Yes, It's Another Rapture Story

Beginning tomorrow, according to Christian radio broadcaster Harold Camping, all but a tiny sliver of humanity will suffer through a series of natural disasters culminating with the end of the world in October.

At least some people are taking Camping’s prediction quite seriously, with people across the country postings signs and renting billboard space (including a billboard on Belleville Avenue near Bridge Street) spreading Camping’s message.

Many other Americans, however, can’t help but note that we’ve heard this all before -- including from Camping himself, who once predicted that the End of Days would actually land in 1994.  Many recall the slew of end-times forecasts that coincided with the arrival of a new millennium a decade ago. Respected biblical scholars have documented several other predictions of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ dating back to the earliest days of Christianity (first-century Christians, for example, thought that Jesus’ return was imminent and that they would live to see it).

But while many adults may scoff, for young children, signs blaring that life as they’ve known it may end tomorrow can potentially be traumatic. Parents and guardians can play a key role in reassuring the youngsters in their household, said Bob Davison, executive director of the Mental Health Association of Essex County in Montclair.

“I think it is contingent on the parent or the responsible adult to explain that this is not credible. While we respect the right of others to have their views, this is based on a belief system that we do not hold,” Davison advises parents and guardians who don’t adhere to Camping’s beliefs.

Not all children are likely to be impacted, Davison said. Kids younger than seven are probably not aware of the buzz May 21st has generated. Children older than 12, meanwhile, have already begun to develop “an adult mind” and are in a better position to assess the veracity of end-times predictions.

Other children, however, might need some reassurance from a trusted adult. In fact, Davison said, a discussion about such beliefs might even present a “learning opportunity.”

Parents can explain to their children that “there are some adults who insist on believing things that just aren’t true,” Davison said. “Parents can also give some historical perspective. It seems like every ten years or so a group comes along predicting the end of the world.”

Davison suggested another way to assure the little ones that, come tomorrow, the world will still be going on as it always has.

“I think what the parent can do is reassure the child that we’ll all wake up tomorrow. Talk about the fun things you have planned for the weekend, the baseball game, the lacrosse game, going to see grandma on Sunday.”