The rapture nuts are out en masse today.

[Renew Deal]

I was walking up 6th Ave (2 Blocks from Fox) in NYC today and saw several rapture nuts handing stuff out. I decided to talk to a couple of them. The first one I saw was a woman.

Me: What happens if we're still here on the 22nd.
Her: We won't be. Everyone is going.
Me: In that case, can I have your stuff?
Her: You won't be here either.
Me: That's fine. Then can I have your address so I can pick it up?
Her: You'll be able to have everyones stuff.
Me: But I want your stuff. Can I have your address?
Her: My kids are there.
Me: But your kids won't be there.
Her: (trying to go back to how we'll all be gone)

Then I started talking to another one.

Me: Will you guys kill yourselves before the big day?
Him: No, we are not a cult.
Me: Good. I'm glad you'll be here to know you're wrong. What does it mean if you're still here?
Him: That will mean I wasn't saved (or something like that).
Me: So what's going to happen?
Him: The rapture will come.
Me: Yes, so what does that mean? Will people just die? Will they fly into the sky?
Him: They will be raised to heaven (IIRC).
Me: So what happens if you're still here?
Him: I will be here for the second world.
Me: How will we know that people have gone? Will they disappear?
Him: Some people will still be here. In fact, a lot. But some people WILL BE GONE.
Me: So not everyone is going? (The other woman told me we were.)
Him: Some will (basically be) not saved and if I'm here I didn't deserve to go.

This is where it goes from funny to sad.

Me: Do you have a job?
Him: No, I gave it up.
Me: Why would you do that? Can't you have faith and protect yourself?
Him: The end is near, blah, blah.

This guy was a true believer. I think these people have hardened their views since the last time I encountered them. I encountered one in December that one basically said that if May 21 doesn't happen, no big deal.

I saw a third one and asked him "whether clothes would be left behind when the rapture comes." He said yes. I said awesome!

A little later I saw 6 rapture short buses going up 6th ave. Many of these people have bought into this crap. They couldn't wait for 2012, so they moved it up to 2011. I hope they'll be able to handle it when they make it through the day and nothing happens.