Many Bay Area Christians Disagree With Oakland Evangelist's Judgment Day Prediction

OAKLAND (KCBS) -- An Oakland preacher is standing by his prediction that Saturday is Judgment Day. Despite relentless scorn and opposition, Harold Camping, a Christian radio broadcaster and president of Family Radio, has ignited worldwide religious controversy and has become the butt of recent jokes. Many Christians are picketing the evangelist's headquarters, having accused him of turning their religion into an international joke.

Camping insists that Saturday is the day that Jesus returns and those whose souls are saved will leave the Earth for eternal rapture in Heaven.

Meanwhile, The American Atheists gather for their West Coast convention in Oakland this weekend and will be sure to poke fun at Camping, but the Christians picketing outside Family Radio on Hegenberger Road don't think it's a laughing matter and said Camping is doing real damage to their religion.

KCBS' Doug Sovern Reports:

One of those protestors, Viktor Choban said Camping has misread the bible because in it, Jesus specifically said you can't predict the date of Armageddon.

"Just like the bible says, no man knows the day or the hour," said Choban.

Camping doesn't mind all the online humor at his expense and is positive he's got his math right and that this will be the last day he spends on Earth.

KCBS' Mike Sugerman has already tried to book an interview with Camping to explain why he was wrong but Camping has said he can't, because he won't be here.

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