Concept
Apocalypticism
Overview
Apocalypticism is the religious belief that the end of the world is imminent, even within one's own lifetime. This belief is usually accompanied by the idea that civilization will soon come to a tumultuous end due to some sort of catastrophic global event.
Apocalypticism is one aspect of eschatology in certain religions, the part of theology concerned with the final events of human history, or the ultimate destiny of humanity (societal collapse, human extinction, and so on).
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
Found by search and not yet checked by a person; they may only mention the idea in passing.
It offers itself ultimately rather as a refuge from reality than a control of it, and its development as an institution has turned on the creation and use of devices to make this escape feasible. For religion, therefore, the perception that the actual world, whatever its history, is now _not_ adapted to human nature, is the true point of departure. Thus religion takes more account of experience than compensatory…
John Dewey, Creative Intelligence
States what Apocalypticism is.
Thus belief in God still serves to humanize the world of nature, and to make men feel that physical forces are really their allies. In like manner immortality removes the terror from death. People who believe that when they die they will inherit eternal bliss may be expected to view death without horror, though, fortunately for medical men, this does not invariably happen. It does, however, soothe men’s fears…
Bertrand Russell, What I believe
Close in meaning to Apocalypticism; the term itself is not named.
Religion is the vision of something which stands beyond, behind, and within, the passing flux of immediate things; something which is real, and yet waiting to be realised; something which is a remote possibility, and yet the greatest of present facts; something that gives meaning to all that passes, and yet eludes apprehension; something whose possession is the final good, and yet is beyond all reach; something…
Alfred North Whitehead, Science and the modern world
Close in meaning to Apocalypticism; the term itself is not named.
Philosophers who discussed Apocalypticism
Related ideas
- Belief
- Yale University Press
- Jesus
- Gospel
- Abrahamic religions
- Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE)
- Gospel of Thomas
- Abraham
- Holy Spirit
- Al-Ghazali
- Holy Land
- Vedas
- Amesha Spenta
- Jesus Seminar
- Jewish eschatology
- Last Judgment
- Byzantine Empire
- Biblical inspiration
- Levant
- Middle Ages
- Iranian peoples
- Moon
- Vishnu
- Moses
Place in the tradition
Part of Gnosticism.