If you found out that the world was going to end in a week, what would you do?

[resurrection33]

Hey Everyone,

I am on here researching for the book that I am writing. I am not a christian or religious person, that being said I do not know enough about the religion in order to accurately write it into my book. I am looking for an accurate, modern day account of christianity in order to write for one of my characters.

Essentially the premise of the story is that the people on earth are told that something has happened and the world will be ending in approximately one week. Following four characters, a Nihilist, an Existentialist, a Hedonist and a devout Christian, they all take their own different approaches to being told the news. When the news is confirmed they embark on their journeys to achieve what their own philosophies and spirituality follows.

So I ask you, people of this Christian chat forum: If you were told that the world was confirmed to end in one week, what would you do? How would you approach it?
This is purely research and I appreciate any help all of you can provide me with, also any unbiased resources anyone can recommend would be appreciated as well.

Thanks!

But no two Christians are alike. We vary vastly in what we believe. Nowadays, you almost need to have two Christian characters, a conservative and a liberal, and maybe a third who doesn't totally identify with either.

 

[Christian71]

Hey Everyone,

I am on here researching for the book that I am writing. I am not a christian or religious person, that being said I do not know enough about the religion in order to accurately write it into my book. I am looking for an accurate, modern day account of christianity in order to write for one of my characters.

Essentially the premise of the story is that the people on earth are told that something has happened and the world will be ending in approximately one week. Following four characters, a Nihilist, an Existentialist, a Hedonist and a devout Christian, they all take their own different approaches to being told the news. When the news is confirmed they embark on their journeys to achieve what their own philosophies and spirituality follows.

So I ask you, people of this Christian chat forum: If you were told that the world was confirmed to end in one week, what would you do? How would you approach it?
This is purely research and I appreciate any help all of you can provide me with, also any unbiased resources anyone can recommend would be appreciated as well.

Thanks!

You said that one of your character is a devout Christian, now I know you have had a lot of comments on here but being a Christian myself, I would get sooooooooo excited... Why wouldn't I my Lord is coming to take me and his children home... To Heaven where there will be Eternal Love and Peace... Who wouldn't want that!... I've seen enough evil in this life and it's time to say goodbye... I see the responses from the younger folk on here and from the older ones we've been down that road... This devout Christian in your book make him an older man, whose been down the road, and he knows even though bad times are coming, he looks past them to the coming Glory of The Lord... He might even be thinking of this scripture as he is waiting... Brother Glen

Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

 

[J0Hnnatcc3]

The inherent flaw in asking this question to Christians is that to answer means to disregard our beliefs, as we do not believe in a sudden end if the world, but rather years of predicted events.
And to ask us to pretend the news is true then removes from us what we believe. Thereby making us no longer Christian and our answer as Christians irrelevant. They would no longer be Christian answers.
Lastly many non-christians (thanks to hollywood) misunderstand the idea of apocalypse. It is not a single cataclysmic event (such as a giant meteor striking the earth), but in reality is a future, impending war that denotes not the end of the world, but rather the rebirth of the planet, in a sense.
Not pointing this out to be difficult, but rather stating the facts and how it would impact your assignment.

Hi Ms. Gwils. I think Ugly has a good point. A consistent Christian will refer to scripture as ultimate authority (it being the Word of God) and they will tell you that The Lord comes as a "Theif in the night."

 

[Fenner]

I would do a lot of praying, I would try to comfort and help others, try the lost find Jesus and let them know that this is truly not the end.

 

[JoDel]

Hey Everyone,

I am on here researching for the book that I am writing. I am not a christian or religious person, that being said I do not know enough about the religion in order to accurately write it into my book. I am looking for an accurate, modern day account of christianity in order to write for one of my characters.

Essentially the premise of the story is that the people on earth are told that something has happened and the world will be ending in approximately one week. Following four characters, a Nihilist, an Existentialist, a Hedonist and a devout Christian, they all take their own different approaches to being told the news. When the news is confirmed they embark on their journeys to achieve what their own philosophies and spirituality follows.

