Have you seen the Judgement day Billboards that 610 AM is posting around the bay

[Gregg]

Family Radio has perhaps its most valuable stations in NYC: 94.7 WFME Newark-New York City (which could be sold as a commercial station for tens of millions of dollars) and WFME-TV West Milford NJ, which many cable systems in the NY-NJ area must carry, also worth millions.

There are transit ads on NYC buses & subways and NJ Transit buses. And I've seen one billboard in NJ on Route 440 Eastbound in Jersey City. They say "Sudden Destruction Cometh" because, as we all know, God prefers old English to contemporary "Is Coming."

Camping claims Family Radio is a non-profit corporation and he has no personal finacial interest in it. He's just a non-paid volunteer. Yet anyone can tell you he calls all the shots there, down to keeping the music in the 50s/60s style that he grew up with.

I can't get over his belief in his self-importance. He claims Satan rules over all churches. So I guess that leaves him and Family Radio as your only source for religious information. He also makes big leaps in interpreting the Bible as he figured out the date May 21st. Yet he's managed to convince his followers. The host of the WFME morning show said the other day he'd be off for a week as he visits his relatives in Canada "for the last time." He's using his vacation to say goodbye to his relatives.

How can intelligent people believe only one man would know when the end is coming... no one else came up with this date except Camping. Or that you have to be a Christian to be saved. God would be a racist then. Virtually none of the 1.2 billion Chinese is Christian. Same for the nearly one billion Indians. Or hundreds of millions of other people on other continents. I guess heaven will be mostly white and American since Family Radio has minimal influence in other counties apart from some short-wave radio signals that almost no one listens to.


Gregg
[email protected]

 

[Goldilocks94941]

Re: Have you seen the Judgment day Billboards that 610 AM is posting around the bay

Gregg - I think you'd nailed what I see as the source of a lot of conflict and problems that fundamentalists of all stripes seem to enjoy causing. Their own narcissism only allows them to see a very small world, one where they don't have to be held accountable - perhaps even to God, as they'd see it - because they're just doing what they are told to do by some Patriarch. And any other ways of seeing or doing things becomes a threat to their stiff little world. Not unlike the corrosive top-down corporate culture that permeates the radio industry in many places.

A little God-given sensitivity and appreciation for the marvelous variety in our world will go a long way toward a more peaceful society. And it might even help to broaden a few playlists out there to have something that isn't entirely stale and predictable on the air!

 

[fremonter]

Family Radio's KYFR in Sourhwest Iowa with a signal aimed at Omaha has recently had some interesting local programs. On Saturday the KYFR host was interviewing a Boy Scout leader from Shenandoah, Iowa. The leader was telling about community service projects the boys have been working on for merit badges. The host asked the leader where people should call if they have a project some of the boys might be interested in. The leader gave a phone number to call but explained their schedule was about full for this summer but they still would have room for a few additional projects.

A similar local show a week before that had a professional counsellor from Boys Town in Omaha as a guest. The local Family Stations host asked the guest for some suggestions to parents as to how to raise children to become mentally healthy adults. I have a suggestion. Stop listening to and believing the whacko programming on this radio station that makes their kids think on Saturday they are either going to heaven or headed to he'll.

 

[Geek-O-Rama]

The Boy Scout leader shouldn't schedule any projects past May 21 since the world will end then.
Shouldn't the Family Radio host have brought that up?

 

[Bongwater]

Even though it likely won't happen today, there was a time when making such scare tactics on the radio was AUTOMATIC grounds for losing one's station licenses.

I think we probably need to raising a little hell (pardon me) of our own if Camping's predictions do not come true and DEMAND action from the FCC. Trust me, there's MORE than enough evidence of bad juju here.

That will send the loudest and clearest message possible that this blatant fearmongering crap will not be tolerated........

Because in the end, it's really all about Camping making a quick buck off gullible religious people by twisting Christianity into Camping's personal worldview.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Bongwater: You make some interesting points and present some logic that more people should think about. However, to follow your points puts us in some very "dicey" decision making. We have always been a nation that allows it's people great latitude in expressing their personal philosophy and their personal views of religion. For the government to jump in and even threaten to yank licenses opens the door to a lot of possible future actions. Yank licenses for predicting that the election of the wrong presidential candidate will lead to destructive style war? If we can yank a license because Camping predicts the end of the world, would we also yank a license because some more liberal oriented religious leader preached that the world will not end but will become "The New Heaven" someday which causes people to loose all support of the need for an orderly society in a political sense.

