The end is coming, so I'm digging a hole!

[Moonbiter]

No matter how tragic a thing might be, I can't help getting the serious giggles about the state of humanity:

MOSCOW, Russia (AP) -- Seven women who are members of a Russian cult that has been holed up in a cave for months awaiting the end of the world have emerged and are being treated by emergency workers, regional officials said Friday.

More than two dozen members who remain inside the cave could come out as early as Saturday, said the official in the governor's office of the Penza region, about 645 kilometers (400 miles) southeast of Moscow.

He said four children, who were reportedly under the age of two, were among those remaining inside the cave.

Penza Vice Governor Oleg Melnichenko said in televised comment that the group's leader, self-declared prophet Pyotr Kuznetsov, was brought from a local psychiatric hospital to help persuade the women to come out. He said the women -- six Russians, one Belarussian -- emerged voluntarily, carrying satchels with their belongings.

"They refused help and walked on their own for some 5.6 kilometres (3.5 miles) to a nearby prayer house," he was quoted as saying by RIA-Novosti. "There is no reason to urgently hospitalize any of them."

He said officials feared that melting snow could eventually lead to the collapse of the cave, but there was no immediate threat to those who remained behind.

The cultists dug the cave near the village of Nikolskoye and a total of 35 people entered it in early November to wait for the end of the world, which they said would happen in May. They told authorities that they would detonate gas canisters if police tried to remove them by force.

Officials had repeatedly enlisted the help of priests from the Orthodox Church in an effort to persuade the group to leave, communicating mainly through a small chimney pipe that poked up through the snowy hillside.

Earlier this week, Melnichenko told reporters that some of the cultists had indicated they might leave the cave on Orthodox Easter, which is April 27.

Kuznetsov has been charged with setting up a religious organization associated with violence. Earlier this week, officials said they had seized literature that included what appeared to be extremist rhetoric. He has been confined to a psychiatric hospital since last November.

An engineer from a devout family, Kuznetsov, who goes by the title of Father Pyotr, declared himself a prophet several years ago. He left his family and established the True Russian Orthodox Church and recruited followers in Russia and Belarus.

He reportedly told followers that, in the afterlife, they would be judging whether others deserved heaven or hell.

Followers were not allowed to watch television, listen to the radio or handle money, Russian media reported.


Rasputin is alive and kicking...

[Craig]

Why Rasputin?

My Russian-History-Fu is weak.

[Kipi]

Originally Posted by Craig

Why Rasputin?

My Russian-History-Fu is weak.

Well, basing on wikipedia and my memory from history classes and several stories and myths I've heard and read, Rasputin was well known for being close advisor Tsar Nicholas II and from the cult he created under the protection of Tsar. The connection between this event and Rasputin is, as I understand, the fact that Rasputin was able to create his own cult, which was known for violent and orgies, by using his power as advisor of Tsar and his charisma. Many followers joined this cult at their own will, like in the current episode in Russian. If you are interested, more can be read from Grigori Rasputin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As myself, I just can't understand those who actually believe this "leader" in Russian. How did he manage to convince them that the end of the world would actually come in May? Yes, I know that the end could very well come even tomorrow, it's possible though the chances are almost nonexistent. But where are the proofs behind the claims of this man?

[Fiberfar]

@ Kipi: People have been tricked in believing the end is nigh the last *insert number* years, 2012 probably being the closest year of unending doom and grimness right now.

It wouldn't suprise me at all, but I hope we won't have to read about a "mass suicide".

[Kipi]

Originally Posted by Fiberfar

@ Kipi: People have been tricked in believing the end is nigh the last *insert number* years, 2012 probably being the closest year of unending doom and grimness right now.

I know that, and thus I wonder even more why anyone would take such claims as truth anymore, especially if there is only words from one single man backing the claims.

[Fiberfar]

Originally Posted by Kipi

I know that, and thus I wonder even more why anyone would take such claims as truth anymore, especially if there is only words from one single man backing the claims.

It all boils down to that very overlooked ability score; Charisma. (and a few points in diplomacy as well)