NationStates Jolt Archive

Most of you who know me understand that i am an avowed atheist, and in general, opposed to evangelism and fundamentalism and all this modern preaching and attempts to indoctrinate youth and such. However, recently out of interest i picked up a copy of the 1st of the Left Behind series, which some of you may be familiar with. And i have not been able to put them down. I am on the 3rd Volume now, and though they have not at all altered my opinion on organized faith, i see nothing wrong with them. I am aware that they have stirred a great amount of controversy over their messages and things they are said to promote. But for the most part the evangilistic part has been lost on me. I can see little evidence of subliminal christian messages and the way the books are written it seems the authors are leaving the reader to draw their own opinion on everything. Have any of you read the books, and are you offended by them? In favor of them? Or simply think their a good read?

Most of you who know me understand that i am an avowed atheist, and in general, opposed to evangelism and fundamentalism and all this modern preaching and attempts to indoctrinate youth and such. However, recently out of interest i picked up a copy of the 1st of the Left Behind series, which some of you may be familiar with. And i have not been able to put them down. I am on the 3rd Volume now, and though they have not at all altered my opinion on organized faith, i see nothing wrong with them. I am aware that they have stirred a great amount of controversy over their messages and things they are said to promote. But for the most part the evangilistic part has been lost on me. I can see little evidence of subliminal christian messages and the way the books are written it seems the authors are leaving the reader to draw their own opinion on everything. Have any of you read the books, and are you offended by them? In favor of them? Or simply think their a good read?

Interesting. I haven't read the books, but find it difficult to believe they aren't saturated with Christian messages - most books of this type seem to be all about proselytizing, which completely ruins the story for me. Maybe I'll check it out sometime. Currently, my reading list is already overfilled with what I would consider to be far more worthwhile books, but it might be fun to read one of those.

I read the first book, and about half of the second. I just couldn't get into that type of fiction, but they were written well enough, I suppose.

Interesting. I haven't read the books, but find it difficult to believe they aren't saturated with Christian messages - most books of this type seem to be all about proselytizing, which completely ruins the story for me. Maybe I'll check it out sometime. Currently, my reading list is already overfilled with what I would consider to be far more worthwhile books, but it might be fun to read one of those.
Didn't you read the part where Jesus starts blasting Satan and his minions with an AK?

I read the 2nd book and, while I don't think that a work of fiction needs to be generally taken all that seriously, I was disturbed that they twisted around the book of Revelations in order to make a political point. There is one sentence in particular where he finds a specific prophecy that IS in the book, quotes a verse to go with it, and then follows it up with "and then elsewhere it says there will be a one-world government", no citation. That's because that citation's not there. To me, that's pretty much an admission that they have no basis for that belief and this is all cover for a political agenda.

On the other hand, I get annoyed with a lot of the distorted history in The Da Vinci Code as well, just so you know that I'm not JUST an anti-christian.

Everything in the book of Revelation has pretty simple applications to events that occurred during the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. For example, "Babylon" is referred to in terms that unmistakeably refer to Rome, and the emperor Nero's "number" was 666.

Most of you who know me understand that i am an avowed atheist, and in general, opposed to evangelism and fundamentalism and all this modern preaching and attempts to indoctrinate youth and such. However, recently out of interest i picked up a copy of the 1st of the Left Behind series, which some of you may be familiar with. And i have not been able to put them down. I am on the 3rd Volume now, and though they have not at all altered my opinion on organized faith, i see nothing wrong with them. I am aware that they have stirred a great amount of controversy over their messages and things they are said to promote. But for the most part the evangilistic part has been lost on me. I can see little evidence of subliminal christian messages and the way the books are written it seems the authors are leaving the reader to draw their own opinion on everything. Have any of you read the books, and are you offended by them? In favor of them? Or simply think their a good read?

That's funny, because I read them and hated them. The writing didn't seem good, the authors just seemed in it to make a buck, and the whole "Bible-thumping" message was just too much. Then again, I did read the "kid" versions, because I am a kid, so maybe the adult versions are better.

That's funny, because I read them and hated them. The writing didn't seem good, the authors just seemed in it to make a buck, and the whole "Bible-thumping" message was just too much. Then again, I did read the "kid" versions, because I am a kid, so maybe the adult versions are better.

I haven't read the kid's version, though i saw them. I suppose a version written for children might come across with a more obvious christian themes, simply because they assumed younger readers would not pick up on a more subtle ones.

I tried to read one of the childrens ones but didnt really enjoy it. I should clarifiy at this point that I'm a Christian myself. I dont however accept the interpretation of the Rapture, and the Christians all disappering. If that were the case then I doubt that God would have given us the book of revelation at all seeing as we would all be safe from the horrors of the tribulation etc.

I got to the end of book 3 & had to stop reading. They really started to cheese out at the end of book 3. The writing became cliche & poorly told. I just couldn't go on after that.The books are full of hard transitions. I want to feel for the characters but when bad things happen the very next scene is full of flowers & happiness. Just kills the mood.

Then there is the Kirk Cameron fiasco. How & why did they let him get ahold of the movie rights.

Heard about them, not impressed, not interested. End of story. [/brevity]

I get the feeling that there are a lot of christians who can't wait for the tribulations and their chance to be martyred for their faith. It's getting less satisfying crying out about being oppressed every time you are disallowed from using the government to spread your religion.

