Well, this OP that I wrote two years ago is as timely now as it was then. No surprise

[cali]

Posted by cali in General Discussion
Sun Oct 21st 2007, 01:12 PM


Secular Apocalyptists and Christian Millenialists share a lot of common ground, not only in their specific dystopian futures, but in similarities of psychology. Both look to the coming disastrous transformation of the social order. It's less fear than an avidity to see "the inevitable" come to pass. Both selectively see omens and evidence everywhere and in everything, to confirm that their beliefs are coming to fruition.

There's a glamor to dystopian visions and apocalyptism. There always has been. It's a projection of self into a world in ruins. And it speaks as much to those who are doing the projecting as to any objective evidence.

There seems to be at least a possibility that there is a hard drive function that propels apocalyptic thinking, whether it be in religious or secular form. It's a large part of human history: Just as all cultures have creation myths, so too do they have end-time myths.

Yes, this is indeed a response to the spate of dystopian writings recently on DU, and to the claim by some of the believers, that anyone not sharing in that vision, is in denial. One doesn't need to share that vision or project into the future or agree that we're in that future, to recognize that bad things have happened, are happening and must be vigorously confronted. Call it more of a be here now philosophy of dealing with the issues that are extant in our society and the world. And dealing with the present is actually, in my opinion, less of an abdication than the belief that the dystopian future is so inevitable, or so present, that one is left with the conclusion that nothing can be done to change it.

The above is not, alas, an idea I can take credit for. It's well trod ground in academic journals and books. One very good book with quite a bit about secular apocalypticism is, "End of the World as We Know It: Faith, Fatalism, and Apocalypse in America", by Daniel Wojcik. There are also scholars at BU's Center For Millennial Studies who publish on secular apocalypticism, as well as articles in many journals.

I am NOT saying that there is no legitimacy to making comparisons to dystopian societies of the past or to analyzing the path we're on now. But when taken to certain conclusions, there is often more to these comparisons than may be readily apparent.

[Brickbat]

1. Cheerleader.

Kidding. This is an excellent point and needs to be remembered.

[cali]

2. thanks. I find the subject fascinating.

I spent 2 years formally studying the history of Millennial thought.

[Brickbat]

3. Now THAT sounds interesting.

It's amazing how self-centered all humans and all cultures are.