SKEPSI Volume 6 - Apocalypse as Religious and Secular Discourse in Battlestar Galactica and its Prequel Caprica (original) (raw)
Related papers
Secular Apocalyptic Themes in the Nuclear Era
Wojcik, Daniel. “Secular Apocalyptic Themes in the Nuclear Era.” In The End of the World As We Know It: Faith, Fatalism, and Apocalypse in America, pp. 97-132. New York and London: New York University Press, 1997. , 1997
Apocalyptic ideas traditionally have been associated with religious eschatologies, but American secular culture also has contributed to widespread beliefs, images, and expectations about the end of the world. The concept of a meaningless apocalypse brought about by human or natural causes is a relatively recent phenomenon, differing dramatically from religious apocalyptic cosmologies. Instead of faith in a redemptive new realm to be established after the present world is annihilated, secular doomsday visions are usually characterized by a sense of pessimism, absurdity, and nihilism.
Discourse about the end of the world
Lingua Posnaniensis, 2015
The increased prevalence of discourse concerning the expected end of the world was observed in various countries and manifested in various genres especially in the years 2000 and 2012. Some of the discourse was conducted in a serious manner, whereas other instances included humorous motifs and were used for commercial purposes.The aim of this paper is to take a closer look at the typical motifs prevailing in the discourse concerning the end of the world, with special emphasis on the humorous aspect - both universal and culture-specific. Texts found on Polish, German, English and Russian websites were analyzed.In the studied material, the end of the world was understood literally and broadly - in terms of extermination of the human race, eschatology - or narrowly, in terms of statistical data concerning the death of a given number of people, or even individually, referring to the imminent ending of each person’s particular world. T he metaphorical meaning of the end of the world was ...
The Revolution of the Apocalyptic Myth
This paper critically examines J.J. Abrams’ post-apocalyptic television show Revolution from a mythic perspective. The television show’s plot displays a contrast between the traditional Christian apocalyptic myth and the myth of the “new wave apocalypse.” The “new wave apocalypse” is a catastrophe that is manmade rather than God sent and there is a belief that the apocalypse can be avoided. This mythic shift shows a hegemonic struggle between Christians who believe God caused the apocalypse because humans “created an electronic Tower of Babel,” and those who think that man created the apocalypse through his own devices (Secular Humanists). This power struggle is seen between religious and non-religious views throughout the show Revolution. This secular humanistic view argues that humankind is in control of its fate, and because of the hostility within the human race, the apocalypse is imminent, not because a higher power willed it to happen. This hegemonic struggle and evolution of the apocalyptic myth is reflected in Revolution as a result of the increase in atheism or non-religious views in American culture.
Peoples of the Apocalypse: Eschatological Beliefs and Political Scenarios
2016
This volume addresses Jewish, Christian and Muslim future visions on the end of the world, focusing on the respective allies and antagonists for each religious society. Extensive lists of murderous end-time peoples, whether for good or evil, and those who merit salvation hold variably defined roles in end-time scenarios. Spanning late Antiquity to the early modern period, the collected papers examine distinctive aspects represented by each religion’s approach as well as shared concepts.
Apocalypses: Prophecies, Cults, and Millennial Beliefs through the Ages
Sixteenth Century Journal, 2000
Apocalypses: Prophecies, Cults, and Millennial Beliefs through the Ages Eugen Weber Apocalyptic visions and prophecies from Zarathustra to yesterday form the luxuriant panorama in Eugen Weber's profound and elegant book. Beginning with the ancients of the West and the Orient and, especially, with those from whom we received our religions, the Jews and earliest Christians, Weber finds that an absolute belief in the end of time, when good would do final battle with evil, was omnipresent. Within centuries, apocalyptic beliefs inspired Crusades, scientific discoveries, works of art, voyages such as those of Columbus, rebellions and reforms. In the new world, American abolitionists, who were so critical to the movement to end slavery, believed in a final reckoning. The nineteenth and twentieth centuries' apocalyptic movements veered toward a lunatic fringe, and Weber rescues them from obloquy. From this more than two millennia history, he redresses the historical and religious amnesia that has consigned the study of apocalypses and millennial thought to the ash heap of thought and belief.
TV/Series, 2017
The contrast between the two versions of Battlestar Galactica (ABC, 1978-79; Sci-Fi, 2003-2009) provides an excellent witness to the evolution of American society over the last thirty years, as both the original 1970s series and its reimagined counterpart are remarkably in tune with the dominant religious beliefs of their respective periods. The creators of both BSG series wove into their narrative numerous references to Scripture to give an added dimension to the storylines and dialogues. Rather than a study of the various theologies and religious practices of the Colonials and the cybernetic Cylons depicted in the entire series, this study will be a rhetorical analysis of how the two series initially mobilize biblical texts. This article will concentrate on a comparative theological analysis of the 1978 movie-pilot for the original Battlestar Galactica1 and of the 2003 Battlestar Galactica mini-series that served as the pilot for the series by Ronald D. Moore.
Understanding Apocalyptic Belief...or not
In the first century CE, significant parts of the Christian church expected Jesus to return in a triumphant fashion. Today in the United States, significant parts of the Christian church still expect the imminent return of Jesus. This paper explores the variety of explanations for the continuing popularity of apocalyptic ideas. Building on existing scholarship, I suggest a number of new reasons why apocalyptic thought continues to be part of Christianity. These reasons also help us understand why the roots of apocalyptic thought will never be fully explained.