Russian doomsday cult calls credit cards satanic

http://www.reuters.com ^

[marthemaria]

NIKOLSKOE, Russia (Reuters) - A Russian doomsday cult sheltering in a bunker say credit cards and food packaging bar codes are satanic, the official negotiating the release of children from the group said on Monday.

Around 30 followers, including four children, from across Russia and neighboring Belarus met last October and barricaded themselves into a hillside to escape an apocalypse their preacher says is looming in either April or May.

"For us right now, what's most important is the children," said Alexander Yelatontsev, an official from Russia's Penza Oblast region, who has been the chief point of contact for the cult since the siege began.

"They have burned their passports and say that all plastic (credit) cards and strip codes on food packaging are the work of Satan," he told reporters.

Yelatontsev said the people underground were in contact with him regularly, and would accept food only if it had not been processed with modern factory equipment.

"Right now they are asking for a cow so that they can have fresh, boiled milk that is not processed," he said.

He said progress was slow but local authorities were negotiating with the group to leave their refuge.

"In as much as their beliefs have been formed over a long period of time, convincing them to come out is not going to happen quickly," he said

On Friday the entrance to the bunker partially collapsed after rain and melting snow soaked the muddy hillside and the ground gave way.

Seven women were isolated from the rest of the group by the mudslide, and had to emerge from their shelter and seek refuge in a nearby home. The bunker is near the village of Nikolskoe, 750 km (450 miles) southeast of Moscow.

Russian authorities said the splinter sect of the Russian Orthodox church was formed by preacher Pyotr Kuznetsov, who convinced members the world would end in April.

Kuznetsov did not join his followers underground, saying God had given him different tasks. He was arrested but psychiatrists determined he was unfit to stand trial.

[Emperor Palpatine]

"Woe to you, Oh Earth and Sea, for the Devil sends the
beast with wrath, because he knows the time is short...
Let him who hath understanding reckon the number of the
beast for it is a human number, its number is Six hundred and sixty six."


I left alone my mind was blank
I needed time to think to get the memories from my mind


What did I see can I believe that what I saw
that night was real and not just fantasy


Just what I saw in my old dreams were they
reflections of my warped mind staring back at me


'Cos in my dream it's always there the evil face that twists my mind
and brings me to despair


The night was black was no use holding back
'Cos I just had to see was someone watching me
In the mist dark figures move and twist
Was this all for real or some kind of hell
666 the number of the beast
Hell and fire was spawned to be released


Torches blazed and sacred chants were praised
As they start to cry hands held to the sky
In the night the fires burning bright
The ritual has begun Satan's work is done
666 the number of the beast
Sacrifice is going on tonight


This can't go on I must inform the law
Can this still be real or just some crazy dream
But I feel drawn towards the evil chanting hordes
They seem to mesmerize me ... can't avoid their eyes
666 the number of the beast
666 the one for you and me


I'm coming back I will return
And I'll possess your body and I'll make you burn
I have the fire I have the force
I have the power to make my evil take it's course

-Iron Maiden

[NRA1995]

The devil made me use my American Express!

[2ndDivisionVet]

“The Big Money”

By Neil Peart, music by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson

Big money goes around the world
Big money underground
Big money got a mighty voice
Big money make no sound
Big money pull a million strings
Big money hold the prize
Big money weave a mighty web
Big money draw the flies

Sometimes pushing people around
Sometimes pulling out the rug
Sometimes pushing all the buttons
Sometimes pulling out the plug
It’s the power and the glory
It’s a war in paradise
It’s a Cinderella story
On a tumble of the dice

Big money goes around the world
Big money take a cruise
Big money leave a mighty wake
Big money leave a bruise
Big money make a million dreams
Big money spin big deals
Big money make a mighty head
Big money spin big wheels

Sometimes building ivory towers
Sometimes knocking castles down
Sometimes building you a stairway
Lock you underground
It’s that old time religion
It’s the kingdom they would rule
It’s the fool on television
Getting paid to play the fool

Big money goes around the world
Big money give and take
Big money done a power of good
Big money make mistakes
Big money got a heavy hand
Big money take control
Big money got a mean streak
Big money got no soul...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urmKhAulBqM

[Leroy S. Mort]

[ArrogantBustard]

I'll stipulate that these folks are nuts. However:

the official negotiating the release of children from the group said on Monday.

Let us suppose that you had decided that the Government was completely in cahoots with Satan, and the TEOTW was coming in the next few weeks.

Why would you even consider handing your children over to the government agents of Satan? That would be crazy!

[Wiseghy]

“For us right now, what’s most important is the children,”

OK, now WHO does this remind you of?!

[wolfcreek]

This wouldn’t have anything to do with barcodes having the number *6* as the first, middle and last numbers, would it?

[redhead]

"The cards get it from associating while in your pocket with the evil guns, which spontaneously go on shooting rampages, killing innocent yoots who was never involved in gangs before..."

...while joyriding in those murderous SUV's, talking and texting on their cellphones on their way to eat all that nasty, killer saturated fat..."

[BenLurkin]

[Radio Free Tuscaloosa]

Dave Ramsey fans, no doubt.

[Rennes Templar]

;>)

[Kozak]

Credit cards are no more evil then guns or knives or hammers or any other tool.

You can use them or abuse them. I use mine a lot for the convenience and the benefits I get ( flyer miles ). I also pay off the FULL amount, without fail every month. Where’s the “evil”?

[Choose Ye This Day]

The banks themselves are the ones engaged in dirty dealings—offering easy credit to high school and college students, and others who have no business getting into debt.

Have you ever heard of the Universal Default Provision?

Credit card companies that wait until after your payment is late to process it, so they can charge you a late fee...

No, the card is amoral. But the business practices of many of the debt merchants are far from honorable.

[glorgau]

Even a stopped clock... ;-)

[Centurion2000]

Russian doomsday cult calls credit cards satanic

They got one thing right.

[RightWhale]

Bar codes. Wait until they encounter RFID chips.