Wow what an interesting thread! - I am a newbie and this is my first posting so be kind....

I am a former "fundie" and as such can speak from the experience of being scared witless as a teenaged lass by all the preaching about a secret Rapture and the need to conduct my life in spotless purity in case I was caught "in sin" at that vital moment when Jesus came back. Faith based on fear seems to be a feature of most types of fundamentalism - fear of judgement, fear of rejection, fear of retribution.

When I left that particular faith at the age of 23, (and was also going throug divorce traumas) one of my abiding memories is that the person who was most loving and supportive was my GAY landord, as opposed to folks from my old church who tracked me down and told me I was going to Hell, especially when they realised the kind of "sinful" life I had chosen*.

The impending war with Iran seems to be driven by Bush's need for the fundies votes, and here in GB we have toothy Tony who is more a high church type Christian, so his public pronouncements on Iran seem to be waivering between lukewarm support for GWB to more caution. But when the excrement hits the rotating air-conditioning he will be Bush'e lapdog again I am sure.

And that is far more scary than any heretical secret "Rapture".

foggers

PS * for a full run-down of my complete range of sins send SAE to...