I'm not afraid to state my opinion - really. I like people to know where I stand on things important to me, like how to hang the toilet paper roll (over!!) and whether everyone should have affordable healthcare (duh!!).
But I don't really like controversy. I pretty much cringe from it & bury myself in a tube of chocolate chip cookie dough. Sigh.
I don't usually do things like this on my blog, but, controversy or not, I couldn't let a recent article I read go without some sort of commentary. The article mentioned a service that will take care of your pets after the Rapture*. My first reaction was "wha?" But after spending 30 seconds with my Yahoo search engine I realized that this is something that people are seriously very concerned about. I found this site (After the Rapture Pet Care) where you can register your pet to be cared for by atheists or people of other non-Christian religions after the Rapture occurs. If you are that worried about your pet’s care, wouldn’t you want the pet to be cared for by someone with your belief system? I guess that’s not an option if you’ve all been Raptured… This one is a free service, but there are ones where you can pay (up front, of course).
This site (Post Rapture Pets) mentions helpful tips about planning for your pets after the Rapture. For example: You should have multiple back up pet sitters available in case your primary sitter is taken up in the Rapture. Or, regarding a pet food dispenser: The Rapture and Tribulation times will be very chaotic, so something with a battery backup may be a good idea. And, finally: You'll need some way to let people know you are no longer around. Presumably, everyone will know that the Rapture has occurred, but just in case, here is a site that should help, http://www.raptureletters.com/.
I really have no words that don’t sound like I’m mocking the concept of needing to provide for your pets in the eventuality of the Rapture. I’m trying to be non-controversial while I’m just squirming inside – you know, like when you’re in church & something strikes you as funny & you’re trying so hard not to laugh. That’s where I am right now.
If you believe in the rapture and you’re concerned about your pets, then these sites may be of use to you. I’m just going to go stick my head under some cold running water so I can calm down. And maybe I’ll eat some cookie dough.
*From Wikipedia: The Rapture is the gathering together of all Christians on earth at the time of the return of Jesus Christ. Belief in the rapture as a prophesied future event is found primarily among Conservative Protestant groups. The primary passage used to support this idea is 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, in which Paul cites "the word of the Lord" about the return of Jesus to gather his saints.
...and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.
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2024 Project 365 – Week Forty-nine
It’s our anniversary! I stayed home from church today because we decided to work on our Christmas cards as our anniversary activity. Sunday...
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I love it when someone actually thinks of everything. Wow.
ReplyDeleteI guess it shows how seriously they are taking the notion of being raptured. They must think it's eminent!
ReplyDeleteTo Willow - some of these groups do take this very seriously. I remember being about 10 when the Sunday School teacher told us she believed that Jesus would come again in the next 4-5 years.
ReplyDeleteIt has been a long, long time since i was 10.
But this idea (& the idea that the US will be destroyed by the Russians & we would all be persecuted for our belief in Jesus) was heavily pushed in my childhood. I spent the first year i lived in Long Beach cringing as a plane went over head (we were on the flight path), just waiting for that bomb to fall.
I'm sad when i think on these things & how that the freedom & joy Jesus came to give us are perverted to be fear-based.
Bug, I'm like you -- I have no words.
ReplyDeleteMy question is -- Is someone making money from this?
Surely a loving God will take care of the pets of raptured souls? I don't think I could enjoy heaven if I thought my cats were left alone behind. A cynical money - spinner if ever there was one. Bleakly pratical though, huh?
ReplyDeleteIn the event of rapture, leave me your cash.
ReplyDeletewell, I had no problem with this at all. I totally laughed out loud. I find the whole idea of the rapture to be ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteUn.be.lievable. but thx for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBizarre is the word that first came to my mind......
ReplyDeleteWeird! And I love the idea of you eating cookie dough. Hope it helped. Personally, I like chocolate chip cookie dough better than the baked cookies.
ReplyDeleteDear The Bug,
ReplyDeleteI know you have faith, but I have to say I'm with Merle: tell me about your piggy bank.
Anyway, all the good pets are going to grow wings and fly up to be with the angels--those other servants of distinction.
In general, I think we will just keep on hoping for the end when we should pay attention to the Now.
Sincerely,
Ann T.
