Are you still an eschatologist?

by Mindchild 16 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Mindchild

  Are you still an eschatologist?

  Here is what Merriam-Webster's Dictionary online dictionary says about eschatology:

  Main Entry: es·cha·tol·o·gy
  Pronunciation: "es-k&-'tä-l&-jE
  Function: noun
  Inflected Form(s): plural -gies
  Etymology: Greek eschatos last, farthest
  Date: 1844
  1 : a branch of theology concerned with the final events in the history of the world or of mankind
  2 : a belief concerning death, the end of the world, or the ultimate destiny of mankind; specifically : any of various Christian doctrines concerning the Second Coming, the resurrection of the dead, or the Last Judgment

  It should come to you then as no surprise that all Jehovah’s Witnesses then are eschatologists but when you walked out that door, did you throw out these beliefs, or are you more like a timid version of You Know and look for the end of the world to come sooner or later?

  Perhaps the most effective tool the Borg ever had was the end of the world ideology. Hell, it was better than Hell, because at least the hell fire of the other religions is something that happens when you kick the bucket down the road. The end of the world could come in the next 30 minutes if you listen to the dubs.

  If you have managed to get past all this scary boogie-man stuff though, do you still worry about the end of the world?

  There are certainly enough things that can go wrong, and I mean really terribly wrong for all of us on Earth, that could easily destroy our civilization and maybe take centuries for us collectively to recover from the damage. It could be anything from global thermonuclear war, to a doomsday virus let loose out of one of the government labs (a scary thought that whoever had access to the government’s supply of Anthrax strains could also have just as easily taken a super killer out of the lab and released it) that do us in. Even worse, would be a huge mountain from space crashing into our planet. Did you know that the odds of us collectively dying from a killer asteroid are actually lower than us dying from an airplane crash?

  If you are really into worrying about the end of the world and have a mean case of mental masochism maybe you need to check out the DOOMSDAY ARGUMENT The Doomsday argument is a controversial application of anthropic reasoning that tries to show that we have systematically overestimated the life expectancy of the human species.
  Here is a link you can go knock yourself out with: http://www.anthropic-principle.com/preprints.html

  Well, admittedly over the years of my recovery from the mental fucking the Jehovah memes gave me, I have worried about nuclear war, super-bugs wiping out the population, A.I. going bad and turning on us, asteroids wiping us out, and way back in 1998 worried about the year 2000 problem. I came to the conclusion that it is not fun to be an eschatologist. In fact, eschatologists actually contribute towards making the world a more screwed up place. So, what do you think about dumping the going down the tubes crap and think more positively about making eschatologist’s bite the dust?

  Skipper
• 

  larc

  Skipper,

  I dropped concern about all of this year's ago. As the great philosopher, Alfred E. Neuman, said, "What, me worry?"
• 

  VeniceIT

  SOOO I see you got your computer hooked up!!! YIPEEE!!!

  Ven

  BTW I'm a preterist.

  "Injustice will continue until those who are not affected by it are as outraged as those who are."
• 

  cellomould

  Yeah Skipper I hear you... what's the big deal anyhow?

  I will die one day. Why be obsessed over whether all other humans on earth will die on the same day? I guess I am proud not to be an eschatologist.

  As unlikely as it is that humans will be wiped out by some global catastrophe, even more unlikely is it that all life will be wiped out. There are still many types of life that don't even require oxygen(i.e. anaerobic bacteria). Some of these might adapt quite well if, for example, global CO2 levels skyrocketed and oxygen levels plummetted. What's 'armageddon' for one species can mean 'heaven' for another species.

  cellomould

  

  "In other words, your God is the warden of a prison where the only prisoner is your God." Jose Saramago, The Gospel According to Jesus Christ
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  siegswife

  Nope, can't say that I am one of those.
• 

  Satanus

  Mindfield

  I don't believe in armageddon or christs coming. I feel a negativity/hopelessness about the future, even though i know it isn't correct thinking. From history it is very clear to me that a part of humanity generally feels like it is a crisis situation. Many people have been feeling like this for centuries. But the movers and shakers of the world slowly overcome problems and improve things, often for the wrong reasons. I know i need to be more positive.

  SS
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  avengers

  Don't worry. Be Happy
• 

  dmouse

  ..can't even pronounce it let alone spell it. I always thought it was e-shat-ology. I've thought for a long time that the likes of Youknow were Shat-ologists.

