Turn or burn! The choice is yours! Christian eschatology is the study of its religious beliefs concerning all future and final events (end times), as well as the ultimate purpose(s) of the world, of humankind, and the Church primarily. Do you know where you’re going to go when you die?
In to another life? 
I spent much of my youthful days in the FEAR of the world coming to an end: the rapture with me left behind. I can’t tell you how many days when I saw no one on the block, that I lived as a 5-6 year old, and I wondered if I had missed the ride to heaven Even at that young age I was frightened, I lived in fear of being “good enough“.
Much of Christianity makes good money attempting to SCARE the HELL out of you!
The movie, A Thief In The Night (1872 is a good example of Christian “fear mongering”. Made 30+ years ago, and having a low-budget feel to it, the acting was terrible and effects were poor, but the message was strong and persuading. The intent was obviously to scare the viewer into salvation.
The producers were aglow as the $68,000 film made MILLIONS and most importantly, it’s estimated that some 4,000,000 people were scared and frightened in to a “conversion experience”. Of course the film was followed by an altar call. And, we’re to feel good about that? Does God-Creator-Consciousness need to use manipulation and fear to get us to “come to Him”, and what does that phrase mean anyway?
And only Christians will be saved- those that profess Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Even back then the, the subtle issue was about one NOT being a FUNDAMENTALIST as Patty attends a LIBERAL (can you say BAD?) church where the pastor does not interpret the Bible literally. And guess what? She doesn’t get to go to heaven. Get the message. Believe LITERALLY and you get to go to heaven.
Remember 1,988 reasons why Jesus is coming back in 1988?
You don’t? Good!
Any religion that focuses on the end times and not the NOW: any religion that divides and puts down other religions; and, and religion whose currency is FEAR is not for me. And, you? What about you?
I’m with you on this one for sure!
Oh man, I was so into the “88 Reasons” book! How funny! Back in 1988 I was one heck of a good boy to be sure I was going to be on the Jesus Train at the end of that year! That was pretty disappointing back then when Jesus “didn’t come back to rapture us real Christians” but I can only imagine the perpetual disheartenment of those hanging on every single prophecy waiting to be fulfilled only to be disappointed time after time after time. I can’t do that anymore…don’t need to, thanks be to God!
I know this is probably a bit off topic but I remember going to a Hell House a couple years back out of sheer curiosity (and because a co-worker had invited me, I guess, on the assumption that I was a lost soul). I heard Hell Houses originated in Texas (or was it Arizona?) so I’m guessing you’re familiar with them. Anyway, the most bizarre part wasn’t the dramatic death scene with the godless family or even the pregnant teenager who got an abortion, it was the altar call at the end after the heaven scene. They herded us in groups of 30 from scene to scene watching everyday people suffer the consequences (and rarely reap the heavenly rewards) from their life choices only to have an altar call at the very end where just about everyone (especially children!) is good and scared to receive Jesus.
I was really tempted to get into an argument on morality but realized it might just be better to walk out and not cause anymore Hell than was already being (ironically) displayed in the church/Hell House.
On a side note there is a really interesting documentary on Hell Houses that carries the title with the same name.
I remember my wife telling me “She read the rapture was going to happen Sept 13 1988 so I better get saved quick – I laughed you mean God picked my birthday and I am not even going to get an invite
- If I am not not saved who is it I have been talking to all these years 
I married the Best fundamentalist wife this side of the Mississippi 
I loveth Thy Wife <—King James Love 
You’d think that after thousands of years of frightening people into being good with the threat of an eternal hell, and seeing that the intimidation and manipulation isn’t working, that MAYBE LOVING people might be an alternative option. Perhaps all we really need to do is work on ourselves and let others find their path-journey with only our transformed example to guide them (should they chose so) and not our threats.