Hold the cookie dough! First of all, what makes the rapturites so sure that their pets aren't believers? haven't they proselytized their pets? No? Then they surely haven't done their job as evangelists and therefore won't be raptured themselves. Problem solved! Or, if you think pets aren't able to accept Christ because, well, they're pets, then God has made provision for those who have not had opportunity to learn about him and will give the benefit of the doubt and rapture same.
ReplyDeleteBattery back-ups? I'm about to pee in my pants!
Hehe, yeah, I'm not mocking anyone's faith either, and thank them for truly trying to be responsible pet owners.
ReplyDeleteFor real, it's impossible to argue against what someone truly believes, you know? Faith, it's all about belief and it not only would it be unkind to take that on, it's pointless. Clearly, this is what some truly believe (and very clearly, I do not interpret any scripture literally...nor do I practice a religion, might as well get that out there).
So it's not with the people, who really are simply going with what they truly, deeply, and spiritually believe that I have any quarrel. Sincerely, all they are doing is loving the heck out of their animals, and being exceptionally responsible in accordance with what they believe.
Ohhhhhh but I do have a quarrel with the people running this service. They are making money, Jo. You have to pay upfront for this service. And if it is structured by true believers SHAME ON THEM for looking to exploit ...not their fellow believers...but in rounding up those "left behind" as the employees. That's disgusting.
If it's not believers running this? Dude, it's not actually okay to take money from people, while laughing behind your hands at what they believe...and it is certainly not the mark of someone who I'd trust with my pet. They're being exploitative.
So...again...not making fun of the whole rapture thing (clearly don't believe in it, but I'm not mocking people who do) ...
But the people running this service...if they believe are judging the living crap out of others "Hey, you're gonna be damned, right? Wanna watch Fido while the seas turn to acid?" ...and are snake oil salesmen if they aren't believers. "Hehe, check out what they believe...hahahahaha...how do we make money from this???"
Believers in the Rapture -- pray that your animals will be spared any suffering, and don't hand over cash to anyone ...because the very fact that they are looking to exploit your belief suggests they aren't trustworthy.
Annnnd....I don't really shy away from controversy, I guess :-) Sorry Bug, I sincerely hope I didn't just upset anyone.
I suppose people have always been motivated by fear but there just seems to be so much of it these days, especially in politics and religion.
ReplyDeleteIf your pet gets ruptured take it to the vet!
ReplyDeleteWhat a load of old tosh. Surely there is nobody on earth (or under it) who would fall for such a scam.
These sites have actually be around awhile. I don't believe in the concept of the rapture (its not at all biblical), but I am a Christian in the south who went to a Baptist university. (You can imagine how fun that was as an unwed singal mother.)I have run into quite a few people who actually believe in this kind of theology. So I think I can answer some of your questions.
ReplyDeleteIf you are the kind of Christian who believes in the Rapture, you also probably believe that God made man better than all other animals and that only Christians who believe in the exact same interpritation of the bible that you do are going to heaven.
So no, your pet is not going to be raptured and I'm not either.
This kind of theology just a side product of dulistic thinking that makes people feel good about themselves by demonizing anything that is "other". Its scarry and harmful to everyone involved.
I think these sites are hilarous and if someone can make a buck off of this kind of stupidity than I say, have at it.
Have you picked out your hand baskets yet? I have.
OK, so how about this? We come up with a design for a Snuggy that you can strap to yourself and carry your pet around so when it comes, badabingbadabang, the pet goes with you! No?
ReplyDeleteI am sure glad that someone thought of this...ha ha. But what I want to know is HOW and WHEN they thought of this??
ReplyDelete"Have you picked out your hand baskets yet? I have."
ReplyDeleteFor me, my family and essentially everyone I've ever liked. As I understand that handbasket place is likely to have most of the people I've ever known...and my pets, too.
Really, Bug! What ARE you reading these days?? LOL.
ReplyDeleteBekah - this was from the Dayton Daily News!!!
ReplyDeleteROTFL!!! How come I didn't think of this!
ReplyDeleteTalk about a special interest group! (I don't think that I even want to know how many of these nutters there are in the world.)
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I guess that is another excuse I can offer to my kids about why we can't have a dog.
"What if there a Rapture?" (Um, they probably don't take atheists, though; right?)