Do we yank licenses from stations that allow political commentary that present economic rules will result in China owning the world and us. Is that any less destructive than what Camping is projecting upon us?

Do we yank licenses from stations that allow political commentary that claim China is a mild pussycat just pretending to hiss and scratch, and that changing the present economic rules will result in the destruction of China thus destroying the world economy.

So in the end: Do we really want the FCC being the ultimate umpire of who determine who gets to speak out and who must sit down and shut up?

Mama tried to tell me that life is not always simple.

 

[LKellerIII]

I agree with Goat Rodeo Cowboy. Religious nuts have been making these predictions for as long as I've been alive, and for centuries before that, as some posters have pointed out above. The only difference is - this guy has a radio network to proselytize on - and that's hardly a first, either. I bet if you looked back in the history of the 20th Century, you'd find a number of radio preachers who predicted the end-of-days on the air.

All the FCC would be able to prove (if the world survives 5/21 ;D) is that Camping was wrong, that's all.

 

[recto101]

Does this mean another run in with CBS like 1550am will be given to Camping and CBS gets back 610 AM is that even possible or does the FCC even permit this?

 

[Bongwater]

So in the end: Do we really want the FCC being the ultimate umpire of who determine who gets to speak out and who must sit down and shut up?

No. But on the licensed airwaves, there's a certain responsibility to the public. I'll explain.

The crux of this particular biscuit isn't just merely somebody's viewpoint on when they think the world will end. Everyone has their idea on HOW it will end. Whether it's correct or not remains to be seen. And God ain't telling.

It's really when a simple foolish mortal like Harold Camping goes out of his way to use the radio airwaves to deliberately terrorize insecure religious people with an exact date and time. And using billboards, bus cards and other threats on EXACTLY WHEN (and ever the most devout religious theologists of EVERY religion I know are simply out on THIS question), WHEN world will end. That in my opinion, it crosses a line.

Because some people actually BELIEVE that.

Yes, they all probably also believed in Y2K too (and Art Bell still eats crow for that.) But the point is this is NOT entertainment. Or News and Information. This is a single radio license holder deliberately going out and using his airwaves to spread this kind of fearmongering to the public. Art Bell was syndicated on virtually all high powered major AM frequencies in almost every level of market. But lucky for him, life went on. In Harold Camping's world, it won't......

The glaring difference between this and the Y2K fiasco is this: While most people disregarded the Y2K nonsense (as well as Camping's current campaign), there were those who actually BELIEVED it. You might say "Hey, stupid idiots, that's their problem" over the Y2K mess and maybe so.

But religious belief is something far deeper than stocking up on extra gallons of water and overpriced freeze-dried food. You'd be amazed at what people did throughout history in the name of religion. And when the 21st comes and goes without even bird crap on my windshield. there might be trouble

I cannot see the future, but some people COULD commit suicide. Some have probably thrown their entire remaining life savings at this guy and hunkered down. That in my opinion crosses a line no political talk show could even come CLOSE to. Yes, you'll hear shady ads from "gold dealers" on syndicated talk shows, often VOed by the show's own hosts, left and right (wings.) But while I'm disgusted by all of them, none of them made any "precise" predictions (as Camping is crowing about.) Not even Dionne and Her Psychic Friends pushed it THIS far in "accuracy". Camping is.

Why? Well Harold Camping is 89 years old. And even some of the sharpest 89 year olds I know admit things get a little fuzzy at his/her age and a little 43 year old punk like me needs to stop asking so damn many questions. I understand this. But all I REALLY want to know from Harold Camping is this:

A) What if you were wrong?

B) If someone commits suicide or disposed of their entire life savings to you in their FAITH in YOU and YOUR EXACT prediction, could you possibly live with yourself as a human being and a Christian?

C) And would you offer refunds if you were wrong to those who may have graciously donated their entire life's savings to you?......In their faith and TRUST in YOU?

I understand Harold Camping is 89 years old and all in all, he personally doesn't have much left to lose at this point in his game. And who's gonna jail a very frail 89 year old man? The culture shock alone would kill him.

That's why I believe it's a (hopefully last) cash grab for Harold Camping, damn the consequences. And like I said before, I don't think the FCC today will do anything about it. But just 20 years ago, I think this kind of public "stunt" would have at least raised eyebrows (if not flat out alarms) at the FCC. When was the last time you heard an entire local Christian radio station deliberately predict the exact day of "Judgement Day"?

