Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobes, Be Wary!

For those who suffer from Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia — and avoid all things related to the number 666 — today may be a good day to stay in bed.

(One possibly hexakosioihexekontahexaphobic couple of note — In 1989, after Ronald and Nancy Reagan moved to their final home in Bel-Air, they had the address of "666 St. Cloud Road" changed to "668 St. Cloud Road.")

Hollywood is exploiting our cultural interest in the Revelations-inspired number, releasing its remake of The Omen today…but is it three sixes in a row or specifically six-hundred-sixty-six that’s to be avoided?

Biblical scholars say the latter; others argue that 666 is actually a coded New Testament reference, substituting Hebrew letters for numbers in a reference to Roman emperor Nero.

Either way, today — 6/6/06 — will see:
a prayer vigil which began in Jersualem from the evangelical Ambassadors Ministries from Holland;

a huge kegger in Hell, Michigan;

the release of Ann Coulter’s latest jihad against the Left, Godless: The Church of Liberalism ("It’s my little tribute to liberals to have it come out on six, six, six," she told USA Today);

the release of the 15th instalment in the popular evangelical "Left Behind" fiction series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, The Rapture.

Hope you all have a heavenly day–
jt