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1. Harold Camping is not a trained Bible scholar. He has a BS in civil engineering from UC Berkeley. He has not been to seminary. Of course, neither have I, and that doesn’t stop me from saying Camping is wrong. So I can’t fault him for thinking he’s right.
2. But Harold Camping does describe himself as a Bible scholar. In this interview at Killing the Buddha, he said: “I am a Bible teacher, a Bible scholar. For the last 50 years, I’ve made the Bible my university.”
3. Harold Camping doesn’t have much patience for theologians or trained Bible scholars. Later in the same interview, he states, “…instead of having to go through the screen of theologians who have tried to understand the Bible, I found that it was far more efficient just to study the Bible itself.”
Read more: here
I realize that this may in fact infuriate a few people, but frankly, Beth Moore sounds a lot of like Harold Camping. What? How dare I accuse the bastion of modern devotional reading of being like Harold Camping… I’ll just let her speak for herself…
Moore is truly a Bible teacher. Her teaching is rooted in her strong affinity for Scripture. She does not show much interest in theology or tradition, distrusting the way the academy has, at times, handled the Bible. “Godless philosophies have not been my temptation,” Moore comments. “In my life experience, the most dangerously influential opinions have been those held by intellectuals and scholars who profess Christianity but deny the veracity and present power of Scripture.” Although Moore believes that seminaries are necessary despite the “stunning arrogance” and “theological snobbery” that reside in them, she argues, “Psalm 131 reminds us that [the Scriptures] are not primarily for seminaries, dissertations, and theological treatments. They are primarily for everyday living on the third rock from the sun.”
Moore is primarily self-taught. She uses commentaries and concordances when writing her studies, but she relies primarily on her own intuitionwhen interpreting and applying Scripture. (HT – Read the rest of the post here)
Neither care for actually learning Scripture, although Moore gives lip service to it. Instead, both lean on their own understanding of Scripture, or some ‘word from the Lord’ to tell you what they think it means.
Note, you don’t have to go to seminary to learn about the bible. But, simply reading it and thinking that you know what it means without further study makes you a dilettante of the worst sort.
Related articles
- Apocalypse Weekend: Harold Camping Says the World Ends Saturday. He’s Said that Before (time.com)
- Harold Camping Says It’s the End of the World. He’s Said that Before (time.com)
- The Bible Is Not An Engineering Book (capthk.wordpress.com)
- Harold’s Hogwash (godsmustardseed.com)
- Truth Nugget: Harold Camping (tobywene.wordpress.com)
- Harold Camping: The Man Behind ‘Judgment Day,’ May 21, 2011 (VIDEO) (huffingtonpost.com)
Joel Landon Watts is a Masters of Theological Studies student with a focus in Mimetic Criticism of the Gospel of Mark. His interests include exploring the role of mimesis in human civilization, specifically in the study of religion and media, as well as science fiction and the way in which it has allowed mythology to be explored in light of scientific ideals of the past century. Currently, he is a TA for Old Testament at United Theological Seminary under Dr. Vivian Johnson, Associate Professor of Old Testament. His first book, Rhetorical Strategies of the Evangelist: Mimetic Criticism of the Gospel of Mark, is expected to be published by Wipf and Stock early next year. He is currently co-editing a book on moving from Fear to Faith (Energion, 2013).
This anti-intellectual strain that has become part of the current evangelical climate is disturbing. I agree that seminaries and Bible colleges can be breeding ground for bad theology, but this idea is completely wrapped up with modernist individualism. Soon, someone will rewrite the hymn – I am the church, I am the church, I am the church together. I will follow Jesus, all around the world, Yes I’m the church forever.
“Note, you don’t have to go to seminary to learn about the bible. But, simply reading it and thinking that you know what it means without further study makes you a dilettante of the worst sort.”
Why?
Because the bible wasn’t written to you – culture, context, words change. Paul says to study. Then study.
Thanks for the response. Obviously, there’s different perspectives on the “why”, and it’s helpful to know where you’re coming from. I’ll assume that you hold to the general position that authorial intent largely determines meaning?
(I don’t have a strong opinion on the issue, and am not attempting to bait you. My goal is to learn your position, not try and argue with you about it. )
Authorial intent does largely determine the meaning, to a point. I think that modern application needs to be the the role of the Church. Further, I think that often times, we need to understand and appreciate the theologizing which we see in Scripture, of Scripture.
It’s now May 21st in the mid-pacific ocean, New Zealand etc.
No sign of anything out of the ordinary.
Wish I was listening to that radio station right now, oh, it’d be fun.
Phil, I hate to say this, but more than likely, you guys are Christian enough. Sorry. I’ll try to word to St. Peter for a few of you though…
Is Second Coming date-setter Harold Camping worthy of death? He already has a zero batting average after his September 1994 prediction fizzle and, according to the Bible, is a false prophet.
A Google article (“Obama Fulfilling the Bible”) points out that “Deut. 18:20-22 in the Old Testament requires the death penalty for false prophets.”
The above article concludes: “False prophets in the OT were stoned to death. Today they are just stoned!”
PS – For many years Camping was not known as a pretrib rapture teacher. But now, for $ome my$teriou$ rea$on, he seeks support from those who believe in and teach an imminent, pretrib rapture which supposedly will occur SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE the traditional SECOND COMING to earth! For a behind-the-scenes, documented look at the 181-year-old pretrib rapture belief (which was never a part of any official theology or organized church before 1830!), Google “Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty,” “Pretrib Rapture Diehards” and “Pretrib Rapture – Hidden Facts.”
I think we can spiritualize the ‘death to the false prophets’ bit, but point taken.
[...] mostly in the USA. They really have only themselves to blame if they put their trust in someone as unqualified as Camping, who has already shown himself [...]