The New York Times reports that the Calvary Bible Church in Milpitas, California, organised a Sunday morning service to comfort believers in Mr Camping's preaching. "We are here because we care about these people," the newspaper quoted James Bynum, a church deacon, as saying. "It's easy to mock them. But you can go kick puppies, too. But why?"
I'll answer that. It's not nice to kick puppies. It's okay to kick the Rapturites. Why, Mr. Bynum?
a) Because puppies were not granted the power of reason and critical thought, two faculties that protect most of us from falling victim to this kind of nonsense.
b) Because puppies don't smugly tell you that they've been singled out by God for special privileges, and unless you listen to them, you're going to suffer eternal torment while they watch you, sipping celestial Mojitos.
c) Because puppies don't ask you to abandon everything humanity has learned over painful millenia about physics, biology, cosmology, astronomy, and accept their absurdly constructed fantasy universe on faith. Well, maybe puppies would if they could speak English - but they don't.
Kick'em again, I say. And if this richly deserved mockery means that ten years down the road, ONE poor shmuck thinks a little bit harder before he mails his life's savings to the next millionaire, it'll be worth it.
