Avertive Apocalypticism
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1 Tribulation
TRIBULATION: Living Through the End Times Rev. Lilli Nye May 23, 2004 A few weeks ago I stumbled across a news flash that the final installment of the “Left Behind” novel series was about to be published and had already sold 2 million copies prior to its release date. For those of you unfamiliar with the “Left Behind” phenomenon, it’s a techno-thriller series based upon the New Testament book of Revelation. The series outlines in vivid detail a particular Christian view of the end times (one that is not shared by many Christians, by the way). The books take the fantastic, mythological imagery in the book of Revelation and translate it into concrete terms and imagery from our time, with heavy doses of technology, conspiracy theory, and right-leaning politics. Just to give a sense of the gist of the series: The 12-book series kicks off with the Rapture, in which true believers in Jesus disappear into thin air because they have been, in a sense, supernaturally airlifted from earth in anticipation of the great Tribulation to come. Those left behind (hence the name of the series) must face seven years of global chaos before Jesus returns for the cosmic battle of Armageddon, the final battle between good and evil, and the final judgment of all souls. In the seven years of tribulation that the books cover, the world is ravaged by war, disaster, and plague, and is tyrannized by the rising Antichrist, who dominates the world from the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations. -
Is War Still Becoming Obsolete?
IS WAR STILL BECOMING OBSOLETE? John Mueller Department of Political Science University of Rochester reformatted August 3, 2012 Prepared for presentation at the 1991 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, The Washington Hilton, Washington, DC, August 29 through September 1, 1991. Copyright by the American Political Science Association. ABSTRACT: In Retreat from Doomsday: The Obsolescence of Major War I concluded, as the subtitle suggests, that "major war" (defined as "war among developed countries") is obsolescent (defined as becoming [not being] obsolete). Although war obviously persists in the world, an important and consequential change has taken place with respect to attitudes toward the institution of war, one rather akin to the processes by which the once-accepted institutions of slavery and dueling became extinct. This paper develops eleven topics that relate to the theme of the book: 1. Summarizes the obsolescence of major war argument. 2. Deals with the argument that nuclear weapons have largely been irrelevant to the remarkable absence of war in the developed world since 1945. 3. Speculates about the future of war in the post Cold War era. 4. Discusses the connection, if any, between war-aversion and pacificism. 5. Deals with the continuing fascination with war in a era free from major war and also with the notion that war is somehow the natural fate of the human race. 6. Expands the book's suggestion that Hitler was a necessary condition for world war in Europe. 7. Considers what the demise of the Cold War suggests about the concept of polarity and about the tenets of some forms of realism. -
Reconciling Universal Salvation and Freedom of Choice in Origen of Alexandria
Marquette University e-Publications@Marquette Dissertations, Theses, and Professional Dissertations (1934 -) Projects Reconciling Universal Salvation and Freedom of Choice in Origen of Alexandria Lee W. Sytsma Marquette University Follow this and additional works at: https://epublications.marquette.edu/dissertations_mu Part of the Christianity Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Sytsma, Lee W., "Reconciling Universal Salvation and Freedom of Choice in Origen of Alexandria" (2018). Dissertations (1934 -). 769. https://epublications.marquette.edu/dissertations_mu/769 RECONCILING UNIVERSAL SALVATION AND FREEDOM OF CHOICE IN ORIGEN OF ALEXANDRIA by Lee W. Sytsma, B.A., M.T.S. A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School, Marquette University, in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Milwaukee, Wisconsin May 2018 ABSTRACT RECONCILING UNIVERSAL SALVATION AND FREEDOM OF CHOICE IN ORIGEN OF ALEXANDRIA Lee W. Sytsma, B.A., M.T.S. Marquette University, 2018 Origen has traditionally been famous for his universalism, but many scholars now express doubt that Origen believed in a universal and permanent apocatastasis. This is because many scholars are convinced that Origen’s teaching on moral autonomy (or freedom of choice) is logically incompatible with the notion that God foreordains every soul’s future destiny. Those few scholars who do argue that Origen believed in both moral autonomy and universal salvation either do not know how to reconcile these two views in Origen’s theology, or their proposed “solutions” are not convincing. In this dissertation I make two preliminary arguments which allow the question of logical compatibility to come into focus. -
Colin Mcallister Regnum Caelorum Terrestre: the Apocalyptic Vision of Lactantius May 2016