So I ask you, people of this Christian chat forum: If you were told that the world was confirmed to end in one week, what would you do? How would you approach it?
This is purely research and I appreciate any help all of you can provide me with, also any unbiased resources anyone can recommend would be appreciated as well.

Thanks!

I would spend that time reaching out to anyone who would listen, about Jesus and His purpose of the cross. Telling them it only takes a "believing heart" to know Him. ~ Then answer as many of the "hard questions" as possible to save as many as possible.

 

[seapanda]

I think a true Christian would do everything he can to help as many people he can. He would work with his church, the government, friends, family and everyone else to give as much as he can. He would be the hero in the story, bravely facing the challenge like the modern David against a modern Goliath. Where everyone is giving up, he will be the last man standing. The thing here is, the question is wrongly asked. As a Christian, the fate of the world is in the hands of God, and therefore not of our concern. Our concern is to love one another and to do the best we can to help as many people as we can. The premise here that a Christian will somehow rely on his religion but not on his own practical actions is false. Christianity is primarily a religion of action. Jesus saved the world. Our job is to continue his good work. God comforts us in our suffering but He calls upon us to help Him save the world. I think all the heroes you see in the movies are essentially the right model for the modern Christian. We are called to act righteously, while having faith in God that good will overcome. We would be like the modern David, have enough spirit to face whatever calamity, however much the odds are against us, because we believe.

 

[seapanda]

What you've read here are good examples of how Christians will react. We'll take it calmly, logically, have a sense of humor about it, and be available to help if needed. We wouldn't worry about it because we have our faith and our attention is on what is real and doable and not on what is beyond us. If I were you, my Christian hero would be someone who's a single mum or someone completely ordinary and, now challenged by the end of the world, rises to the challenge because he is simply a good person and cannot stand by at a time like that.

 

[tanakh]

I would cancel my Grocery and Milk deliveries and my Amazon account.

 

[Depleted]

Hey Everyone,

I am on here researching for the book that I am writing. I am not a christian or religious person, that being said I do not know enough about the religion in order to accurately write it into my book. I am looking for an accurate, modern day account of christianity in order to write for one of my characters.

Essentially the premise of the story is that the people on earth are told that something has happened and the world will be ending in approximately one week. Following four characters, a Nihilist, an Existentialist, a Hedonist and a devout Christian, they all take their own different approaches to being told the news. When the news is confirmed they embark on their journeys to achieve what their own philosophies and spirituality follows.

So I ask you, people of this Christian chat forum: If you were told that the world was confirmed to end in one week, what would you do? How would you approach it?
This is purely research and I appreciate any help all of you can provide me with, also any unbiased resources anyone can recommend would be appreciated as well.

Thanks!

Since Jesus said no one will know when, I'd continue on with my life assuming it's a hoax. Even if it's not a hoax, why not?

(BTW, what is an unbiased source for something about how Christians would deal with the end of the world? Wouldn't that be fiction too?)

 

[Depleted]

I may stay, you never know. Everyone's opinions, unless harmful, are useful!

My response to that though is, would there be a real point in just laying down and contemplating on what you may be missing out on? Considering that when people pass away, technically the world does end? You wouldn't be able to really missing out on anything, you can't miss people, things, or experiences when you don't have consciousness.

I appreciate the amount of research needed to write even fiction. (I've had to do research for my novel too.) But don't you think you're missing the point here? We're Christians, thus don't really buy into the "don't have consciousness" stuff.

Have you never run into Christians before? One of the things you're really going to have to learn to deal with is, even if you don't agree with what one of your characters believes, you, at least, have to understand it enough to see why he/she would. You have to get into your character's skin at least that much or it's going to be a lousy story. This "don't have consciousness" stuff is proof you will need quite a bit of research to do a good job on the Christian character.

