i’ve seen these billboards around saying that "judgement day" is going to be may 21st, 2011. this comes from the mouth of “genuine prophet” Howard Camping, who has been an intenerant radio preacher for at least 30 years – i remember listening to him in the 1980s, when i was a cab driver – but here’s the important part:

HE ORIGINALLY PREDICTED THE WORLD WOULD END IN 1994!!

i’m as willing to let the other guy believe what he wants as the next guy, but this is ridiculous. if he wasn’t right in 1994, what on earth makes people think he would be right ABOUT ANYTHING this time? either we are all ghosts, living an imaginary life and completely unaware of the fact that the world ended 17 years ago, or this guy is demonstrably off his rocker… and that goes for the people who would put up billboards announcing it, as well…

i’m willing to let people believe what they want most times, up to and including the first time they predict the end of the world… but after that, if the world doesn’t actually end, they and their beliefs are to be laughed at.