JUDGMENT DAY IS COMING . . . (but we're not prepared to talk about it)

A billboard sign in my city has been saddled with the sad and stupid message "Judgment Day is Coming May 21, 2011."

No, it's not. You know it. I know it.

The Web address directly below the man attempting a bowel movement through his trousers is FamilyRadio.com.

As the only identifying information on the sad and stupid message, wouldn't you think someone at Family Radio would be in a position to answer a question or two about May 21st?

From: Whetam Gnauckweirst
To: webservant@familyradio.org
Subject: But after May 21st

Everyone who has ever attempted to predict the "final judgment" has been wrong. So, I'm writing to ask what your "fall back" date is when May 21st comes and goes, no different than any other day?

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From: webservant@familyradio.org
To: Whetam Gnauckweirst
Subject: Re: But after May 21st

Dear Listener,

I'm not sure how to answer your questions. Your questions seem to be
directly related to Harold Camping's teaching on end times, which I am
not qualified to comment on. I think it would be better to address your
questions to Harold Camping himself. I'm sorry for any inconvenience.

Family Radio Website Help

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From: Whetam Gnauckweirst
To: webservant@familyradio.org
Subject: Re: Re: But after May 21st

Your Web address is on a billboard that's telling my city "judgment day" is coming May 21st and you're not prepared or capable of answering a question about the message on that billboard?

That is the height of unenlightened, scare-mongering irresponsibility.

If Harold Camping's name were anywhere to be found on that billboard, I would have searched him out with my question. But only your Web address is on that billboard, hence I directed my question to you.

What else do you have your Web address on that you're not prepared to talk about?

Signed a now-thoroughly baffled
Whetam Gnauckweirst

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I give "webservant" a one out of 10 for helpfulness.

There is long historical precedent of people claiming the impending arrival of "end times" being wrong, so I do not believe my question is impertinent.

More examples from Wikipedia:

• 1844 - William Miller predicted Christ would return between March 21, 1843 and March 21, 1844, then revised his prediction, claiming to have miscalculated Scripture, to October 22, 1844. The realization that the predictions were incorrect resulted in a Great Disappointment. Miller's theology gave rise to the Advent movement. The Baha'is believe that Christ did return as Miller predicted in 1844, with the advent of The Báb, and numerous Miller-like prophetic predictions from many religions are given in William Sears book, Thief in The Night.[56]


• 1981 - Chuck Smith predicted that Jesus would probably return by 1981.[57]


• 1988 - Publication of 88 Reasons why the Rapture is in 1988, by Edgar C. Whisenant.


• 1989 - Publication of The final shout: Rapture report 1989, by Edgar Whisenant. More predictions by this author appeared for 1992, 1995, and other years.


• 1992 - Korean group "Mission for the Coming Days" predicted October 28, 1992 as the date for the rapture.[58]


• 1993 - Seven years before the year 2000. The rapture would have to start to allow for seven years of the Tribulation before the Return in 2000. Multiple predictions.


• 1994 - Pastor John Hinkle of Christ Church in Los Angeles predicted June 9, 1994.


• Radio evangelist Harold Camping predicted September 27, 1994.[59]


• 2011 - Harold Camping's revised prediction has May 21, 2011 as the date of the rapture.[60][61]


• 2060 - Sir Isaac Newton proposed, based upon his calculations using figures from the book of Daniel, that the Apocalypse could happen no earlier than 2060.[62][63]

So, what will be the next wingnut trigger date after May 21st and January 2012 pass without incident?

I like to have my panicking planned well in advance and know which deities need bribing through their earthly surrogates in order for me to come out on the right end of The Event.