Left Behind
David Gates' article in Newsweek, reports on the new prophets of revelation, and why their biblical "Left Behind" novels have sold 62 million copies. Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins have become America's best selling writers. Seventy one percent of the readers are from the South and Midwest. The "Left Behind" volume, which came out after 9/11 became the best selling novel of the year.
Gates reports: "many critics of the series see a resonance between its apocalyptic scenario and the born-again President Bush's apocalyptic rhetoric and confrontational Mideast policies."
The "Armageddon" volume begins with an enemies list which includes the Antichrist a former Secretary General of the U.N. and the Pope as the Anitchrist's assistant. The "Left Behind" novels show a the common evangelical sympathy for Jews, and claim they exist to be converted and to fulfill Christian prophecy.
N.Y.Times columnist Nicholas Kristof writes :"Left Behind" depicts Jesus returning to heave everyone who is not a born-again Christian into everlasting fire...howling and screeching.
Predicting the apocalypse has been difficult. In 1844, William Miller and tens of thousands of his followers waited for Jesus to appear. Some of these Millerites had given away all of there belongings. The no show was called the Great Disappointment.
The best selling non-fiction book of the 1970's was Hal Lindsey's "The Late Great Planet Earth"; selling 18 million copies. One of the best sellers of 1988 was a booklet called "88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988." Being wrong has never been so lucrative.
Tina Pippin, a professor of religious studies states: "Left Behind" novels" encourage people to see the world in terms of black and white, good and evil, with us or against us." Our nation has been deeply divided by this commercial and political exploitation of religion.
Gates reports: "many critics of the series see a resonance between its apocalyptic scenario and the born-again President Bush's apocalyptic rhetoric and confrontational Mideast policies."
The "Armageddon" volume begins with an enemies list which includes the Antichrist a former Secretary General of the U.N. and the Pope as the Anitchrist's assistant. The "Left Behind" novels show a the common evangelical sympathy for Jews, and claim they exist to be converted and to fulfill Christian prophecy.
N.Y.Times columnist Nicholas Kristof writes :"Left Behind" depicts Jesus returning to heave everyone who is not a born-again Christian into everlasting fire...howling and screeching.
Predicting the apocalypse has been difficult. In 1844, William Miller and tens of thousands of his followers waited for Jesus to appear. Some of these Millerites had given away all of there belongings. The no show was called the Great Disappointment.
The best selling non-fiction book of the 1970's was Hal Lindsey's "The Late Great Planet Earth"; selling 18 million copies. One of the best sellers of 1988 was a booklet called "88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988." Being wrong has never been so lucrative.
Tina Pippin, a professor of religious studies states: "Left Behind" novels" encourage people to see the world in terms of black and white, good and evil, with us or against us." Our nation has been deeply divided by this commercial and political exploitation of religion.
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