It’s literally the easiest fucking litmus test in the world.
“How many things does this person say will come true that actually come true? How many don’t?”
I just ran into this the other day with someone talking about Alex Jones talking about an attack on the world trade centers in 2000.
A number of others also presented similar ideas before it happened, but more importantly - if you need to go back 20 goddamn years for an example of foresight for someone who makes wild predictions for hours every single day, that person isn’t a prophet.
The stupidity of a lot of people is disappointing to the point of being demoralizing.
I have a friend who had some mental health problems and turned to religion. He’s basically lost to me, he can’t have a normal conversation anymore about anything, it just comes back to the lines he keeps reciting.
He was talking about the “coming apocalypse” and despite me showing him all the countless failed-apocalypse prophecies of the past, and he said that when Jesus returns he would give everything he has and follow Christ no matter what.
I asked “Doesn’t it also say there will be false prophets and anti-christs? How will you know you’re following the 'right” jesus?"
He said “Oh I will know. He is in my heart so I can never be fooled.”
“Then what about all the people it says will be fooled? How do you know you’ll be different? If countless people are fooled by a false Jesus, don’t you think it will be very convincing? How do you know you’ll know? Wouldn’t it be safer to be careful, otherwise why would the bible need to warn you?”
Just dead silence and staring straight ahead for an uncomfortable amount of time. He never answered.
He said “Oh I will know. He is in my heart so I can never be fooled.”
Ugh, I hate this one. Especially with the people that believe in demonic forces.
Like, ok - so everyone that disagrees with you has been misled by demons or the devil, but you’re right because you feel it, but that feeling can’t be the same forces you attribute to other people’s differing feelings, because you have the magic protection provided by your feelings being right. And they don’t have the magic protection but they think they do because the evil forces can trick people into thinking they are protected. But not you, because you feel it’s actually the good guys in your heart.
Same as with fortune tellers and horoscopes, say enough things in vague enough terms and some of it’s bound to be able to fit into something that happens later. If someone wants something to be true then any wedged in ‘correct’ prediction is just validation of the expected result.
I just don’t get following false prophets.
It’s literally the easiest fucking litmus test in the world.
“How many things does this person say will come true that actually come true? How many don’t?”
I just ran into this the other day with someone talking about Alex Jones talking about an attack on the world trade centers in 2000.
A number of others also presented similar ideas before it happened, but more importantly - if you need to go back 20 goddamn years for an example of foresight for someone who makes wild predictions for hours every single day, that person isn’t a prophet.
The stupidity of a lot of people is disappointing to the point of being demoralizing.
I have a friend who had some mental health problems and turned to religion. He’s basically lost to me, he can’t have a normal conversation anymore about anything, it just comes back to the lines he keeps reciting.
He was talking about the “coming apocalypse” and despite me showing him all the countless failed-apocalypse prophecies of the past, and he said that when Jesus returns he would give everything he has and follow Christ no matter what.
I asked “Doesn’t it also say there will be false prophets and anti-christs? How will you know you’re following the 'right” jesus?"
He said “Oh I will know. He is in my heart so I can never be fooled.”
“Then what about all the people it says will be fooled? How do you know you’ll be different? If countless people are fooled by a false Jesus, don’t you think it will be very convincing? How do you know you’ll know? Wouldn’t it be safer to be careful, otherwise why would the bible need to warn you?”
Just dead silence and staring straight ahead for an uncomfortable amount of time. He never answered.
Ugh, I hate this one. Especially with the people that believe in demonic forces.
Like, ok - so everyone that disagrees with you has been misled by demons or the devil, but you’re right because you feel it, but that feeling can’t be the same forces you attribute to other people’s differing feelings, because you have the magic protection provided by your feelings being right. And they don’t have the magic protection but they think they do because the evil forces can trick people into thinking they are protected. But not you, because you feel it’s actually the good guys in your heart.
Jesus fucking Christ. 🤦🏼
Talking to Christians is a good way to test Theory of Mind and if other people have it.
Conclusion: no.
Same as with fortune tellers and horoscopes, say enough things in vague enough terms and some of it’s bound to be able to fit into something that happens later. If someone wants something to be true then any wedged in ‘correct’ prediction is just validation of the expected result.