So we’re in the Last Days. How long are they supposed to last? I’m 64 years old and Christians have been blabbing about it for as long as I can remember. When I was still a child and had no choice but to attend church, old Brother McDaniel once said that Jesus’ return was so near he’d like to just keep preaching until it happened. That was over 50 years ago.

But that’s what blind faith does. You make yourself believe so strongly that it becomes “real” to you. And at that moment I’m sure Brother McDaniel truly believed what he said to be true. He was after all an honest man. Just horrifically misguided like all theists are. At some point perhaps enough time will pass that the Last Days idea will no longer hold water. But how long will that take? I don’t know. If there is one thing I’ve learned over years, it’s that human gullibility knows no bounds. A thousand years from now, there likely will still be a few of the faithful holding to the idea that “Jesus is coming soon.” Most Christians don’t realize it, but what’s truly important to them is to believe the dogma. Whether or not it’s actually true is irrelevant. It’s belief, not truth that matters.

And let’s talk about the Battle of Armageddon. There are a few versions of the story, but the gist of it is that there will be a final catastophic war involving almost every nation on Earth. The final battle in this war will supposedly occur at a place called Har Megiddo (aka “Armageddon”). And then Jesus comes riding in and saves the day (if you’re a believer). The Devil ends up in chains, and all is well (if you’re a believer) for a thousand years. Or something like that. Below is Stephen Lett, a leader of the Jehovah’s Witness cult. Listen to his ham-handed attempt to squeeze just a little more blood out the Last Days turnip. It’s pathetic. It’s only 57 seconds but it provides a good example of where these people’s minds are.

⁽¹⁾And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. ⁽²⁾And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, ⁽³⁾And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. Revelation 20:1-3

Christians love to point out that we’re facing conflict and general unrest all over the world, and that this is a sure sign that the end is near. But weren’t there doomsayers doing the same thing during WWI and WWII? Haven’t Christians been warning us about the Last Days pretty much since Jesus ascended back to Heaven? They are rapidly becoming The Boy Who Cried Wolf. And the real wolf, their own self-inflicted ignorance and gullibility, will eventually consume them.

It won’t be pretty, but it’s rare that a believer can be brought back to the real world. They’re usually buried too deeply in the dogma to engage in any sort of critical thinking. That’s why I often speak up about the need to protect school children from those Christians who prey upon young minds. They know the value of getting to them while they’re young. They groom children just like any other human predator. And in their brainwashed arrogance, they believe they’re doing the right thing.

It is evolved human nature to assign agency to all things, especially things we don’t understand. Nowadays believers just attribute everything to whatever god they worship. But back in the day there were gods for the weather, fertility, the harvest, war gods and so on. As science gradually explained all these things the old gods faded away. Hopefully the Abrahamic and Hindu gods will eventually do the same.

The surge in Christian Nationalism here in the USA is not a sign of Christian strength. It’s desperation. They’re losing numbers and they know it. They’re clinging to the false notion that America is a “Christian nation” and pushing for laws to force it on the rest of us. The Republicans have become dependent upon them, and that is admittedly scary. There once was a time when the Repubs could be counted on as a common sense party that understood economics and diplomacy. But anymore they’re just fishing for votes in the murky waters of religious extremism. They’re no better than the Democrats who’ve lurched so far to the left that JFK must be spinning in his grave.

What to do? The Christian fundamentalists have made a mockery of their faith. They are therefore deserving of our mockery. They have earned our disdain. And they may rest assured they’ll get plenty of both from me. I’ve spent decades trying to be tolerant of these people, but they are rapidly becoming the least tolerant among all Americans. So, you know what? Fuck’em. I’m done with acting nice or playing fairly.

Christians, if you wish to be the dunces of our society you’re free to do so. But please have the good grace to move your asses out of the way. Someone has to clean up the messes you make.

Video Credit: Jerry Lahjalahti ex-JW