Colin McAllister Regnum Caelorum Terrestre: The Apocalyptic Vision of Lactantius May 2016 Abstract: The writings of the early fourth-century Christian apologist L. Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius have been extensively studied by historians, classicists, philosophers and theologians. But his unique apocalyptic eschatology expounded in book VII of the Divinae Institutiones, his largest work, has been relatively neglected. This paper will distill Lactantius’s complex narrative and summarize his sources. In particular, I investigate his chiliasm and the nature of the intermediate state, as well as his portrayal of the Antichrist. I argue that his apocalypticism is not an indiscriminate synthesis of varying sources - as it often stated - but is essentially based on the Book of Revelation and other Patristic sources. +++++ The eminent expert on all things apocalyptic, Bernard McGinn, wrote: Even the students and admirers of Lactantius have not bestowed undue praise upon him. To Rene Pichon [who wrote in 1901 what is perhaps still the seminal work on Lactantius’ thought] ‘Lactantius is mediocre in the Latin sense of the word - and also a bit in the French sense’; to Vincenzo Loi [who studied Lactantius’ use of the Bible] ‘Lactantius is neither a philosophical or theological genius nor linguistic genius.’ Despite these uneven appraisals, the writings of the early fourth-century Christian apologist L. Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius [c. 250-325] hold, it seems, a little something for everyone.1 Political historians study Lactantius as an important historical witness to the crucial transitional period from the Great Persecution of Diocletian to the ascension of Constantine, and for insight into the career of the philosopher Porphyry.2 Classicists and 1 All dates are anno domini unless otherwise indicated. -
The Eucharist Sacrifice and the Changing Utopian Moment in Post
The Eucharist Sacrifice and the Moment Changing Utopian in Post Reformation Christianity ADAM SELIGMAN The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel ABSTRACT In this study, the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century, and especially English Puritanism, is analyzed in terms of the transformation of the soteriological doctrines of Christianity. This transformation, in turn, is seen as crucial to a restructuring of utopian themes in Christian civilization. Based on the restructuring of models of social authority and of Christian community, a new vision of the ideal social order was posited. The uto- pian visions posited by these changes and the contradictions inherent in them are viewed as central to the emergence of modern notions of political and social praxes. Introduction IN THIS STUDY, it will be argued that the major assumptions under- lying Christian utopian visions and their realization were radically transformed in the period of the Protestant Reformation. Indeed, the Refor- mation and, more specifically, its Calvinist variants, will be presented as con- taining a salient utopian or millennial moment-with lasting importance for the structuring of modern social life. In pursuing this line of inquiry, we are in fact following on the thought of Max Weber, who saw in the 'inner-worldliness' of ascetic Protestantism one of the fundamental components of the modern world order (Weber, 1958; Schluchter, 1979; Eisenstadt, 1968, 1988). The present study will explore the role of ascetic Protestantism in fundamentally restructuring one of the major and defining components of the Western Christian tradition. The transforma- tion effected by ascetic Protestantism in the utopian models and modes of millennial action within the Western Christian tradition was, it is argued, a crucial aspect in the development of the modern socio-political order. -
Investment Insights 27Th October 2020
Investment Insights 27th October 2020 When Prophecy Fails How to ignore doomsday forecasts Chief Investment Officer George Cooper, “Suppose an individual believes something with his whole heart; suppose further that he has commitment to this belief, that he has taken irrevocable actions because of it; finally, suppose that he is presented with evidence, unequivocal and undeniable evidence, that his belief is wrong: What will happen? The individual will frequently emerge, not only unshaken, but even more convinced of the truth of his beliefs than ever before. Indeed, he may even show a new fervour about convincing and converting other people to his view.” Leon Festinger, 1956 The stock market will crash on December 21st. In the few seconds it took you to read that first sentence your innate survival instincts will have kicked in. They are telling you: something bad is going to happen, you need to act. The rational part of your brain is pushing back, saying: nonsense, he has no idea what will happen to the stock market on December 21st. But you still have that nagging worry. Grabbing peoples’ attention and coercing them into action with scary stories and doomsday prophecies is an old trick. It exploits our risk aversion bias, which is part of our survival instincts telling us to look out for danger. The scary story trick is ubiquitous, journalists use it, religions use it, campaign groups use it and of course governments use it. Learning when to ignore scary stories and when to see through them is an important life skill, and for investors an essential skill. -
