In eight days, we will all be dead.

In theory, anyway.

As many people know, Harold Camping predicted the end of the world back in May, but 24 harrowing hours later, thousands of people looked to one another for solace in the fact they had just wasted an entire day finding animal shapes in the clouds and that they had spent a large sum of money in preparation for the Second Coming.

I’m sure it was kind of like the Great Disappointment of 1844, in which one of many prophets predicted the end of the world, incidentally only a day before this year’s apocalyptic prediction.

I’m pleasantly surprised that at least Camping put forth some effort in his prophecy and postponed the End of the World by a day-you know, so no one could accuse him of ripping off the date from a previous prediction, made available by good old Wikipedia.

What shocks me, apart from the parade of prophets who shamelessly sing their predictions from the mountaintops, is the handful of people who take them seriously.

Even after Camping’s epic fail with his May prediction, there are still individuals who hold faith. Why people are so eager to die or, as they say, “live again,” blows my mind.

Why should anyone still believe Camping? According to apocalypse2011.com, “Harold Camping of Family Radio, is one of the most well read christian prophets of all time.”

Punctuation and capitalization errors aside, I have to say that I am not moved. While it would have been commendable if the creators of this article remembered to at least capitalize their own religion, it would have been even more convincing if they had tacked up Camping’s résumé instead. I want to know his credentials, but maybe they would raise a red flag, trigger the common sense alarm in our brains.

So how does the world end?

“Got you answer right here!” apolcalypse2011.com boasts. The website goes on to discuss the “collapse” of humankind, and that the Mayans were wrong with their predictions, that they “simply misinterpreted the Aliens messages.”

Honestly, I couldn’t make this stuff up.

A quick Google search will prove that there are countless of other websites that suffer from the same symptoms-a nonexistent editor, unfounded claims, and a torrent of pure insanity. I just have to wonder, at what point will people exercise their brain cells and question the validity of every grandiose prophecy that surfaces? These Second Coming predictions are an epidemic, like the swine flu scare at AU. The difference, however, is that fear eventually subsides while stupidity does not.

To those of us who have remained pragmatic and scoff at such tales of Rapture, I’d say our only crime is apathy. We hear such ridiculous declarations so frequently that we cease to argue with the believers because we know we just cannot win.

I recently stopped by a nearby coffee shop, which I have respectfully chosen to leave anonymous, and accidentally blurted out some jab about the approaching Second Coming. I could have just engaged in small talk, like the weather, but no. As I collected my change from the man behind the cash register, I made some blithe remark regarding how I wouldn’t need the money because it would soon be meaningless.

Of course this backfired, as all topics of religion do.

“Jesus,” the man enunciated slowly, his eyes unwavering from mine, “is coming. On a white horse. It’s happening.”

The usual “Shut up, Amanda…” filter had chimed in my mind as I forced a smile.

“Sure. Whatever you say.”