The End is Nigh!!

December 16, 2004 6:00 PM

Millenarianism (or millennialism :) A brief history of the end of the world. Why do end-of-time beliefs endure? [also see, oh and (OT) :]
posted by kliuless (16 comments total)

I'm actually surprised that there isn't more focus on eschatology in our culture. After all, the most predominate faith in the west is centered around the life and death of a jewish apocalyptic prophet.
posted by cosmonaught at 6:55 PM on December 16, 2004

I have no comment, I just like saying "eschatology".
posted by mendel at 6:59 PM on December 16, 2004

I prefer "scatology" but I usually don't get a chance to use it in polite company
posted by cosmonaught at 7:06 PM on December 16, 2004

oh hey, "eschatology" :D thanks!
posted by kliuless at 7:07 PM on December 16, 2004

the world ending at the turn of the millenium is so basic. personally im rooting for mckenna's and the mayans 2012 prediction. i have to say after consulting this handy chart, i think they are the most likely to be correct, if anyone. hey, the world's gotta end some time...
posted by GleepGlop at 7:38 PM on December 16, 2004

yea, timewave zero :D altho as mckenna has sed... (when asked "What exactly will happen in 2012 A.D.?" :)

I’ve given a lot of thought to this and the answers range over a spectrum, from soft to hard. The softest version is: nothing at all. The Seventh Day Adventists believe the end of the world occurred in 1830, which is a _very_ soft version: it can happen and you don’t even notice! In the extreme, hard version, which maps Whiteheadian metaphysics onto Christian eschatology, the stars fall from heaven, the oceans boil, the dead rise, and so forth---in other words, a complete breakdown of ordinary physics.

cheers!
posted by kliuless at 8:22 PM on December 16, 2004

Why do end-of-time beliefs endure?
Because scaring voters people generates power.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 9:40 PM on December 16, 2004

Thanks for the links, kliuless, I never would have found the the best web comic of 2004... Hal Lindsey Oracle Cartoons. Where religion and politics mix!
posted by jabo at 11:13 PM on December 16, 2004

AHEM.

I dig this kind of stuff. Thanks.
posted by Sticherbeast at 11:34 PM on December 16, 2004

Why do end-of-time beliefs endure?

Because baby Jesus gets upset when living people have feelings of hope and happiness.
posted by AlexReynolds at 6:22 AM on December 17, 2004

Are you a pre-millennialist? Or a post-millennialist?
posted by maurice at 6:31 AM on December 17, 2004

Why do end-of-time beliefs endure?

People who are unhappy with the current state of the world want to wipe the planet clean and start over. It's a combination of despair at current events and hope for a better world.
posted by SPrintF at 8:16 AM on December 17, 2004

Good post kliuless. I would add the Global Warmers to the list of cults who get off on the power generated by predicting apocalpyse.
posted by Faze at 8:38 AM on December 17, 2004

hey, why stop there, what about, say, the cult of engineers who get off on the power generated by generating power
posted by Swampjazz! at 9:19 AM on December 17, 2004

Millenarianism

A belief in hat makers?
posted by weston at 9:42 AM on December 17, 2004

asshat beliefs
posted by telstar at 4:32 AM on December 18, 2004