But an ENTIRE national radio network? With BILLBOARDS today? That says something in my personal eyes........

Yes, I know you can still get away with a lot with the FCC, but dare you play again the unedited version of "Jet Airliner" by The Steve Miller Band on a classic rock station (which had been until just a few years ago was played for 30 years uncensored on MOST classic rock stations?.......)

All I am asking is radio simply get down to the basics. Bulls--t

I have spoken.......

 

[recto101]

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-may-18-2011/debt-to-america


Check out this Clip Jon Stewart now compares Harlod Camping to the Cable Propagandists who spew Doomsday on the Debt Crisis.

 

[LKellerIII]

And Camping's predictions are the "above the fold" article in the SF Chronicle this morning.

Amusingly, the American Atheists are meeting in an Oakland hotel room on that day - to say 'I told you so.' They have suggested holding a party outside Family Radio's studios. Quoting one of the atheists:

"We're confident we'll still be here," said Larry Hicok, the California director of the American Atheists who scheduled the 200-member meeting to coincide with Camping's forecast that the biblically ordained rapture is at hand. "But if it does happen, we wanted a front-row seat."

If it does happen, I guess Larry and his gang will be burning in hell. I have a friend in New Zealand (the first place the apocalypse will hit). I'm hoping the phones are working, and they can call and warn me - so I can repent..fast.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/19/MN1N1JFUB4.DTL

 

[Scoobyfan1]

So in the end: Do we really want the FCC being the ultimate umpire of who determine who gets to speak out and who must sit down and shut up?

It's really when a simple foolish mortal like Harold Camping goes out of his way to use the radio airwaves to deliberately terrorize insecure religious people with an exact date and time. And using billboards, bus cards and other threats on EXACTLY WHEN (and ever the most devout religious theologists of EVERY religion I know are simply out on THIS question), WHEN world will end. That in my opinion, it crosses a line.

Foolish Mortal... Where have I heard that line before? Oh yeah, it was in a a couple Scooby Doo episodes ;D

But seriously, as a true Christian and someone who goes to Church, I do not believe anything that this guy says.

And his whole thing about not going to church and how in his mind people should stop going to church is way over the line.

 

[Rusty Muck]

And Camping's predictions are the "above the fold" article in the SF Chronicle this morning.

Amusingly, the American Atheists are meeting in an Oakland hotel room on that day - to say 'I told you so.' They have suggested holding a party outside Family Radio's studios. Quoting one of the atheists:

"We're confident we'll still be here," said Larry Hicok, the California director of the American Atheists who scheduled the 200-member meeting to coincide with Camping's forecast that the biblically ordained rapture is at hand. "But if it does happen, we wanted a front-row seat."

If it does happen, I guess Larry and his gang will be burning in hell. I have a friend in New Zealand (the first place the apocalypse will hit). I'm hoping the phones are working, and they can call and warn me - so I can repent..fast.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/19/MN1N1JFUB4.DTL

Even as a Christian, I actually got a kick out of the American Atheist's planned response. And I hope they continue to hammer Camping's cult relentlessly and without mercy. Mr. Camping and his followers sycophants deserve to be mocked at for their heretic teachings and false prophesy. Anyone with an inkling of common sense would see that coming a mile away.

Sadly, no one in the Family Radio cult will ever admit that they were wrong. That is if they don't pull a nationwide Heaven's Gate.

 

[Goldilocks94941]

Helluva way to sign off, I suppose.

The real crime here is not just the gullible whose lives are being put on hold, and perhaps harmed, by falling for Rev. Camping's "prophecy" and its appeal to the insecure. "It must be true, I heard it on the radio!" Hey, I've got a copy of "War of the Worlds" you might enjoy. (Just be sure to turn down the lights while you listen at home, alone, late at night.) At least Orson Welles was entertaining.

Funny, but Camping has zero charisma - just a lot of prime radio licenses. That's the real issue here, as I see it. I seriously think the FCC is negligent in not calling his bluff. This charade isn't "free speech." It's a bigger obscenity that he should be able to use the public airwaves all he wants for his personal gain, at the expense of hundreds of more-qualified candidates having the use of those frequencies. (Maybe they can let him keep the shortwave stations going!)

