The Rapture, from a neo-Pagan's point of view

[draggar]

I don't hide the fact that I'm Pagan. I don't even hide the fact that I could be considered a polytheist (multiple gods - seriously, this whole "one god" thing, is he (or she, or it) really that much of a micro-manager?).

In short, Neo-Paganism is a rebirth of the old religions where people worshiped the Earth and all of her beauties. While I don't kneel down and pray to the gods similar to ancient Roman and Greek times, I do thank animals for their gifts (meat, etc.. similar to Native American culture), I thank my chickens for their eggs, and I appreciate and highly respect the Earth.

With that said and recent beliefs that tomorrow is judgement day (rapture) it got me thinking about the whole "rapture" and "end of the world" things.

OK, say my wife and I were raptured right now. Poof, we're gone and at the gates of Heaven. I have one big issue with this. My dogs and cats are in my house and I have chickens in pens out side. They're all trapped. While the dogs and cats may be able to scrounge food around the house (and maybe even each other when desperation kicks in) the chickens will run out of food in a day or two. In a nutshell, they'll all most likely die of starvation. That's a rather tortuous way to go.

Yes, I know of the company claiming they'll take care of your animal for a few if you're raptured.

Think about the MILLIONS of animals that rely on us for food, companionship, shelter, etc. The ones owned by those who are raptured will die a slow and painful death of starvation or exposure and the "lucky" ones will need to find a way to fend for themselves.

This isn't limited to animals. What if a couple has a 1 year old child and the parents are raptured? Who will take care of the child? It is too young to be able to find help, let alone take care of itself.

What did those who can't fend for themselves and animals do to deserve this? My dogs have been loyal companions, some even legs for my wife (service dogs). They give everything for us, some would even die to protect us from harm. How many humans would act this selflessly to protect their family?

What kind of god allows this? Seriously, it is not one I would ever want to worship. I don't even think I'd want to associate anyone this selfish. "Oh, I'm saved, I don't care about the animals I'm responsible for anymore".

Also, for those of you who say "but animals don't have a soul" look into a dog's or cat's and tell me they really don't have a soul plus they still feel pain.

[Gerry]

"Suffer the Children unto me..."

Never found anything about chickens, cats, and dogs.

[CureCancer]

never mind

[draggar]

the world is dominated by uneducated people who are told lies from childhood and grow up not knowing that 1+1 = 2 not 3!

1 + 1 doesn't always = 2.

[Gerry]

1 + 1 doesn't always = 2.

yeah...same sex marriages have difficulty with that equation.

[draggar]

The 1 + 1 issue is not based on political, religious, or other views. It's based on logic.

[CureCancer]

never mind

[Donald Aquilano]

1 + 1 doesn't always = 2.

It does in the real world.

[Poker]

Nothing to add, to things that don't add up.

[RobM]

You made exactly the same mistakes as the evangelists. Just you substituted your *unproven personal belief* for theirs. Nothing to see here.

[draggar]

You made exactly the same mistakes as the evangelists. Just you substituted your *unproven personal belief* for theirs. Nothing to see here.

Are you saying that if my wife and I disappeared my pets wouldn't suffer? Let's see,

Pollux and Luna are crated. With no one to take care of them they would be trapped in there. Eventually (most likely sometime tonight) they would desperately have to go to the bathroom and would need to a few more times before they died of starvation. Sure, dying of starvation in a pool of your own waste isn't suffering?

Zorro and Maiya are loose in the house now with me. Sure, they could scavenge food and maybe last a week, maybe two if they figured out how to run the water faucet and how to open the dog food. They would also go to the bathroom in the house and eventually die of starvation.

The cats' litter boxes are clean (I did them this morning) and they have about 3-4 days of food left.

Chickens - I fed them this morning so their food may last them until Monday morning.

Without some other intervention this is what would happen (unless something else happened - like a fire etc..) or do you think something else would happen?

I'm showing the reality of their beliefs and what would happen if the rapture did happen.

[Gerry]

There are those that argue this...

because heaven offers everyone the benefit of not wanting, meaning everyone gets everything, there is the philosophical debate of literal interpretation of you shall not want. And if that is to be the gist of all of this, by not wanting you will in essence not care to want...you will not care what happened to the others.

I have actually seen such debates between clerics and elders (meaning preachers and deacons, etc). It was actually quite entertaining to see people argue and debate about interpretations of certain words or phrases in the bible and what they mean.

[fatter]

As far as children I beleive those who havent reached age of accountability 21 shall be given either a second chance or taken up also , I base this on the age where children were allowed into the promised land 40 years after wandering in the wilderness because at the time when the Jews disbeleived God all of them besides Caleb and joshua and those under 21 at the time were allowed in because they hadnt reached the age where they could be held accountable for there sins. I would hope my dog would come with me, My wifes cat not so much. Not sure they wont but plenty of relatives and friends and neighbors that might take care of them, there are references to horses in heaven etc. I was raised catholic and always had a head knowledge of God, but never knew him personnaly, Now that i know him I am gratefull he died on the Cross o pay the price for my sin so i can be with him in heaven, all things good come from God, Hell is the oppisite their will be nothing good,
Anyone who sincerely seeks to know God will find him. While I am still a sinner I am am saved by Grace I hope all come to know him too.
I know we disagree but in a short time the truth will be known by all, and to those of us who pass before that day will find out sooner