[Sundaycommunity] The cycle of Empires and the psychology of the Christian apocalypse

[Arthur Blomme]

Hi all


<https://youtu.be/uqsBx58GxYY>

Throughout history people experience great social change.civilizations 
rise up and civilizations fall. Apocalyptic literature is one way that 
our ancestors have given meaning to the tribulations brought about in 
the end game of Empires as they fall. The image to the left is linked to 
an After Skool youtube video relating the the historical events that 
lead to  Polybius developing his theory of the rise and fall of 
Empires.  A theory that was elaborated by later thinkers like Thomas 
Aquinas, Machiavelli and John Adams who contributed this thought to the 
American Constitution.

In this vein I would also like to share with you a reflection on the 
apocalyptic story in th Gospel according to  St. Mark(13:3-21)


  The Psychology of the Christian Apocalyptic Stories

Art Blomme, Nov. 14,2024

Christian Apocalyptic stories all follow a certain structure. First the 
tribulation is described and following that is the victory.It follows 
the template of Christ’s resurrection where “death is rendered to have 
lost its sting” through faith in the resurrection.

In the Revelation of John, the structure of this story is clear. The 
fearsome beast and the calamities that it brings upon the earth by the 
four horsemen are described in some detail. However the calamities are 
not the end of the story for in the end these fearsome events lead to 
the shining New Jerusalem victoriously descending from the heavens.

This Sunday’s gospel reading begins by referring to “the tribulation… 
where … the stars will fall from the sky and the powers of the heavens 
will be shaken”. Following this tribulation comes the good news.“and 
then they will see the son of Man coming in the clouds with great power 
and glory.”

The reading ends with the fig tree metaphor where we are called to view 
the turmoil in our world as a sign of the progressing seasons. In the 
spring when we see the tree’s beginning to bud we know that summer will 
soon arrive.In like manner when we see the turmoil and strife in our 
world we should know that the kingdom of God is close at hand.

Gandhi says our real enemy is fear not hate.Fear causes us to act out of 
our reptilian brain. It pumps adrenaline and cortisone into our body 
readying us for fight or flight. Fear is a negative state of mind that 
causes us to withdraw our energies inward to protect ourselves.

Although they may be different, we all have perspectives on the evil and 
decay we glean from our interactions with the world. Our news channels 
are filled with reports of war and genocide; of climate disasters, of 
the rising cost of shelter, of food scarcity, disease and political 
corruption. When we dwell on this tribulation should we be fearful?

Mark’s metaphor of the fig tree is teaching us to see in the dangerous 
events of our time, a sign of the inevitable new season where the son of 
Man is coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

Notice the shift in our mental state generated by this image when we 
contrast it to the fearful states that are generated in the images of 
the tribulation. The Christ descending from the heavens with great power 
and glory generates states of awe and wonder.These states foster a 
growth mindset creating the optimum conditions for transcending the 
tribulation of our times.

Perhaps our Christian stories of the apocalypse should be seen as social 
resurrection stories.Just as our faith in the resurrection has conquered 
death, so to our faith in the inevitability of the New Jerusalem and the 
Second Coming conquers the power of death over our society.There is no 
reason to have fear. Let us flourish in awe and wonder.

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