noun
- A belief or expectation that the world will end or undergo radical transformation, often involving divine judgment or catastrophic events.
- A worldview or ideology characterized by the conviction that current civilization or society is doomed and will be destroyed or fundamentally remade.
Usage: Often used in religious and historical contexts; Can refer to both theological doctrine and cultural movements
Usage: Used in cultural and political analysis
Examples
- Early Christian apocalypticism centered on the belief in Christ's imminent return and the end of the world.
- Medieval apocalypticism influenced art, literature, and social movements throughout Europe.
- Some scholars trace modern environmental apocalypticism to fears about climate change and resource depletion.
- The preacher's apocalypticism resonated with followers who felt society was in moral decline.
- Historical apocalypticism has often emerged during periods of social upheaval and uncertainty.
- Contemporary apocalypticism appears in science fiction and popular culture as well as religious contexts.