After safely negotiating the recent apocalypse I am still curious as to what motivation lies behind people's reaction to such pronouncements. Undoubtedly the preacher or whoever proclaiming The Rapture is coming is getting some publicity and I am sure that in some cases they may genuinely believe what they say. Publicity seekers are common enough and there is often some scam involved to raise some money, but the true believer must think he is sending out a warning to prepare for your fate. However, with a couple of days to go it seems a bit late for the condemned to make amends and only gives them an opportunity to mock when the inevitable non event occurs (or doesn't).
   In this case Harold Camping has had his moment of glory (again: he predicted the World's end to be in 1994 as well) although he is certainly not milking it as no one has seen him since the appointed time. The inevitable thought that he may have ended his own world as other cult leaders are wont to do does cross one's mind but he may want another go. At 89 he does not want to leave the next one so far away as he miss it.
   The really curious aspect is with his followers who are obviously free to believe what they want and were no doubt grateful to say goodbye and prepare for their ascent but why do they think it necessary to give away all their money and possessions. Do they imagine a last act of charity will help determine whether they are on God's naughty or nice list? Granted if the world is coming to an end they will have no need of it but then neither will anybody else. Why not play it safe and carry on with your life as normal? God (the genocidal maniac one) has made up his mind and nothing you do now will change that and if this time proves to be yet another damp squib with nothing to show but a belching volcano in Iceland then you still have your job and life savings.
   Such people tend to be stubborn bastards and even the non ending of the World will convince them that they may have got it wrong. The poor calculation excuse was used last time (again if your preacher has shoddy maths would you give everything away on his word). They remain convinced that The Rapture is coming and everything they disapprove of will be swept from the Earth in a perverse delight reminiscent of a child's revenge fantasies.
   Still if their ilk are going to be throwing their weight around in Heaven then I will happily stew in my own juices down in the pits of Hell with all the other atheists.