THE MILLENNIAL MYTH
….THE END OF THE WORLD!!!
THE MILLENNIAL MYTH
Myths =
paradigm-laden narratives
- answer profound life questions
- guide individual and collective behavior
- engender self-esteem and empowerment
- order existence (good v. evil, etc.)
- provide reverence for the past and hope for the future
THE MILLENNIAL MYTH
Types of Myths:
- origin/creation myths
- alienation myths
- myths of salvation or liberation
- eschatological myths = millennial myths; myths about
the end of the world.
ESCHATOLOGY
Eschatology = the study of last things, the eschaton, the end of the world
beliefs about the individual soul following death including divine judgment, heaven, hell, and resurrection
larger concerns about the fate of the cosmos, including divinely guided renewal of the world and the destruction of evil
APOCALYPTICISM
Apocalypticism = a belief that God, through visions to chosen prophets, reveals future cosmic disasters hearlding the end of human history and the ultimate defeat of evil
roots in Zoroastrianism
impacted prophetic Judaism
influenced early Christianity (Revelation)
APOCALYTPICISM
Characteristics of apocalypticism:
end time will be chaotic and violent
deterministic - the future is resolved into deterministic scripts or scenarios; history is predetermined
historicist - salvation is tied to history; it is this-worldly and collective
APOCALYPTIC DUALISM
Chronological dualism = history is divided into the current evil age and the coming good or heavenly age
Ethical dualism = humanity is divided into opposing camps
the damned - usually a persecuting majority
the saved - the righteous remnant who suffer and are faithful to the Lord
APOCALYPTIC DUALISM
Cosmic dualism = the universe is divided into 2 opposing forces, for example, God rules the Heavens, Satan rules the Earth
Exclusivism = anyone outside the faith community is evil and dehumanized
Symbolic visions of violence and suffering - the tribulation, Dragons, demons, evil precede the end time!!!
MILLENNIALISM
Millennialism = a type of apocalypticism based on biblical predictions of a 1000 year reign of Christ on Earth
postmillennialism envisions Christ’s reign transpiring after a gradual Christianization of culture; humans play a positive role in this end time scenario
MILLENNIALISM
Catastrophic or premillennialism sees humanity as incapable of creating the kingdom
a time of terrible tribulation hearlds the end time
Christ must arrive with a heavenly host to vanquish the Anti-Christ at Armageddon before the millennium can unfold
THE MILLENNIAL MYTH
MESSIAH: a Hebrew term meaning "anointed one." The covenant of King David (O.T.) links the messiah with a deterministic, historical end-time myth.
Prophets and Prophecy: the divinely inspired ability to predict eschatological events - creates credibility if the "prophet" seems accurate.
THE MILLENNIAL MYTH
Theodicy = a worldview that attempts to explain how an all powerful, all good God can permit the existence of evil and undeserved suffering in the world.
Future, This-Worldly Theodicy: the suffering of the present time is linked to a realized future on this earth!! Like it or not, "you’re invited to the party!!!"
MILLENNIAL MYTH
THE MILLENNIAL MYTH IS A SUB-FORM OF ESCHATOLOGICAL MYTH THAT CONTAINS AN APOCALYPTIC, THIS-WORLDLY THEODICY.
THE MILLENNIAL MYTH IN AMERICA
While its roots are biblical, the millennial myth is at the core of American cultural experience. Elements of the American culture core include:
a chosen people
guided by God to a new world
manifest destiny to build God’s Kingdom in the latter days
THE MILLENNIAL MYTH IN AMERICA
The millennial myth provides a context for current events at times of cultural crisis or the decentering of culture.
Decentering trends in culture stimulate the apocalyptic imagination; people begin to see signs THE END IS NEAR!!!
Globalization and telecommunication contribute to a sense of urgency whenever violent & disruptive events occur.
THE MILLENNIAL MYTH IN AMERICA
The millennial myth can be both progressive and catastrophic.
It becomes catastrophic when it contains an apocalyptic theodicy.
While religious apocalypticism is dangerous, the most dangerous form appears to be secular millennialism.
AMERICA’S MILLENNIAL MOVEMENTS
RELIGIOUS MILLENNIAL MOVEMENTS: rests on supernatural elements; the apocalypse will be engineered by God and the millennium will be ushered in the the Second Coming of Christ; mostly catastrophic but can be progressive.
AMERICA’S MILLENNIAL MOVEMENTS
SECULAR MILLENNIAL MOVEMENTS: lack supernatural elements; the apocalypse will be human-created brought about by social, economic, or industrial collapse, Y2K, environmental degradation, race war, civil/nuclear war - the messiah becomes survivalist leaders or groups.
CHRISTIAN IDENTITY: A Religious Millennial Movement
Christian Identity is composed of independent churches, Bible study groups, ultra-right wing political organizations, and communal settlements.
In many instances, groups or individuals combine secular survivalist end-time programs with religious symbolism drawn from the book of REVELATION
CHRISTIAN IDENTITY: Three Core Convictions
1. Caucasian
Aryans are direct descendants of the biblical tribes of Israel.
2. Jews are the biological descendants of Satan.
3. The Last Days are about to begin:
- Armageddon will be a global race war
- Jews will lead the enemy = all non-white, racially-inferior peoples
- premillennial destruction of the enemy
SECULAR MILLENNIAL MOVEMENTS
…explaining the mind and actions of a Timothy McVeigh
functions as an apocalyptic sounding board for militias, Patriots, survivalists, anti-government groups, white supremacists, etc.
These groups draw on apocalyptic themes in the Book of REVELATION
SECULAR APOCALYPTIC INTERPRETATIONS
Babylon = Godless-secular humanism; multiculturalism, globalization, cultural relativism, materialistic society, etc.
Antichrist = ZOG (Zionist Occupation Government); United Nations, World Bank, unified Europe, One World Government, global economic cooperation, etc.
SECULAR MILLENNIAL INTERPRETATIONS
Beasts and Dragons = FBI, ATF, IRS, EPA, Supreme Courts, U.S. govt., etc.
Tribulation = war, death, racial upheaval, destruction, disease are imminent.
Armageddon = the great battle to preserve American cultural (and racial) purity.