HIST 5313 - Apocalypse Now and Then: A History of Apocalyptic Thought and Movements

Three credit hours.

This course offers a history of beliefs about the end of the world in the western Judeo-Christian tradition. Through lectures and readings, we will examine such topics as the birth of apocalyptic thought, the medieval development of various aspects of traditions about the End (such as the figure of Antichrist and millenarian traditions), millennial influences on the discovery and colonization of the New World, millennial influences on the discovery and colonization of the New World, millennial movements of the last two centuries (such as the Millerites and the Mormons), and contemporary apocalyptic scenarios. A major theme of the course will be flexibility of apocalyptic language, its ability to interpret various historical situations, and its power to move people to acceptance or action.