I've only read the first book. Though the book has some pretty heavy doctrinal shortcomings, I felt like it effectively communicated the sorrow of a world effectively abandoned by God.

I've read them all. As in, all 12 [of the adult ones], and the one prequel (so far, I think two more are on the way).

I think that they're very well written, myself. Interesting storylines, although sometimes things are a little too convenient to keep the ultra-realistic edge they aim for.

Because, y'know, that's what the authors are aiming for. Like a knock on the skull, a wake-up call to everyone, Christians and non-Christians alike, saying "Helloooo, wakey wakey, The End Of Days isn't necessarily beyond your lifetime. Get thinking and Be Prepared (tm)", and that's important. It keeps a Christian on their toes, as we should be. He'll be coming like a thief in the night and all that, and if you know that a thief's coming, you prepare your home in advance etc etc etc.

However, I can't help but feel that with 12 books in the series, plus 3 prequels, potentially further sequels, and the kids' line, that they're milking it too much.

And I really fear that there'll be people who take the books literally. They're Apocalyptic Fiction, not fact. Built from say, a spin-off of Revelation; an artist's interpretation. I believe that Revelation is largely metaphorical, I certainly don't go into it as detailed as Tim LaHaye has, simply because it's not a concern of mine to find out. I can deal with the few important facts that Revelation offers (Jesus' coming, and everything'll be sorted again; Heaven on Earth), and I'm very happy with just those kthnxbye ;) :eek:

To the secular reader The Left Behind series seems just another work of apocalyptic fiction, nothing more nothing less. That could not be further from the truth. These books are Tim LaHaye's personal views on what shall happen in the future. The Left Behind series is extremely popular with fundamentalist Chiristians and are activily used, along with the Bible, as a tool either for conversion or for the indoctronation of their children (hence the childrens addition).

There are now millions of people in the U.S. waiting for the events of the "End Times", as told by LaHaye's, which are supposedly to happen sometime this century. These books spread the idea that this world does not matter except as a condition for the next, they sow hatred, breed suspicion, and blind people to reality. That makes them dangerous!

This (http://slacktivist.typepad.com/slacktivist/left_behind/index.html) is an interesting weekly blog written by an evangelical Christian who has decided to go through the entire first book and give his apparaisal of the writing, and more importantly, the Christian elements present (or not) in the first Left Behind novel.

I've read the entire series and found them intriguing and a very good read. However, their theology, which is premised on the book of revelations, leaves a little to be desired from a biblical and theological standpoint. The authors seem to have taken a little "creative license" with Revelations in order to make the story they wanted to tell "fit" in the framework of Revelations and Christian doctrine. Some works, some doesn't, but overall the series was good.

Most of you who know me understand that i am an avowed atheist, and in general, opposed to evangelism and fundamentalism and all this modern preaching and attempts to indoctrinate youth and such. However, recently out of interest i picked up a copy of the 1st of the Left Behind series, which some of you may be familiar with. And i have not been able to put them down. I am on the 3rd Volume now, and though they have not at all altered my opinion on organized faith, i see nothing wrong with them. I am aware that they have stirred a great amount of controversy over their messages and things they are said to promote. But for the most part the evangilistic part has been lost on me. I can see little evidence of subliminal christian messages and the way the books are written it seems the authors are leaving the reader to draw their own opinion on everything. Have any of you read the books, and are you offended by them? In favor of them? Or simply think their a good read?

The books are primarily Premillenial-Pretribulational (Dispensational) in theology; and do not represent the Amillenialism (which makes up the bulk of accepted Eschatology in the several churches of Reformed and Catholic descent) or Postmillenialism...

I adhere to Amillenial eschatology

I prefer Hideaki Anno's interpretation of the Book of Revelation (Neon Genesis Evangelion), myself. You can't improve upon cybornetically restrained cloned angels used as military craft and 14 year old girls in skintight plugsuits. :D

I havent read them because from everything I have heard about them they present the USA as the shining beacon of Christianity and hope for the world. That view is so silly that I would not deem the book worth reading. Dont people realize that the USA is a force for evil in the world?

I read this article a year ago.
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/_/id/5939999/?pageid=rs.PoliticsArchive&pageregion=mainRegion

Most of you who know me understand that i am an avowed atheist, and in general, opposed to evangelism and fundamentalism and all this modern preaching and attempts to indoctrinate youth and such. However, recently out of interest i picked up a copy of the 1st of the Left Behind series, which some of you may be familiar with. And i have not been able to put them down. I am on the 3rd Volume now, and though they have not at all altered my opinion on organized faith, i see nothing wrong with them. I am aware that they have stirred a great amount of controversy over their messages and things they are said to promote. But for the most part the evangilistic part has been lost on me. I can see little evidence of subliminal christian messages and the way the books are written it seems the authors are leaving the reader to draw their own opinion on everything. Have any of you read the books, and are you offended by them? In favor of them? Or simply think their a good read?
There is no subliminal messaging in the books themselves. But preachers who hold to the secret rapture doctrine, tend to refer to them. Even though the Bible does not predict a secret rapture.

The Left Behind series is just another scam. Why my aunt actually pays money for theese tapes baffles me. Crappy acting, unfounded beliefs, and a whole load of BS.

Really, people who make a profiet by taking advantage of gullible religious folk and old people using religion should be taken out and shot.

I believe they are a lame representation of Christianity, Revelations, and writting in general. They become repetitive in thier plots and turn everything into whatever their whim is at the moment.