Riffing on End Times Theology.
On this quiet news day, I'm just gonna open up and see what comes out. To start, somebody sent me this article (CSM) which discusses the growing of a Islamic version of an end time theology in Iran, the obvious parallels with US apocalypticists (?) was the point of the email.
But this got me thinking about the nature, or maybe better said, the cause of the rise of end times theologies. (I'm pulling all of this out of my butt with no supporting evidence except that from my own beliefs and biases. So blast me if you want.)
There was this funny little Alan Arkin movie from 1980 named Simon that included this priceless observation (paraphrase) "Do you think happy, well-adjusted scientists come up with something like the black hole that just sucks up everything until it devours the universe?"
See, I'm a bit of an apocalypticist myself, I enjoy the Science Channel's preposterous what if shows about giant meteors hitting earth or the Yellowstone supervolcano erupting. But over time, I've grown aware that I only enjoy these spooky what if scenarios when I'm fearful of things I can't control, money being a frequent example.
So this led me to wonder if the growth in endtimes theology bases itself on similar fears, that somehow its believers feel out of control in their world, and thus embrace this endtimes theology for the same sorts of comfort.
I would argue we do see some of the outcroppings of that fear in the proliferation of "missing white woman" news stories we had awhile back, or in the AFA's bizarre attacks on homosexuals, and even in the immigration debate. As the cultural mix of America changes, more minorities, more open expressions of gay sexuality, the progress of women's equality, as well as tremendous economic stresses on the middle and lower class, there is a certain sector that feels somehow threatened by all this. I don't understand why, but they do.
And these are the people, white, middle and lower class, that have turned to endtimes theology in significant numbers. In their conclusion, they would have all of these objectionable people cast to Satan, their money worries allieved, as they are lifted up in the rapture.
In a way, despite the ridiculous fights to try to put gays back in the closet and women back in the kitchen, this end times theology is an expression of defeat. They now are looking for God to step in and take care of their "problems" in their version of a final divine retribution, because on some level they recognize they no longer can. Fearful of the world.
I also think the violent nature of that final disposition of the non-believers is significant in that it reflects the intensity of the fear and emotion that resides behind all this.
I may be wrong here, I'm straying way outside my areas of expertise, so, again, feel free to come at me on this one. But my personal beliefs are that Jesus didn't preach hate, and that alot of these far right "Christian" organizations are literally heretical in their politics and teachings.
Oh, and by the way, in this model of fear driving people to apocalypticism, the Republicans have played a very clever game. By working to instill fear and insecurity in their base, and the country at large, they have driven more and more people into these fervent religious beliefs which obviously benefits them. People, I would argue, are far more likely to switch candidates than religions.
In other words, it is not in the Republican party's interest to actually alleviate the problems that are driving people to become their "base voters." (more on that later.)
But this got me thinking about the nature, or maybe better said, the cause of the rise of end times theologies. (I'm pulling all of this out of my butt with no supporting evidence except that from my own beliefs and biases. So blast me if you want.)
There was this funny little Alan Arkin movie from 1980 named Simon that included this priceless observation (paraphrase) "Do you think happy, well-adjusted scientists come up with something like the black hole that just sucks up everything until it devours the universe?"
See, I'm a bit of an apocalypticist myself, I enjoy the Science Channel's preposterous what if shows about giant meteors hitting earth or the Yellowstone supervolcano erupting. But over time, I've grown aware that I only enjoy these spooky what if scenarios when I'm fearful of things I can't control, money being a frequent example.
So this led me to wonder if the growth in endtimes theology bases itself on similar fears, that somehow its believers feel out of control in their world, and thus embrace this endtimes theology for the same sorts of comfort.
I would argue we do see some of the outcroppings of that fear in the proliferation of "missing white woman" news stories we had awhile back, or in the AFA's bizarre attacks on homosexuals, and even in the immigration debate. As the cultural mix of America changes, more minorities, more open expressions of gay sexuality, the progress of women's equality, as well as tremendous economic stresses on the middle and lower class, there is a certain sector that feels somehow threatened by all this. I don't understand why, but they do.
And these are the people, white, middle and lower class, that have turned to endtimes theology in significant numbers. In their conclusion, they would have all of these objectionable people cast to Satan, their money worries allieved, as they are lifted up in the rapture.
In a way, despite the ridiculous fights to try to put gays back in the closet and women back in the kitchen, this end times theology is an expression of defeat. They now are looking for God to step in and take care of their "problems" in their version of a final divine retribution, because on some level they recognize they no longer can. Fearful of the world.
I also think the violent nature of that final disposition of the non-believers is significant in that it reflects the intensity of the fear and emotion that resides behind all this.
I may be wrong here, I'm straying way outside my areas of expertise, so, again, feel free to come at me on this one. But my personal beliefs are that Jesus didn't preach hate, and that alot of these far right "Christian" organizations are literally heretical in their politics and teachings.
Oh, and by the way, in this model of fear driving people to apocalypticism, the Republicans have played a very clever game. By working to instill fear and insecurity in their base, and the country at large, they have driven more and more people into these fervent religious beliefs which obviously benefits them. People, I would argue, are far more likely to switch candidates than religions.
In other words, it is not in the Republican party's interest to actually alleviate the problems that are driving people to become their "base voters." (more on that later.)
posted by mikevotes at
3:18 PM
1 Comments:
These folks that look for the End of Times make perfect Republican Drones. They are easy to instill fear into, they are unscientific, they perform well when properly herded, and they don't care about the wealthy raping the planet because they will soon have no need for a planet. Most Christians don't even realize that there were two versions of the Apocalypse, both written by guys named John. The version that ended up in the Bible was voted on by a group of Vatican bishops. Like many decisions on which stories or versions of stories ended up in the Bible, the decision was political, and based on which version melded best with their message of the day. Many scholars believe the number 666 was actually a cryptic reference to the Roman Emperor of the time, and that the “hell” spoke of, was actually a reference to the continually burning garbage pit outside of Jerusalem. A place where garbage and the dead poor were burned. A place where no one would want to spend anytime. Hmm political unrest, and revolution? Perhaps these events are not intended to be metaphysical in nature.
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Yukkione, at 6:45 PM
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