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

[Mary Lou Jorgensen-Bacher]

GoodNESS will follow us wherever we go!!!!  OF THIS I AM CERTAIN!!
You have really looked at the readings of today, and we are ALL GLAD!!


Mary Lou Jorgensen-BacherKeeper of the Flame 

    On Friday, November 15, 2024 at 02:55:49 p.m. EST, Arthur Blomme via Sundaycommunity <sundaycommunity at lists.integralshift.ca> wrote:  
 
   
Hi all
 
 

 
 
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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