20
May
2011
Apocalypse Soon: What Would Landsburg Do?
Sam T. sends me this profile of the people who think the world will end quite soon. I haven’t looked into this stuff too carefully, but my inner Steve Landsburg leads me to ask:
For these people who think the world’s end is imminent, and who are Christians (though I don’t know if they are evangelical), have they taken other action that is consistent with their stated belief? For example, have they stopped paying their mortgages and life insurance premiums, and maxed out their credit cards, in order to send as many missionaries to Africa as possible?
For these people who think the world’s end is imminent, and who are Christians (though I don’t know if they are evangelical), have they taken other action that is consistent with their stated belief? For example, have they stopped paying their mortgages and life insurance premiums, and maxed out their credit cards, in order to send as many missionaries to Africa as possible?
Yes.
Interesting.
Over on Lesswrong, we’re discussing the ethics of selling rapture pet insurance. FWIW, I think it’s wrong. At the very least, why ask for money now rather than a share of their estate in the event of the rapture?
I see nothing wrong with selling people what they think they need. Taking advantage of someone elses stupidity is not wrong in and of itself and it would serve to teach them a lesson to make better choices in the future so overall the outcomes would improve over time. Thats what a free market does, after all. I hope these guys make lots of profits, perhaps then we wont here so much about “raptures” the next time around.
http://eternal-earthbound-pets.com/
That’s what a free market does after all. It rationalizes abusing people.
Armageddon should be regulated and provoked by the UN.
Thats right! where are the “rapture” czars when you need them. Obama should make some new appointments.
How come I dont see any “outrage” by the left or the msm against this “fat cat” business?
It’s that stupid debt ceiling! If congress raised it as it should, Obama would make the appointments in no time and we will happily live ever after.
Please hear Mammoth’s prayer, oh dear leader, father of the homeland!
…until May 21, that is.
That’s what a free market does after all. It rationalizes abusing people.
You mean it enables people to trade on their own without asking you for permission first, such that people trade in ways you don’t approve, which you interpret is “abuse”? Right, because only if they go through you, then it won’t be “abuse.”
Hey, you have a productive, free market mind. You should work for the state department.
I do.
Well, rapture pet insurance is a joke, right? It’s not like anyone would really buy it.
apparently they had to raise their prices because of all of the demand. too bad its too late to enter the market with a new startup to meet all the demand.
apparently they had to raise their prices because of all of the demand.
Which is part of the joke. You don’t really think people who expect to be raptured are buying this service, do you?
Sure, why not? If they believed they needed it why wouldn’t they? Are you suggesting that absolutely zero people legitimately paid for this service? If so, and assuming you don’t have some special knowledge of this web site that the rest of us are not privy to, it is just as likely that some have so to them it is no joke.
You think there is no market for jokes and jokers?
We wouldn’t have Glenn Beck otherwise.
You think there is no market for jokes and jokers?
I thought that was why you post on this blog.
You didn’t expect to keep the monopoly right Major?
Are you suggesting that absolutely zero people legitimately paid for this service?
Pretty much.
I was raised as an Evangelical Christian and grew up around people who believed in the rapture, so I think I have a pretty good idea of their mindset, even if I don’t share it. If you told them that some atheists had set up a website offering to take care of their pets after they get raptured they would conclude that the atheists were making fun of them (which is true).
does this mean that you think those people who believe in rapture dont care about thier pets and are willing to let them die after they are gone?
RS,
According to their theology after the rapture civilization basically falls apart, so any attempt to plan for what happens afterwards is basically futile (suppose someone offered to take care of your pets in the event a totalitarian government took over and you had to flee the country. If you aren’t interested in buying this service does that mean you don’t care about your pets?)
I’ll be mowing my lawn.
I find it hilarious when religious zealots claim they’ve calculated the end days from the scripture when the scripture itself says no man can know the time of the rapture beforehand.
Is it Christian to not pay your bills, even if you are convinced the rapture is in 7 hours (Pacific Coast)?
I’m not sure, Bruce, but just to clarify, I wasn’t saying they should stop paying their actual bills. I said they should stop paying their life insurance premiums and borrow as much as possible. There’s nothing wrong with doing that; they aren’t violating any contractual obligations.