We have periodically discussed cases involving employees who have objected on religious grounds to documents, badges, or other material showing the number “666” — considered by some to be the sign of the beast. We can now add the case of Walter Slonopas, a Tennessee maintenance worker, says he quit his job because his W-2 tax form was stamped with the number 666.
There are a couple of problems with the claim. First, I have already identified the Beast in a prior column as Michael Eisner, former CEO at Disney. Second, many scholars believe the actual number is 616, not 666. It turns out that 666 may be the ancient equivalent to a typo. Papyrus 115 is a fragmented piece of papyrus that dates back to the 3rd century and was not translated until the 20th century. Researchers were surprised to see that the papyrus included “616” as the sign of the Beast. If true, the Beast was the worker who received his or her W-2 50 workers before Hyatt was likely already wearing the number and lost his soul 50 days before Slonopas (It is just like the Beast to finger another worker while he or she laughs her way to the mailbox to send in a tax check).
Here are the more often read passages:
Revelation 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Revelation 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Revelation 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (666)
This passage has previously led to problems when 666 appears on papers or in conversation for some Christians.
In the case of Walter Slonopas, he insists that receiving the 666th W-2 form would have condemned his soul to hell. That is a pretty petty God if receiving a standardized form is enough to toss away a life of clean living.
Contech Casting LLC insists that it is not marking employees for the Beast and simply had over 666 forms to hand out and he was the 666th. Of course, the Beast’s minions would have to say that. This is not the first time that Slonopas, 52, faced Beast branding. Earlier in his employment, he was supposed to be No. 668 to use when he clocked in, but was given 666. He objected and was given a new number.
The company offered to rehire Slonopas and give him a new W-2 form (presumably he had to simply come to the Benefits Office in Room 666). However, Slonopas has refused insisting “God is worth more than money.” . . . or rational thought, it appears.
Source: CBS
thghought was interesting: I got a dunning notice from a debt collection agency for someone who used to live at my address. When I went to call them their number was (800) 666****, How appropriate.
Jerome: “Well, this is reason 666 why I am a humanist and not a religious fundamentalist. Free from religious superstition and dogma.”
Well, you’ve sawed off the branch you are perched upon because if you became a “humanist” solely because of posturing to not be superstitious, then you’re superstitious.
BTW the Bible instructs us to steer clear of superstition, etc… So it sounds like you’re trying to avoid what you think is superstition and dogma only to get snared in your own trap of superstition and dogma.
You don’t think about this but evil is in us consuming that pizza. Satan can’t touch the soul with the Lord in it. The Lord God is in you.
Sea cucumber? Never had it
I did have Sea Urchin sushi. It was terrible. I never thought it possible to have a sushi so bad. Other worthwhile contenders for the foods of satan:
Undercooked Cow Tongue that I had in Frankfurt
Cottage Cheese
Egg Nog
Durian (the smell)
Peanut Butter // yes, I know I’m weird.
Pizza isn’t the root of all evil. Pizza is the root of tasty.
Sea cucumber? Now there is a food stuff – and I use the word “food” loosely – that is a true contender for the root of all evil.
Justice Holmes, “We have become a country of insane people.”
It was a short trip.
It’s kind of funny how memory works, though. Now, every time I see 666 I think of that time with the pizza and my son’s friends from second grade. That’s why I have a thousand stories to tell; because one thing leads to another.
Of course, if you don’t order any pizza you may never learn about the devil…
Malisha
I always laugh to myself when others freak out over things such as the $6.66 price or such like that. One would think that when these evil supreme beings want to rain down their wrath on the world, it would not be preluded by a pizza being ordered.
Darren, the devil could be in the pizza. The agita those tomatoes can cause……………
You don’t think about this but evil is in us consuming that pizza. The soul Satan can’t touch with the Lord in it. The Lord God is in you.
About 30 years ago I took my kid and a bunch of his friends bolling. At that time you could get a pizza and a bunch of drinks for very little money (although it was pretty big money THEN) and I took them to the refreshment stand in between breaks and we ordered. (Background is I’m Jewish and never heard of this 666 thing and can’t remember ever seeing it in the Bible or anywhere else.) The guy rang it up and it came to $6.66. The guy leaped into the air and screamed, “MARK OF THE BEAST!” and got all shook. I paid and kept an eye on him thinking he was psychotic and I needed to chorale the kids politely away from him before he did something else inappropriate. When we got back to our own lanes, I asked if anybody had gotten scared by the pizza clerk’s shouting, and they said no, so we just finished our games. Years later I learned that 666 was supposed to have a “satanic” meaning. Jeez, you can’t even buy pizza safely!