Another predicted arrival of the Rapture came and went this week and Jesus failed to show up, leaving Christian believers still stuck here in this flawed and fickle world rather than being lifted into the sky to meet the savior.
Predictions about the Rapture have popped up now and then ever since the early 19th century whenever one or another befuddled preacher or self-appointed prophet has been bold enough to set a date for the event. This time around, it was a radio pastor in South Africa who went out on a limb to proclaim Sept. 23 and 24 as the big days that would end our humdrum human existence. The pastor’s message got so amplified by TikTok that quite a few folks quit their jobs, sold their cars and houses, and gave away their possessions so that they would be ready to go.
I am willing to bet that many of them, despite their losses, would be willing to do it again the next time a Rapture prediction is made. Some people just want to believe crazy things.
A while ago, thinking about the plague of conspiracy theories that has infected our politics, I said to a friend that I was mystified by the way millions of people in this country so eagerly put their faith in preposterous ideas.
He responded, “Haven’t you ever heard of the Catholic Church?”
Good point, I suppose, but, when an institution has been around as long as Roman Catholicism or Islam or Hinduism or Judaism, even the wackier elements of the religion are perceived more as traditional, venerable tropes, rather than voodoo. Mormons, on the other hand, get hit far more often for the tall tales spun by their founder because he concocted those stories relatively recently — and in upstate New York, of all places.
For some of us, rationality and science will never be as alluring as myths, miracles and conspiracy theories.
I guess that explains Marjorie Taylor Greene.
See more of David Horsey’s cartoons at: st.news/davidhorsey
View other syndicated cartoonists at: st.news/cartoons
Note: An earlier version of this column incorrectly stated the day Cal Raleigh surpassed Mickey Mantle’s record.
Editor’s note: Seattle Times Opinion no longer appends comment threads on David Horsey’s cartoons. Too many comments violated our community policies and reviewing the dozens that were flagged as inappropriate required too much of our limited staff time. You can comment via a Letter to the Editor. Please email us at letters@seattletimes.com and include your full name, address and telephone number for verification only. Letters are limited to 200 words.
