The Sad Story of Harold Camping (Updated)

Harold Camping is well known as a date-setter and eschatological speculator.  He has been soundly condemned by the Reformed churches for engaging in such practices.

But who is he?  Where did he come from?  What about his "Reformed" past?

Dr. W. Robert Godfrey has begun a very helpful series on Camping's personal history, recounting his own early days as a new Christian when he and Camping crossed paths when both attended the Alameda Christian Reformed Church.

Godfrey's series is very helpful in providing the background story to Camping's Family Radio, as well as Camping's rather bizarre end-times calculations.

Harold Camping and the End of the World, Part One

Harold Camping and the End of the World, Part Two

Harold Camping and the End of the World, Part Three

Comments

[Alberto]

I read that some of his fascination with numbers may be due to his background as an engineer; I find it somewhat hard to believe. I am studying to be an engineer, but I don't for a minute that think there is some type of mathematical or numerical information that can help me to interpret the Scriptures. It all seems more like an excuse in light of what Dr. Godfrey writes about him.

[Kim Riddlebarger]

Alberto:

For one thing, you are not a kook like Camping.

Dr. Godfrey is not saying nor implying that studying engineering leads people to interpret the Bible as does Camping. Rather, Godfrey's point is that Camping's interest in creative exegesis and numerics, might be the same thing which attracted him to engineering in the first place.

[Daniel James]

As an engineer, I find Camping's number crunching histrionics to be, at best, an incredible reach. But, say what you will about Harold, he does have a tremendous set of sideburns.

[steve]

Many people call Open Forum to challenge Mr. Camping as to what would he say when May 21 passes. He will not entertain the question.The only evidence that will convince him he is wrong is when May 22nd comes.
He is staunch and rock solid in his view. His allegorical view allows him great freedom in interpreting the Bible and a lot of "wiggle room" when he is asked a tough question.
I take the Bible in a literal, common sense manner. It was inspiried by God for His creation and He knows best how to communicate with us. No secret codes, hidden meanings or complex mathematical calcualtions are needed to understand most all of the Bible. Prayer, simply reading and taking the time to think about the words written to each of us by God.

[Ron]

I've met Mr. Camping in Alameda around 1990. A friend of mine was an ordained Elder there at the time. Mr. Camping preached to his group of faithful followers and really did a good job of feeding his sheep so to speak. He taught from the Bible alone and was very much on track doctrinally at that time. However, after 1994 and that whole fiasco, he's gone down hill. I believe that over the past ten to fifteen years, he's actually begun to lose his mental state of awareness. While he still seems very sharp on a lot of subjects, it's pretty plain to see that he's clearly not 100% there any longer. I feel sorry for his wife and daughter, it will be very difficult for them on the 22nd when the world realizes he was wrong...it's going to be a very large pill for Mr. Camping to swallow on that day. I suspect we won't hear from Mr. Camping for quite a while afterwards...if at all.

[Nicholas]

Ron , you wrote: "I suspect we won't hear from Mr. Camping for quite a while afterwards...if at all. "

If only that were true, but I'm afraid this latest "miscalculation" won't shut him up. He's become addicted to the publicity . I think he'll be back at it again , but hopefully the next time he won't attract as much attention. Good thing for Harold that the Old Testament laws about false prophecy are not still in effect . Christians should "shun" this man until he repents. (don't give another dime to "Family Radio" or anything that Camping has anything to do with) He has spread spiritual poison in the body and given the world a reason to mock the Faith.