Personally, I cannot stand The Rapture Theory, particularly the part that Jesus will fly in and take away in the air with him only chosen Christians. Although the atheist also considers this an impossible event, other than that God is non-existent, how else can/does/would the atheist argue that The Rapture Theory is hogwash? **************************************************************** 10-25-04, 12:18 AM newnickname In what sense are you using the word 'theory'?
1 : the analysis of a set of facts in their relation to one another 2 : abstract thought : SPECULATION 3 : the general or abstract principles of a body of fact, a science, or an art 4 a : a belief, policy, or procedure proposed or followed as the basis of action b : an ideal or hypothetical set of facts, principles, or circumstances -- often used in the phrase in theory 5 : a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena 6 a : a hypothesis assumed for the sake of argument or investigation b : an unproved assumption : CONJECTURE c : a body of theorems presenting a concise systematic view of a subject synonym see HYPOTHESIS http://www.m-w.com **************************************************************** 10-25-04, 06:43 AM juanruiz "other than that God is non-existent"
I would think that this, in and of itself, is sufficient. **************************************************************** 10-29-04, 01:25 AM tsaeb newnickname & juanruiz: Yes, the question is a curiosity to me, because it is a difficult one to both ask and answer. I think that believers stick with "The Rapture" and that unbelievers stick with "The Rapture Theory." So maybe the answer to the question is that other than juanruiz' insistence on the obviousness of the atheist's stand, the atheist engages in some ridicule or mockery. However, I wonder if with more thought into the notion of the rapture or the rapture theory, there can be a solid intellectual debunking of it. Is it safe to go with juanruiz' point: if a simple and clear answer exists, go with it and avoid sticking one's foot in one's mouth? He is usually so scholarly. **************************************************************** 10-29-04, 08:45 AM juanruiz Check this out, tsaeb
I also checked it out but I did NOT put it in favorites. It has some weird stuff in it. Eek
P.S. Tsaeb, the rapture theory is mainly a dispensational doctrine. Non dispensationals usually don't accept it.
DD **************************************************************** 10-31-04, 06:31 PM tsaeb juanruiz: As soon as I saw on that website that the elect are plain old chosen folks instead of God Himself (which I claim on my website), I knew that I would not find much meat there.
donadiana: We both know that although there is an end-time, the main point of the end is that the end is God/Jesus in that it is written that He is the beginning and the end. Amen. **************************************************************** 11-01-04, 08:10 AM juanruiz My point was that one may deduce just about anything when the end-of-world scenario comes up, and use the Bible to prove it. **************************************************************** 11-01-04, 11:56 AM Sarai Tsaeb, I think your question is really interesting. However, I'd like to suggest that you post it in the Western Religions sections. The only way to "debunk" the idea of the rapture in a way that will satisfy you would involve using Biblical evidence. Since atheists don't regard the Bible as an authority, the atheist's way of debunking the theory (denying the existence of God - the entire idea of a Rapture obviously wouldn't make any sense to an atheist... denying idea that Jesus was a God - obviously the entire book of Revelations will be seen as mythical, not factual, by non-Christians... arguing that the Bible is easy to interpret in many different ways ... and arguing that the Bible is full of inconsistencies and therefore not a reliable source) won't satisfy you.
I hope you do post this question elsewhere, however. I'd be interested in seeing the different interpretations of Revelations, since I always thought that all Christians accepted the idea of the Rapture. In fact, I'm surprised that you don't buy it. A debate about it among Christians would be educational. **************************************************************** 11-04-04, 02:39 AM tsaeb juanruiz: Yes, there are many incorrect interpretations out there, and their large number is not the reason why folks accept them more than the rarer true interpretations out there.
Sarai: Nothing is stopping you from posting there to seek out what arguments are against a rapture. I was interested in how the atheist ticks on the question. **************************************************************** 11-04-04, 09:19 AM juanruiz The fact that Revelation is all allegory is precisely what opens it up to a myriad of interpretations. But it's central purpose is not a scenario of endtimes. As I have said elewhere, it is the rantings of some guy displaced to Patmos, who is essentially saying: "keep the faith, because all those disbelievers are really going to fry (goody, goody)." Revelation, like Daniel, is a product of the times, extreme Roman persecution.
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