One Year Later

Over the year that followed Harold Camping's failed prediction of the end of the world for May 21, 2011, Phil eventually took down all the house signs and lawn signs promoting Family Radio.

After a year's silence, I sent him a facebook message saying hey and wishing him well.  He responded with a long and revealing message about the internal conflicts that he and his fellows have suffered over the last year.  While he still accepts Harold Camping's calculations for the age of the earth and his strong predestinarian beliefs, he nevertheless deeply regrets having "lied" to me and to others about the world coming to an end, and has even started attending a church again.

His response is posted at Phil - One Year Later.

The Debate Begins

After driving by a house that displayed signs advertising for Harold Camping's Family Radio and it's Open Forum broadcast, I needed to send a postcard to its residents challenging their belief in Harold Camping's teachings, especially his current prediction for Judgment Day and the Rapture to occur May 21, 2011. My postcard read something like this:

Dear friends of Family Radio,

Judgment will come May 21. It is possible, however, that it will come quietly at the end of the day, with Family Radio reaching its expiration date as a ministry. If that happens, please keep your faith in Jesus but change the channel. There would still be good churches faithfully meeting together until he comes, and they would welcome you. God is still good. Jonah 4:2; Psalm 145:8-9; John 20:31; Romans 10:9-10. —Robert

A man responded—let’s call him Phil.  Most of our debating was via facebook message or e-mail.  Our first couple rounds, however, were by written mail, and these will be blogged as scanned images.

My name is Robert. I attend a Church of the Nazarene.  I think God is good and his gospel is for everyone who cares to receive it (Psalm 145; John 20:31).  And I reject Harold Camping's May 21, 2011 prediction for many reasons, as will be seen in the Debate Pages.

Phil and I are both armchair scholars, not real ones. But we still cover tremendous matters of scripture, scholarship, and reason.

The complete record begins in Debate Page 1, located on the right side of the screen.