Atheists suffer apocalypse anxiety too, it seems

_{Denyse O'Leary

June 9, 2019

Atheism, Intelligent Design, Philosophy}

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Behavioral scientist Clay Routledge, author of Supernatural: Death, Meaning, and the Power of the Invisible World, explains:

Routledge suggested the behaviour of religious doomsday fretters was similar to atheist political activists. ‘I’m increasingly seeing a similar sort of fatalism on the secular left,’ he continued. ‘I’ve seen people promoting anti-natalism [the concept that having babies is wrong] because they believe the world is a horrible place and is going to be destroyed in the near future by climate change and that this fate is unavoidable. ‘This makes me think there are some fatalistic similarities between extreme groups of religious fundamentalists and leftwing secular fundamentalists.’
Jasper Hamill, “We’re in an age of ‘apocalypse anxiety’ and will never stop worrying about doomsday” at METRO

Here’s how anxiety will get worse: Wait till space aliens become a new majority religion: Nearly as many young Americans believe in ET as in God, says religion prof. Popular culture is looking for high-tech ETs to be its saviors and Silicon Valley aspires to become those ETs. What could possibly go wrong?

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Comments

Bob O'H:
Hey, we may believe in an apocalypse, but at least it’s an evidence-based apocalypse.
That would be the only thing you have that is evidence-based.ET_{June 10, 2019
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Obviously atheists don't believe in the christian style apocalypse that, if you lead your life according to Jesus, you will go to heaven. But we certainly do believe that human activity can have an impact on our future thriving and surviving. We accept the basic reality that we can't continue to increase our population indefinitely. The earth has finite resources. We also accept that it is possible for humans to have an impact on the environment. From a general "good for life" perspective, much of this might not be negative. But on a general "good for human" perspective, it certainly can. For example, discharging too many nutrients to our bodies of water may actually result in increased growth and biomass, but this is often at the expense of species that we rely on for food. It also increases the cost of treating our drinking water so that it is safe for us to drink. And, depending on how these nutrients are discharged (e.g., as part of sewage discharge), this can also result in increased risk of human epidemics. The same applies to discharges to the atmosphere.Brother Brian_{June 10, 2019
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Bob O'H, Did you write an ignorance-based comment @9?PaoloV_{June 10, 2019
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Hey, we may believe in an apocalypse, but at least it's an evidence-based apocalypse.Bob O'H_{June 10, 2019
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Seversky, Your comment @ 1 is incorrect and denotes deep ignorance of fundamental concepts. You may read the comments 3-7 and note that you got it all wrong in your first post. Your error is so obvious that no explanation is required, but I could explain it upon request. Next time try to pay attention to the correct contextual meaning of the words you use, so that the resulting text at least makes sense.PaoloV_{June 10, 2019
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More on Apocalypse and why it may provoke anxiety and even anger: [Reformation Study Bible provided by Ligonier Ministries] 1:1–3 The main portion of Revelation (1:4–22:21) has the form of a letter, with greetings, body, and farewell. This Prologue helps orient readers to the content they may expect. Stress is placed on the divine authority of the message (from God and Jesus Christ), its certainty (note the word “must” in v. 1), and its crucial relevance (v. 3). God makes thorough provision for the communication process: the message originates with God the Father, is given to Jesus Christ, and is made known to John through an angel (v. 1). John testifies by writing it (v. 2), and all are encouraged to read and hear (v. 3). Revelation stresses that though it comes in symbolic form, it is understandable. It is “revelation,” disclosing rather than hiding truth (v. 1). It is for “his servants,” not a special elite (v. 1). God expects Christians to “keep what is written,” to profit spiritually (v. 3). A blessing encourages people to read and hear (v. 3).PaoloV_{June 9, 2019
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More on the true meaning of Apocalypse and why it may cause anxiety (and even anger) in many people: [MacArthur Study Bible] Unlike most books of the Bible, Revelation contains its own title: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” (1:1). “Revelation” (Gr., apokalupsis) means “an uncovering,” “an unveiling,” or “a disclosure.” In the NT, this word describes the unveiling of spiritual truth (Rom. 16:25; Gal. 1:12; Eph. 1:17; 3:3), the revealing of the sons of God (Rom. 8:19), Christ’s incarnation (Luke 2:32), and His glorious appearing at His second coming (2 Thess. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:7). In all its uses, “revelation” refers to something or someone, once hidden, becoming visible. What this book reveals or unveils is Jesus Christ in glory. Truths about Him and His final victory, that the rest of Scripture merely allude to, become clearly visible through revelation about Jesus Christ (see Historical and Theological Themes). This revelation was given to Him by God the Father, and it was communicated to the Apostle John by an angel (1:1). 1:1 The Revelation. The Gr. word from which the Eng. word “apocalypse” comes lit. means “to uncover, or to reveal.” When it refers to a person, it means that person becomes clearly visible (see Introduction: Title; cf. Luke 2:30–32; Rom. 8:19; 1 Cor. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:7). Jesus Christ. The gospels unveil Christ at His first coming in humiliation; Revelation reveals Him in His exaltation: 1) in blazing glory (vv. 7–20); 2) over His church, as its Lord (chaps. 2, 3); 3) in His second coming, as He takes back the earth from the usurper, Satan, and establishes His kingdom (chaps. 4–20); and 4) as He lights up the eternal state (chaps. 21, 22). The NT writers eagerly anticipate this unveiling (1 Cor. 1:7; 2 Thess. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:7). God gave Him. As a reward for Christ’s perfect submission and atonement, the Father now presented to Him the great record of His future glory (cf. Phil. 2:5–11). Readers eavesdrop on the gift of this book, from the Father to His Son. shortly. The primary meaning of this word (lit. “soon”; cf. 2:5, 16; 3:11; 11:14; 22:12; 2 Tim. 4:9) underscores the imminence of Christ’s return.PaoloV_{June 9, 2019
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Here’s why: Philippians 2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.PaoloV_{June 9, 2019
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The name that appears twice in the first three verses of the prologue of Apocalypse is what makes many people anxious. Such an anxiety is only cured by the amazing grace that gives the saving faith in that name. But why does that name cause such an anxiety?PaoloV_{June 9, 2019
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Apocalypse 1 Prologue The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.PaoloV_{June 9, 2019
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Definition of apocalypse 1a : one of the Jewish and Christian writings of 200 b.c. to a.d. 150 marked by pseudonymity, symbolic imagery, and the expectation of an imminent cosmic cataclysm in which God destroys the ruling powers of evil and raises the righteous to life in a messianic kingdom b capitalized : REVELATION sense 3 2a : something viewed as a prophetic revelation b : ARMAGEDDON 3a : a large, disastrous fire : INFERNO Most foresters agree that small, "prescribed" burns, carefully controlled, are essential to prevent the larger apocalypse. — Lance Morrow b : a great disaster an environmental apocalypsePaoloV_{June 9, 2019
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Atheists should not experience "apocalypse anxiety" because they don't believe in an apocalypse. Christians should not experience "apocalypse anxiety" because they do believe in the apocalypse but also believe it will lead on to a much better life after.Seversky_{June 9, 2019
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