From Apocalyptic Demonization to Theological Responsibility
Svenungsson, Jayne LU
(2023)
In Streit-Kultur. Journal für Theologie
- Abstract
- As the effects of climate change, political upheaval and ravaging war are palpable, apocalyptic images as well as the concept ‘apocalyptic’ are today regularly invoked in politics, popular culture and mass media. This essay ponders the potential dangers of the apocalyptic imaginary, especially its tendency to encourage idealization of one’s own community and demonization of the other. As carriers of this complex biblical legacy, it argues, Christian churches have a special responsibility. A major task for theology today is therefore to provide perspectives and tools that allow churches as well as other civil agents to interpret and understand the affective, deeply rooted, but largely unconscious ways in which apocalyptic tropes and images... (More)
- As the effects of climate change, political upheaval and ravaging war are palpable, apocalyptic images as well as the concept ‘apocalyptic’ are today regularly invoked in politics, popular culture and mass media. This essay ponders the potential dangers of the apocalyptic imaginary, especially its tendency to encourage idealization of one’s own community and demonization of the other. As carriers of this complex biblical legacy, it argues, Christian churches have a special responsibility. A major task for theology today is therefore to provide perspectives and tools that allow churches as well as other civil agents to interpret and understand the affective, deeply rooted, but largely unconscious ways in which apocalyptic tropes and images resurface in response to today’s cultural and political challenges. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/7546c94d-a3a3-4143-a54f-c01e3f702aa1
- author
- Svenungsson, Jayne
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2023
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- in press
- subject
- keywords
- apocalypticism, islamophobia, othering processes, Book of Revelation
- in
- Streit-Kultur. Journal für Theologie
- ISSN
- 2940-9535
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 7546c94d-a3a3-4143-a54f-c01e3f702aa1
- date added to LUP
- 2023-09-20 14:10:03
- date last changed
- 2024-01-23 11:30:10
@article{7546c94d-a3a3-4143-a54f-c01e3f702aa1,
abstract = {{As the effects of climate change, political upheaval and ravaging war are palpable, apocalyptic images as well as the concept ‘apocalyptic’ are today regularly invoked in politics, popular culture and mass media. This essay ponders the potential dangers of the apocalyptic imaginary, especially its tendency to encourage idealization of one’s own community and demonization of the other. As carriers of this complex biblical legacy, it argues, Christian churches have a special responsibility. A major task for theology today is therefore to provide perspectives and tools that allow churches as well as other civil agents to interpret and understand the affective, deeply rooted, but largely unconscious ways in which apocalyptic tropes and images resurface in response to today’s cultural and political challenges.}},
author = {{Svenungsson, Jayne}},
issn = {{2940-9535}},
keywords = {{apocalypticism; islamophobia; othering processes; Book of Revelation}},
language = {{eng}},
series = {{Streit-Kultur. Journal für Theologie}},
title = {{From Apocalyptic Demonization to Theological Responsibility}},
year = {{2023}},
}