Prophecy

{{Religion}}
'''Prophecy''' is speaking for [[Monotheism|God]] or for [[Polytheism|the gods]] (''pro-'' meaning ''for''), sometimes involving predicting the future (''pro-'' meaning ''before in time''), often using "impending doom" and "fires of destruction" and "destruction of the world" as the culminating theme.  Prophecies are usually reserved for important figures like kings and leaders and of course generally predict the downfall of bad rulers and the eventual return of "all that is Good and True" if and only if the "people" follow the right "path".

Prophecy is often a result of the [[prophet]]'s [[dream]]s, altered states, or high levels of {{wpl|stress}} in their life. Incidentally, none of these conditions are conducive to logical thinking.{{fact|joke}}

==In fiction==
[[Fantasy|Fantastical]] fiction (including some forms of [[science fiction|sci-fi]]) often features ancient prophecies, frequently involving a "chosen one" who will triumph over [[evil]] in some way or restore a balance that was lost a long time ago. Such [[messiah|messianic]] prophecies are readily believed without question by the people in these stories, and invariably turn out to be correct.

==In the real world==
In the [[Fun:Real world|real world]], prophecies tend to be open to interpretation and [[skepticism]]. They are also a lot more vague so they can be [[Shoehorning|shoehorned]] to fit whatever actually happens. Examples include:
*The ambiguous Delphic oracle, popular during the last millennium [[BCE]]. A drugged priestess mumbled and male priests interpreted what she said in ways that could fit a wide range of events.<ref>[http://www.philipcoppens.com/delphi.html Oracle of Delphi]</ref><ref>[http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/delphicoracle/g/DelphicOracle.htm Delphic Oracle]</ref>
*The cryptic ramblings of [[Nostradamus]], whose 'predictions' of future events can only be figured out properly after such events have already happened.

==Famous prophecies==
* [[Book of Daniel|Daniel]] and the Wall
* [[Nostradamus]]
* [[Joseph Smith, Jr.]] and the [[Book of Mormon]]
* [[Book of Revelation]]
* [[David Wilkerson]], a Christian evangelist who successfully prophesied that the end of the world would be in 
1973
 
1999
 2009 [[Snark#RationalWiki does have a sense of humor|(despite the world apparently continuing, we at RationalWiki maintain that this prophecy was, in fact, correct)]].
* Merlin seeing the eventual fall of [[King Arthur]]
* Saint Malachy's predictions about future [[pope]]s
* Some guy foreseeing that the Witch-king of Angmar would not be slain by a man. He could have phrased it less obtusely.
* Wovoka's vision of (for?) the Ghost Dance<ref>[http://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-ghostdance.html The Ghost Dance - A Promise of Fulfillment]</ref>
* [[Ed Dames]] — on 9 April 2005, on [[Coast to Coast AM]], Dames warned that we've reached the "beginning of the end," and can expect "a very serious series of events that will kill a lot of people" shortly after the Space Shuttle was forced down by a meteor shower. He said the window for the coming catastrophe falls within the next five years, and advised people to live in places with plentiful fresh water and underground protection.
* [[Mother Shipton]]

==See also==
*[[Failed biblical prophecies]]
*[[Last Judgement]]
*[[Precognition]]
*[[List of predictions of the end of the world]]
*[[Revelation]]
*[[Hallucination]]
*[[Prophets]]

==External links==
*[http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/06/05/bush-launched-war-based-on-biblical-prophecy.htm Bush Launched War Based on Biblical Prophecy]
*[http://atheism.about.com/b/2005/06/27/timeline-of-unfulfilled-christian-prophecy.htm Timeline of Unfulfilled Christian Prophecy]
*[http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/bible/blfaq_bible_prophecies.htm Bible FAQ, Prophecies]
*[http://atheism.about.com/library/glossary/general/bldef_prophecy.htm Prophecy]

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Religious terms]]
[[Category:Psychic powers]]

Categories: Religious terms, Psychic powers