The end of the world

An article on one of the nuttier aspects associated with many religions, that many believer think the world will end soon.

[President of Iran] Ahmadinejad hopes to welcome the Mahdi to Tehran within two years.

And I wonder what happens then?

Ahmadinejad in an address before the United Nations last year, suggests that the Imam Mahdi, a 9th century figure, will soon emerge from a well to conquer the world and convert everyone to Islam.

"O mighty Lord," he said, "I pray to you to hasten the emergence of your last repository, the promised one, that perfect and pure human being, the one that will fill this world with justice and peace."

At the appropriate time, according to Shiite tradition, the Mahdi will reappear and, along with Jesus, lead Muslims in a struggle to rid the world of corruption and establish justice.

And this is a guy trying to get his hands on nucleur weapons. Isn't that a comforting thought?

Imam Mahdi however will have some competition as Judaism still has it's own Messiah to look forward to, with some wanting to make sure they have enough kitch stockpiled in case he arrives sooner rather than later.

Artisans have re-created priestly robes of white linen, gem-studded breastplates, silver trumpets and solid-gold menorahs to be used in the Holy Temple — along with two 6½-ton marble cornerstones for the building's foundation.

All in the best possible taste, obviously. Pazing the road to the Messiah might require bulldozing one of Islam's holiest shrines as well, but when you have a world to end some sacrifices must be made. Including a blemish free red cow. Luckily the rebuilding of the Temple is also on the Christian to do list when it comes to judgement day so they have some help there:

Clyde Lott, a Mississippi revivalist preacher and cattle rancher. He is trying to raise a unique herd of red heifers to satisfy an obscure injunction in the Book of Numbers: the sacrifice of a blemish-free red heifer for purification rituals needed to pave the way for the messiah.

So far, only one of his cows has been verified by rabbis as worthy, meaning they failed to turn up even three white or black hairs on the animal's body.

This comes from a fundimentalist belief that we are in the end times

Underlining the sense of urgency is a belief that the end-times clock started ticking May 15, 1948, when the United Nations formally recognized Israel.

Hence the welcome if rather surpirising rise of support for Isreal amoung the christian fundimentalists of america. They will still have to convert eventually, or when JC comes back they end up toast like the rest of us.

The article does not cover the little religions, such as Aum Shinriko that tried to speed up the end of the world with their nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subways. Or the cults like Heavens Gate or the Solar Temple that decided it would be easier to end themselves rather that the world. Nor do they mention the Jehovahs Witnesses either who set a specific date for when the world was to end, and missed it. Twice.

So in the words of a bumper sticker from the US "In case of rapture, can I have your car?"