] The "Left Behind" series, the best-selling novels for
] adults in the U.S., enthusiastically depict Jesus
] returning to slaughter everyone who is not a born-again
] Christian. The world's Hindus, Muslims, Jews and
] agnostics, along with many Catholics and Unitarians, are
] heaved into everlasting fire: "Jesus merely raised one
] hand a few inches and . . . they tumbled in, howling and
] screeching."
]
] Gosh, what an uplifting scene!
]
] If Saudi Arabians wrote an Islamic version of this
] series, we would furiously demand that sensible Muslims
] repudiate such hatemongering. We should hold ourselves to
] the same standard.
]
] I accept that Mr. Jenkins and Mr. LaHaye are sincere.
] (They base their conclusions on John 3.) But I've sat
] down in Pakistani and Iraqi mosques with Muslim
] fundamentalists, and they offered the same defense:
] they're just applying God's word.
]
]
] Now we have the hugely profitable "Left Behind" financial
] empire, whose Web site flatly says that the authors
] "think this generation will witness the end of history."
] The site sells every "Left Behind" spinoff imaginable,
] including screen savers, regular prophecies sent to your
] mobile phone, children's versions of the books,
] audiobooks, graphic novels, videos, calendars, music and
] a $6.50-a-month prophesy club. This isn't religion, this
] is brand management.

Apocalypse (Almost) Now