Part 1: Episode 1, October 22, 1844. Millerites and the biblical end of the world; A brief history of apocalyptic thinking in the west -- Part 2: American apocalypse. From Columbus to the great awakenings; Fin de siecle secular perfectionism; Spiritualism and the veiled synthesis of science and religion -- Part 3: New age religion and science. The age of aquarius; Techno-angels of the alien advent; Resurgent christian dispensationalism and the end of time in popular media; Astronomical world age theories resurrected -- Part 4: Episode 2, December 21, 2012. The fathers of Y12 prophecy; 2012 and the perennial philosophy; Ancient galactic wisdom and 2012 Mayanism.
Summary:
"Aveni traces the sources of American culture's obsession with predicting the apocalypse. He explores why Americans take millennial claims seriously, where and how end-of-the-world predictions emerge, how they develop with reference to a broader historical trajectory, and what we can learn from doomsday predictions of the past"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.