills?

Imagine spending the last week of your life at a crappy job, trying to quit smoking!
Boy, would that suck!

[Frying Dutchmen]

There's a new one from the crazy old Church of Christianpleadsmldkf (such a long name) The end of the world is March 30th, so on an environmental front Earth Hour did diddly squat, if this prediction is right.

[quarky]

March 30th this year?

Crap.

I don't have enough time to max out my credit cards.

[Steven Howard]

I predicted that it would rain kittens on Dec. 12, 1986, and nobody believed me. :(

Yes, and you were right, and we were wrong, and we already said we were sorry, for crying out loud, so what more do you want?