Jesus and His Teachings
Jesus and His Teachings Jesus and His Teachings Subject Area: World History Time Required: 1 class session General Topics: Origins of Christianity in the Roman world, ancient Judaism, important individuals in Classical Mediterranean societies, religious views in Classical Mediterranean societies Average Grade Level from Readable.io: 10.3 SUMMARY This lesson on Jesus and his teachings focuses on two biblical texts, the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew and the Sermon on the Plain in the Gospel of Luke. It asks students to consider the historical context of the two sermons, the influence of Hellenistic Judaism on the authors of the two Gospels, and the challenges of using such literature to reconstruct history. To get the students started engaging with the texts, the lesson asks students to compare two artistic depictions of the sermons. It then moves to a close reading of both sermons using a guided reading graphic organizer and a resource developed by Advanced Placement called a SOAPStone graphic organizer. Using these tools to engage with the sermons will sharpen students’ critical reading skills as well as give them methods they can use when they read other demanding texts. Coming from two of the earliest accounts of Jesus’ teachings, these passages stem from a time when Hellenistic Judaism and nascent Christianity were both shaping portrayals of Jesus. Hence, the lesson includes resources to help students analyze how each sermon reflects its ancient cultural context and to consider the larger question of how scholars arrive at interpretive and historical conclusions when they have limited sources from which to draw. -
Rev 21: 10, and in the Spirit the Angel Carried Me Away to a Great, High Mountain and Showed Me the Holy City Jerusalem Coming Down out of Heaven from God
June 28, 2020 Rev. Jane Florence Title: Living a Dream or a Nightmare Text: Revelation 21 News flash: the world didn't end on Dec. 21, 2012. You've probably already figured that out for yourself. Maybe you remember all the warnings leading up to the end of 2012- the prophets and websites announced the end of the world. For years leading up to 2012, we were warned of an ancient Maya prophecy predicting the end of the world as their calendar signaled, or the end of the world due to a mysterious planet on a collision course with Earth for 2012 , or a reverse in Earth's rotation would cause all polarity on the planet to reverse. In spite of our best scientists, even NASA, telling people all these perditions lacked any scientific data, people still waited for the end of the world as we know it on Dec12, 2012. Okay, so it didn’t happen. Maybe those harbingers got the date reversed, was it a pre- apocalyptic dyslexia? Maybe it wasn’t 2012, but 2021! in which case our experience in 2020 might make sense. If we look back at ancient texts, people have been envisioning dramatic earth changes for ages. In John’s vision of Revelation, he too sees the end of the world- as we know it, but he does not see the destruction of the earth as modern predictions maintain. Listen with me to the 21st chapter in the Book of Revelation , the last book in the Christian scriptures: Rev 21: 10, And in the spirit the angel carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. -
HPSC0039 Science, Warfare & Peace Course Syllabus
HPSC0039 Science, Warfare & Peace Course Syllabus 2019-20 session | Convenor: Professor Brian Balmer| [email protected] Course Information This module explores the relationships between science, war and the prevention of war. It will place military and security technologies within social, political, and historical contexts. There is particular emphasis on the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and on weapons usually designated as `unconventional’ or `weapons of mass destruction’. In addition to thinking about how science, technology and warfare have shaped each other, this module also considers the changing role of the scientist in relation to the state, and considers broader themes such as the arms control, disarmament, ethics, and popular culture in relation to war. Basic course information Course website: On Moodle Moodle Web site: Search ‘HPSC0039’ Assessment: This term’s course will be assessed on the basis of one written assignments: review (60%) and an exam (40%). Timetable: www.ucl.ac.uk/timetable Prerequisites: no pre-requisites, course designed primarily for year 3 undergraduate students Required texts: See reading list Course tutor: Professor Brian Balmer Contact: [email protected] Web: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/people/professor-brian-balmer Office location: 22 Gordon Square, Room 2.1 Office hours: See Moodle or Staff Website (above) HPSC0039 Science, Warfare & Peace 2019-20 session Prof. Brian Balmer Schedule UCL Week Topic Date Essential Reading 21 Science: Technology: War: Security 14 Jan Kaldor, M (2013) 22 21 Jan Thorpe, -
New Age and Neopagan Religions in America
