A Discussion and Dialogue Regarding Apocalyptic Reasoning

"The End is coming!" We all have heard this statement in one fashion, shape or form. Whether attending church services, being out in public, or watching the news - there seems to be a moment where we wonder if the end of humanity is going to come to a sudden and complete halt. Imagine a car going down the freeway, 70 MPH registering on the speedometer. Suddenly a brick wall appears out of nowhere. The laws of physics would conclude that the vehicle will be severely crushed within moments of impact. Thus, the idea and concept of a sudden end would seemed to be happening.

When one takes a look through history, one will find that in almost every generation, there is great fear and trepidation regarding the "End of the World" as we know it and understand it. In a series of articles, the idea and concept of what and how civilizations rise and fall will show where our modern society is heading towards. These articles will examine the nature of how humanity has survived when there was an "end of an age" and how this affects us culturally, sociologically, psychologically and what we must do to prepare for something that may suddenly come upon us without warning.

Apocalypse in Science and Religion:

One of the two greatest studies of humanity is that of Science and Religion. While in our modern society, we tend to view Scientific studies and research separate from that of Religious thought and experience, the idea and concept of a coming apocalyptic end is well rooted within the community of scientific research and religious history, tradition and studies. Two prime examples follow:

"In its 4.5 billion years, Earth has evolved from its hot, violent birth to the celebrated watery blue planet that stands out in pictures from space. But in a new book, two noted University of Washington astrobiologists say the planet already has begun the long process of devolving into a burned-out cinder, eventually to be swallowed by the sun." {The end of the world' has already begun, UW scientists say - Written by Vince Stricherz, January 13, 2003, University of Washington}

While Science investigates and understands the natural elements of our world and how the laws of physics, chemicals and the evidence that is found within recent discoveries show there is an ultimate end on our planet, religion has a different viewpoint and outlook.

Amidst the various religions of the world - the main viewpoint is an ultimate battle of good verses Evil. Even within the Christian believing community, there is the Return of Christ that will be heralded by a devastating and trying period called the tribulation. Whatever the religious belief, the end of the world is always seen as being imminent within a given generation. With the various doctrine views of Eschatology, the idea that Science and Religion agree that life on our planet as we know it will come to an ultimate end. The means on how life and our planet will become non-existent is of a different discussion and debate, the nature of this particular article is to introduce the understanding of how we as humanity and society view the changing and challenging events that we are faced.

While the Evangelical and Fundamental mainstream Christians view the end is being near is based upon their preconcieved notions of current events. Other religious ideals reflect the nature of symbolism in ancient literature and culture as a roadmap to see how civilizations rise and fall.

In essence, these articles will examine the religious and scientific understanding of what is happening in our world today and how it affects our societies as a whole, compared to the nature and rise as well as the fall of various civilizations through the annals of history and the major endings that have occurred even in our own time frame.

Personally, I believe that there is a coming end of this present age. The causation of this end is a rise in civil unrest and economic pressure. All markings of a great fall of our modern day Empire.

In short, every age has its seasons that it cycles through and much like the twilight of one season giving way to the dawn of a new, we are on the frontier of a new age being dawned. For some, this will be a sudden tragic event that will mysteriously come out of the blue. For others, this end is something that has been predicted and long suspected and they are prepared.