  Anyway, no. I have a very positive outlook of the future. Sure, we could be wiped out like the dinosaurs but it's unlikely. I percieve the human race as gradually improving their lot - like they have for the last two hundred years. Eventually we will find cures for all the major illnesses and other problems (ie tribalism)and we will create our own paradise. I think the world will be an unrecognisably better place in 3 or 4 hundred years time - and it will be our doing not God's.
• 

  safe4kids

  Nope, I don't worry about the future very much. Primarily because I have no control over it, so why worry? I suppose I'm cautiously optimistic about the future of humanity; if I'm wrong, what have I lost? Besides, I'm a bit of an idealist but I've been hanging with some pessimistic people so perhaps I'll overcome that particular trait

  I try to follow the philosophy of Freepeace, leaving the woodpile a little higher than I found it. Beyond that, humanity will have to take care of itself.

  So Skipper, does this mean that you're all settled in here in Florida? If so, I hope the move went well for you.

  Dana
• 

  Tallyman

  Are you still an eschatologist?

  Yep.
  Have been one since my dimmest memories...

  Oddly, it was the apathy, hypocrisy and complete lack of interest
  in any form of eschatology, which prompted me to leave the Baptist
  church of my youth... and go hook up with the jWs...
  thinking I was getting involved with a purer form of Christianity.

  Only took me 20 years to realize I'd taken the wrong fork in the road.

  He

  re is what Merriam-Webster's Dictionary online dictionary says about eschatology:

  Main Entry: es·cha·tol·o·gy
  Pronunciation: "es-k&-'tä-l&-jE
  Function: noun
  Inflected Form(s): plural -gies
  Etymology: Greek eschatos last, farthest
  Date: 1844
  1 : a branch of theology concerned with the final events in the history of the world or of mankind

  
  Yeah, and in that, it is important to note that "theology" includes the sacred writings and prophecies concerning the End Times of other cultures' faiths - other than Christianity.

  Many diverse branches of theology subscribe to long held prophecies dealing with the Grand Finale/The End of Time and Space/The Great Transformation, etc.

  I collect mythology, folklore, legends, ancient history, etc., and
  these eschatological prophecies have come down to the present thru
  the written word and the oral tradition.

  [...]
  but when you walked out that door, did you throw out these beliefs, or are you more like a timid version of You Know and look for the end of the world to come sooner or later?

  
  I hope no one became like ANY version of "You Know"...

  If you have managed to get past all this scary boogie-man stuff though, do you still worry about the end of the world?

  
  No.
  Why would one?
  I look at it as the completion of a cycle, the fulfillment of a promise, the fruition of a long development stage, the harvest.

  Well, admittedly over the years of my recovery from the mental fucking the Jehovah memes gave me, I have worried about ...

  
  The Cult releases a type of systemic poison into one which takes a looong time to completely leach out.

  I came to the conclusion that it is not fun to be an eschatologist.

  
  Yeah, it tends to be a serious study, more so than a recreational one.

  But, I do derive enjoyment at observing and thinking about "last" things, or things which come to the completion of their "life".

  Call me weird, but when going to a movie - and I've had a few others to agree they are of like mind - I look forward to The End credits rolling and sitting there in the theatre, while everyone else is filing out, and watching the screen and listening to the music,
  and especially if it has been an exceptionally good movie, and your head is in a good place, those end credits, slowly take you out...
  and gently bring you back down to earth.
  So, I enjoy or have fun with the eschatological aspect of a movie.

  I enjoy the eschatological aspect of the Autumn season. Seeing all the ripeness and fullness of fruit and vegetables and flowers going to seed and trees and leaves turning vivid colors.

  I enjoy the eschatological aspect of the Moon. When the Moon waxes Full, I think that is just the best! , especially viewing on a clear night. It is the end of its cycle. The peak... and then it starts to wane and the cycle repeats...

  As a Christian, I enjoy the eschatological aspect of the promise Jesus gave. That he would come again. I believe he will keep his promise and 'seal the deal' and give finality to this world,
  and whatever righteous judgment is in store, has NOTHING to do with
  the whacked out nightmare the jWs dream about.

  In fact, eschatologists actually contribute towards making the world a more screwed up place.

  
  How you figger that?
  Not every eschatologist is the jehovah Witness or Hal Lindsey or Tim LaHaye or Jack Chick type... and I wouldn't even put those other guys in the same category as the jehovah Witnesses.

  So, what do you think about dumping the going down the tubes crap and think more positively about making eschatologist’s bite the dust?

  
  Not much, because I don't stereotype eschatologists.

  TT

  You Go Yahweh - and I'll go Mine!

  
  What IS yah weh ? What road you be traveling now, post-WT?