 

[Depleted]

I hear you there, but lets suspend our disbelief a little farther. Assume it is undeniably confirmed and it is no longer arguable that it is true. There would definitely be people at that point who wouldn't believe it, considering how many lies float around in this world.

However, if it was true what would you turn to? how would you spend your time? Do you think that any event like this may be interpreted as an apocalyptic event in which it was a sign from God?

Also, I appreciate how quickly I'm getting responses! You are all really helping me out.

Probably would be interpreted by some as an apocalyptic event. I'm just into believing that event already happened. Sooo, back at you. You're going to have to narrow down your view of "devout Christian," and pick a version of what that means. Go for the expected, and, again, a lousy story.

You can no more pigeonhole "devout Christian," than you can pigeonhole a nihilist, an existentialist, or a hedonist. One size doesn't fit all for any group.

I'm curious. Which one of those characters is you? (Let's face it, every writer has a part of him in every character, but we all know which character we're playing as we write the story. lol)

 

[Depleted]

agree with NNM

...
but, for the sake of argument:

I'd probably be rather selfish to be honest. I'd travel the world and see all the places I've always wanted to see until my money ran out. (I mean, it's not like there is any point in donating it to charity for one week),

Hopefully it would make me ... braver? ... as a Christian. I am not afraid to let people know what I believe, but I am not the kind of person who starts conversations ,,,, maybe I'd dare giving that a try? It would be fun to go to a bar and ask people what they believe, and challenge them about it (Many "Christians" just believe in "some god")

Ooo, cool! I wouldn't have to do chores again. AND I'd bring home homeless people. Why not? My big fears are I can't afford the food to help them, they'd steal everything, or kill me. Big deal, if there is only a week left. And, how nice would it be for them to live in a house for a week?

 

[Depleted]

The inherent flaw in asking this question to Christians is that to answer means to disregard our beliefs, as we do not believe in a sudden end if the world, but rather years of predicted events.
And to ask us to pretend the news is true then removes from us what we believe. Thereby making us no longer Christian and our answer as Christians irrelevant. They would no longer be Christian answers.
Lastly many non-christians (thanks to hollywood) misunderstand the idea of apocalypse. It is not a single cataclysmic event (such as a giant meteor striking the earth), but in reality is a future, impending war that denotes not the end of the world, but rather the rebirth of the planet, in a sense.
Not pointing this out to be difficult, but rather stating the facts and how it would impact your assignment.

Actually, that's not what all Christians believe about the apocalypse, however, that's exactly why he can't have one single example of "devout Christian." What we do or don't believe about the end tells nothing on our devoutedness.

 

[Depleted]

I really appreciate this answer! I need to know these things so i can have an accurate depiction. Thanks!

Good luck with that. It's called Eschatology, and will take you years to figure out most of the different beliefs in it. And then there are those of us who believe...
"Z. None of the above."

 

[Depleted]

Right now, I live by addressing each opportunity I run across, as another chance to watch Jesus living through what I choose to do in that particular situation.

So, I guess it would just be seven days more of the same. Are you, perhaps, thinking that my actions should somehow change? The actions of the man I follow didn't change in the few days He knew He had left to live here. Why would mine?

Because if you have enough clothes for a week, why wash your clothes?

 

[Depleted]

Probably lay down and contemplate mortality and how I was never able to do anything that I wanted to with my life :/


Oh and welcome to the da family, even though it seems you will not stay.

I feel bad for you. Here's the scoop. You never will do all the things you dream to do. You also have no idea how long you have. So do what you have to do, and when you still have time at the end of the day, pick out both what you want to do and what you can afford to do.

Then, out of that list, pick out what you want to do first. Then do it! If you have to learn how to do it before doing it, then learn it. And if you have to practice it before you can do it well, practice it. And keep doing that until you don't feel like it anymore, then pick the next thing. Or, if you still have time to do a second thing, then pick the next thing. And keep going, always realizing the money issue changes through life, so you may have to reevaluate that list.