CHAPTER SEVEN The Age of Aquarius Although the idea of a New Age was popularized by Alice Bailey in the early twentieth century, the term had been around at least since the American Rev- olution before it was used self-consciously by Theosophists like her who be- lieved a “master” would come to enlighten humanity and usher us into a new age. The concept picked up relevance as the s counterculture looked to- ward the Age of Aquarius as a utopian future of peace and equality. Move- ments aimed at social and personal transformation that emerged or were given new meaning in the s continue to shape New Age and Neopagan religions. Ideas about the expected new era vary among Neopagans and New Agers, just as they ranged in the s from social revolution to com- munal escape from society. But most agree that it will include a changed dy- namic between men and women, healthy diet, holistic healing practices, and peacefulness. Along with and related to holistic healing and feminist restructuring, en- vironmentalist concerns are seen as key in bringing about the transformation of society. Many New Agers and Neopagans believe that an ecologically vi- able relationship to the natural world will characterize the future age, when humans will live more harmoniously on earth. Some also believe the earth it- self, a living being that has been ill used by humanity, will bring about cata- clysmic changes, while others expect a gradual dawning of enlightened con- sciousness among large numbers of people to usher in the New Age. Goddess religion will emerge from a “Great Purification,” claim some ob- servers, borrowing a phrase from Hopi prophecy: “Look at the freak weather phenomena all around us . -
All the World Is Church: the Christian Call in Henri De Lubac
Obsculta Volume 2 Issue 1 Article 13 5-1-2009 All the World is Church: The Christian Call in Henri de Lubac Benjamin M. Durheim College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/obsculta Part of the Christianity Commons, and the Liturgy and Worship Commons ISSN: 2472-2596 (print) ISSN: 2472-260X (online) Recommended Citation Durheim, Benjamin M.. 2009. All the World is Church: The Christian Call in Henri de Lubac. Obsculta 2, (1) : 38-42. https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/obsculta/vol2/iss1/13. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@CSB/SJU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Obsculta by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@CSB/SJU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. All the World is Church: Benjamin M. Durheim The Christian Call in Henri de Lubac Introduction son is a synthesis, or more correctly, a paradox—a For Henri de Lubac, the fundamental problem joining of the natural and supernatural.5 The natural with humankind is its disunity; the original state of aspect is easily apparent; humans live in a natural, humankind was one in which each person was in physical world, and can manipulate their surround- unity with his or her neighbors and the entire race.1 ings and themselves. They depend on natural things Sin disrupted that unity, however, and the current for life, they reproduce by a natural process, and ruptured state is irreparable by human means. The they perish away through natural courses. De Lubac, only way humans may reenter that original unity with however, standing squarely on the shoulders of the one another—the only way they may be saved from Christian tradition, argues that the entirety of hu- their present disunity—it to allow themselves to be man existence is also connected to a supernatural aided by the one who entered history from without order.6 Humans were made in unity with God their in order to effect just such a salvation. -
Planet-X Comets & Earth Changes
James M. McCanney www.jmccsci.com PLANET-X COMETS & EARTH CHANGES A SCIENTIFIC TREATISE ON THE EFFECTS OF A NEW LARGE PLANET OR COMET ARRIVING IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM AND EXPECTED EARTH WEATHER AND EARTH CHANGES James M. McCanney, M.S. PLANET-X COMETS & EARTH CHANGES A SCIENTIFIC TREATISE ON THE EFFECTS OF A NEW LARGE PLANET OR COMET ARRIVING IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM AND EXPECTED EARTH WEATHER AND EARTH CHANGES Published By jmccanneyscience.com press Minneapolis, Minnesota Copyrights 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1996, 2002, 2011, 2013 Appendix 1 Reprint Permissions: with kind permission from Kluwer Academic Publications Appendix 2 Reprint Permissions: with kind permission from KRONOS Press ISBN 978-0-9722186-0-3 About the author and this text: James M. McCanney, M.S. received a sound classical physics training at St. Mary’s University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in physics and mathematics in 1970. He was offered full scholarship awards to three major US physics graduate schools to pursue his graduate physics studies. However, he chose instead to postpone graduate studies for a period of three years while he traveled and taught Physics and Mathematics in Spanish in Latin America. During this time he spent a good deal of time traveling to ruins of ancient cities and archeological sites, studying firsthand many times as the ruins were dug from under dirt that had not been moved for thousands of years. Also during this time he developed the basis for his theoretical work that would, at a later date, deal with the celestial mechanics of N-bodies and plasma physics.