Why shouldn't someone be able to pronounce the name of Arnold Schwartzenegger's birthplace of Faak, Austria, on the air, while Mr. Camping is allowed to perpetrate a hoax, with no consequences? Should we be surprised that other "evangelical" leaders aren't chastizing him on the air? (That's a whole discussion line in itself and, if they are, I confess I'm not paying attention to them anymore - I just can't seem to get away from this story in local news, etc.)

"That's the craziest thing I've ever heard." -- Harold Camping, Oakland, Calif. in a phone conversation to yours truly, 1994

 

[Silkie]

Why do you marvel at such heresy and false prophecy? The Christ Himself said it was coming. Besides, Judgment Day doesn't come for a time past the thousand year reign with the Christ, and we are not sure of the time frame in "for a time" after Satan is released from prison to once again deceive the world.

And so, what God said becomes manifest yet again, "My people perish for lack of knowledge".

 

[Rusty Muck]

Helluva way to sign off, I suppose.

The real crime here is not just the gullible whose lives are being put on hold, and perhaps harmed, by falling for Rev. Camping's "prophecy" and its appeal to the insecure. "It must be true, I heard it on the radio!" Hey, I've got a copy of "War of the Worlds" you might enjoy. (Just be sure to turn down the lights while you listen at home, alone, late at night.) At least Orson Welles was entertaining.

Funny, but Camping has zero charisma - just a lot of prime radio licenses. That's the real issue here, as I see it. I seriously think the FCC is negligent in not calling his bluff. This charade isn't "free speech." It's a bigger obscenity that he should be able to use the public airwaves all he wants for his personal gain, at the expense of hundreds of more-qualified candidates having the use of those frequencies. (Maybe they can let him keep the shortwave stations going!)

Why shouldn't someone be able to pronounce the name of Arnold Schwartzenegger's birthplace of Faak, Austria, on the air, while Mr. Camping is allowed to perpetrate a hoax, with no consequences? Should we be surprised that other "evangelical" leaders aren't chastizing him on the air? (That's a whole discussion line in itself and, if they are, I confess I'm not paying attention to them anymore - I just can't seem to get away from this story in local news, etc.)

"That's the craziest thing I've ever heard." -- Harold Camping, Oakland, Calif. in a phone conversation to yours truly, 1994

Any legal problems that Camping encounters after the 21st (assuming he isn't assumed to heaven via the Rapture doesn't kill himself) is his fault, and his fault alone. He earns no sympathy from me, and I betcha from a whole lot of people throughout the country - both Christian and Atheist alike.

When you are an egotistic cultist, and are devoid of common sense or rational thought, you open yourself up to the consequences. And they should be serious and painful ones.

 

[almaniac27]

The best summation of how us atheists and agnostics view this whole thing is that the way all you Christians feel about Camping and his followers, we've been feeling about you. One group's brand of fairytales is as silly to us as anyone else's.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

One group's brand of fairytales is as silly to us as anyone else's.

Some who believe in what you call fairy tales will be offended by your remark, but they need to consider what you wrote and realize how poorly we sometimes retell the "fairy tales".... making them juicy targets for criticism.

What has been going on in this conversation is a bit "push and shove" among those who tell and retell the "fairy tales". Some of us hold to a mindset that if one wishes to embrace the "fairy tale", share the "fairy tale" and invite others to share the "fairy tale"... there is some organic need to keep the "fairy tale" true to its earlier forms and as told years and centuries ago.

The Rev. Camping is the target of criticism, the target of anger, the target of laughter because he has invented his own version of the "fairy tale" which may be appropriate to do for one's own private consumption. If you are going to propagate the "fairy tale" via broadcast, billboard, books, and other means of communication, it should not be so highly booger-ed and tampered with as the Camping version. If you want to go down in history as the author, the founder, the father of a brand new "fairy tale" then make your "fairy tale" unique and un-ambiguous so as to not "swamp the boat" of nearby fairy tales.

I think it is appropriate for you to come here and post that you and others do not participate in "the telling of fairy tales" as practiced by others, but I offer you the suggestion that it would be courteous of you to discern the difference between a discussion of the authenticity of a version of the "fairy tale" and a discussion of the authenticity of ALL fairy tales.

But I can understand that you might say: In spite of your logic, the conversation going on here is no big deal!

 

[1069_KIFR]

Does Family Radio have programming plans for Sunday May, 22nd?

 

[Ultimajock]

Does Family Radio have programming plans for Sunday May, 22nd?

...yes, it does...