Things I wanted to do that I will never do in this life:
Go back to visit my family in Virginia, go to the Galapagos, Australia for 3 months, travel Europe, see Niagara Falls/Grand Canyons/Jackson Hole/every single zoo in the US/and go to every lake in a Winnebago (starting with Winnebago Lake) to go fishing. I will never be a potter, a CEO, an honest politician, an event organizer (wanted to do conventions), an English teacher, or an accountant.

Things I wanted to do and did or am still doing:
Social work, work in an ad agency, have a garden that filled my yard, (thankfully my yard is incredibly small lol), have my own business, stained-glass, a variety of needlecrafts, write and publish a novel (written, still working on publishing), have my own house (I didn't get the "two cats in the yard part" but had one), wreath-making, basket weaving, make a topiary, draw.

Things I never wanted to do but am glad they happened anywhere:
Marry, live in a city, become disabled. (Last one sounds dumb, but if I weren't already disabled, no one would have been home to take care of hubby when he needed it. I would have had to keep working.)

Things I tried but couldn't do:
Become a high school English teacher, learn .http and photoshop.

It's all worth it. The only thing you need is to see what you want, figure out if you can afford it, and, if you can? Go for it!

(BTW, GWil, this does help you get some idea of what Christians believe, even if it wasn't what you were expecting.)

 

[Depleted]

I would cancel my Grocery and Milk deliveries and my Amazon account.

Why waste time canceling Amazon account? Just don't use it. lol

 

[AllenW]

I feel bad for you. Here's the scoop. You never will do all the things you dream to do. You also have no idea how long you have. So do what you have to do, and when you still have time at the end of the day, pick out both what you want to do and what you can afford to do.

Then, out of that list, pick out what you want to do first. Then do it! If you have to learn how to do it before doing it, then learn it. And if you have to practice it before you can do it well, practice it. And keep doing that until you don't feel like it anymore, then pick the next thing. Or, if you still have time to do a second thing, then pick the next thing. And keep going, always realizing the money issue changes through life, so you may have to reevaluate that list.

Things I wanted to do that I will never do in this life:
Go back to visit my family in Virginia, go to the Galapagos, Australia for 3 months, travel Europe, see Niagara Falls/Grand Canyons/Jackson Hole/every single zoo in the US/and go to every lake in a Winnebago (starting with Winnebago Lake) to go fishing. I will never be a potter, a CEO, an honest politician, an event organizer (wanted to do conventions), an English teacher, or an accountant.

Things I wanted to do and did or am still doing:
Social work, work in an ad agency, have a garden that filled my yard, (thankfully my yard is incredibly small lol), have my own business, stained-glass, a variety of needlecrafts, write and publish a novel (written, still working on publishing), have my own house (I didn't get the "two cats in the yard part" but had one), wreath-making, basket weaving, make a topiary, draw.

Things I never wanted to do but am glad they happened anywhere:
Marry, live in a city, become disabled. (Last one sounds dumb, but if I weren't already disabled, no one would have been home to take care of hubby when he needed it. I would have had to keep working.)

Things I tried but couldn't do:
Become a high school English teacher, learn .http and photoshop.

It's all worth it. The only thing you need is to see what you want, figure out if you can afford it, and, if you can? Go for it!

(BTW, GWil, this does help you get some idea of what Christians believe, even if it wasn't what you were expecting.)

I would sell all I had, and take me and my money and go up on top of a mountain and wait.

 

[CherieR]

I would probably do what I normally do, try to not worry and relax because there is nothing I could do or pray to the Lord to delay the end of the world and to have mercy on my loved ones that they may come to faith in Jesus and pray for others to believe in Jesus. I would probably keep on singing praise songs because I love to sing! I might ask other people to pray that the world won't end so quickly. I might quit my job and hang out with my mom and do stuff together. I might even sing the song " It's the end of the world as we know it..."

 

[EarsToHear]

Because that does not align with God's Word, I would give it no credence. This age will end, but this earth will never end. In fact, heaven will someday be right here on earth.