The apocalyptic thought in the early Church as a response to the fears in the 21st century
The apocalyptic thought in the early Church as a response to the fears in the 21st century
Author(s): Bogdan KulikSubject(s): History of Church(es), Systematic Theology, Pastoral Theology, Sociology of Religion
Published by: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Papieskiego Jana Pawła II w Krakowie
Keywords: Jesus Christ; apocalyptic thought; the Book of Revelation; fear; hope;
Summary/Abstract: This article concerns the Christian understanding of the concept of “apocalypse.” It presents an original way of renewing eschatological thought in the modern world. Current events, social movements and ideologies are often seen as apocalyptic phe- nomena, because they instill fear, hopelessness, and a false understanding of God. The focus is on the issue of the apocalyptic thought of the early Church, its essence being faith in the resurrection and second coming of Jesus Christ. Based on the the- ological analyses of the apocalyptic doctrine of the early Church and the Revelation (Apocalypse) of John, the author proposes a method to overcome the fears people are experiencing in the 21st century. The cure for all fears is hope, which is a constitutive element of the Christian apocalyptic thought.
Journal: Polonia Sacra
- Issue Year: 28/2024
- Issue No: 2
- Page Range: 175-196
- Page Count: 22
- Language: English