Dealing with family who think the world is going to end?

Yikes. Cut off all contact with crazy people? No, I know that's not feasible where family is concerned. You can quote their own Bible at them, maybe that will help ("No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.") Gently remind them of this until May and then when you are proved right keep mentioning 'I was right.'. That should at least embarrass them into shutting up about it.

This date is based on the Mayan calendar ending, and they made a mistake, and this date is wrong, way off, by the way. you could get some books from the library on end of the world forcasts, you would be amazed that they have been doing this since man first walked the earth!!! And does it not say in the Holy Book, that the kingdom of heaven is "within"..it says that in the St James Version..in the new versions it is "in the midst of us", heaven is a state of mind, a state of being, and your state of mind, and of being, and what you are being, determines where you go when you die, you don't automatically change, you still are what you are, and create your own way with what you are being...and where they get a judgement day anyway, God needs not judge anyone, we save ourselves or condemn ourselves by what we are being being love, or being fear...being good or creating disharmony...but even comdemnation isn't eternal, if we reach out to God...any verse they come up with in the Bible, if you do your homework, you can find another that contradicts it, it was not meant for most people to understand what its true meaning is, you can only do that by downloading the program...letting the Holy Spirit flow through you and teach you...all you can do is all you can do, just try, and don't feel too bad if there is nothing you can do, God gave us free will, and what they decide to do, if you have done your best is all you can do, we have to also respect their free will, no matter how outrageous it seems to be..

World is not going to end! Not in May and not even in 2012!!!! World will end when signs of Judgement Day will start to appear. There are major signs and minor signs. Minor signs are almost everywhere. Major signs, only God knows when they'd occur. I really cannot believe that your family thinks judgement day is May 21, 2011. If that's the case, it means I won't be able to start university :O OMG I won't even be able to celebrate my birthday! :/ This is sad. Anyway, tell your family to forget about all that and enjoy their life while they can! Happy New Year!! :)

This kind of faith is always difficult, since they probably won't take advice from you. If they believe in the bible they should know that "no man knows the hour". Make them aware of what happened to Ronald Weinlands prophecies and a long list of other prophets in the last century. They all had to eat humble pie.

If the world is going to end, noone can know for sure what will happen. Maybe it will happen, but not in a doomsday way that kills all living. Yeah, make a bet with them:-)

Tell them that you have researched their faith and the reasons why it didn't convince you. Make sure they believe you are openminded and not declined their faith because you are some kind of antichrist or equivalent.

There are lots of organisations that help, look at http://www.factnet.org/cris_org.htm#Cult Hotline & Clinic

they did not get this belief from the bible that states "God will destroy those destroying the earth", also stated is "the meek shall inherit the earth" this leads me to believe that the earth will be the gift to those who worship truly, a few less people and plenty to do to restore the balance with nature and clean up the harm that pollution has done. The judgement day may be near but this does not mean at all that the world is going to end,nor that mankind is going to end, take planet earth out and you'd have trouble with all of space, everything is so placed to remain forever

Im not totally familiar with site and easy references that lay that one down but I do know that as it has happened several times over many many years, tha you can find instances of the same thing occuring earlier, point it out as having happened, and then just express concern for the family to not pull a repeat and drink some cool aid.

Part 1 of Zeitgeist might be a bit harsh for them if theyre Christian (though it is addressed).

regular communication fromm you to them expressing your viewpoint and pointing out that its not the first time that religious guys pulled their pants up way too far and starting killing themselves off might be what to do regardless of any other actions.

yeah, id say take the compassion and care route rather than trying to contest thier beliefs as that would possibly be less effective.

data: In Korea tthere were small scale "mass suicides" in the mid 90's. Similar thing with american churches predicting end of the world stuff a few times in the mid to late 90's.

Typically, the why is misconstrued biblical (or other religious works) text.

Tell them that you can't live without them so you have begun a campaign to pray to God over and over again for the next five and a half months to hold off on the End of the World thing.

Then if the world doesn't end on that day, they can blame you.

Which beats feeling stupid or hurting themselves.

You must be American lol. Offer your family a very large bet... If they are so sure the world will end they will take the bet. You get a good payout and they get to live. Everyones a winner!

Get them to sign over power of attorney to you and then have them locked away in the loony bin, sell all of their belongings, pocket the proceeds and enjoy the New Year.

Show Them This: http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012.htm... :] :]

Its NASA talking about how fake this whole thing is, just like the Y2K scare a few years back.

There is nothing to worry about and i hope this helps :D

xx