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Apocalypses in Context: Apocalyptic Currents Through History
Apocalyptic scenarios remain prevalent and powerful in popular culture, in politics, and in various religious traditions. Academic interest in apocalypticism is flourishing; indeed, the study of both ancient and contemporary apocalyptic phenomena has long been a focus of attention in scholarly research and a ready way to engage the religious studies classroom. Apocalypses in Context is designed for just such a classroom, bringing together the insights of scholars in various fields and using different methods to discuss the manifestations of apocalyptic enthusiasm in different ages (Part Ancient Apocalyptic Literature; Part Apocalypticism through the Ages; Part Apocalypticism in the Contemporary World). This approach enables the instructor to make connections and students to recognize continuities and contrasts across history. Apocalypses in Context features illustrations, graphs, study questions, and suggestions for further reading after each chapter, as well as recommended media and artwork to support the college classroom.
- GenresNonfiction
528 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 11, 2025
Book Review: Apocalypses in Context, 2nd Edition: Apocalyptic Currents Through History
(Edited by Kelly J. Murphy and Justin Jeffcoat Schedtler)
A Foundational Text for Interdisciplinary Apocalyptic Studies
This expanded second edition solidifies its position as an indispensable resource for teaching and researching apocalypticism across temporal and cultural boundaries. As a frequent reader of religious studies, I found the volume’s thematic breadth—spanning ancient Jewish and Christian apocalypses to modern climate anxiety and political rhetoric—remarkably cohesive despite its collaborative nature. The editors’ deliberate structuring of chapters (with study questions, media recommendations, and revised content based on classroom feedback) demonstrates a pedagogical commitment rare in anthologies.
Scholarly Value and Emotional Resonance
The new chapters on contemporary apocalypticism (e.g., climate discourse and Middle East policy) provoked visceral reactions. One contributor’s analysis of environmentalist rhetoric as a secular eschatology forced me to confront my own unexamined assumptions about “emergency framing.” Similarly, the revised chapter on apocalyptic visual culture—comparing medieval illuminated manuscripts to modern comic books—unexpectedly moved me by highlighting humanity’s persistent need to visualize catastrophe as a form of meaning-making. The inclusion of non-Western traditions (often marginalized in such surveys) lent emotional weight to the universalizing thesis that apocalyptic thinking transcends specific religions.
Constructive Criticism
-Terminology Inconsistencies: Some chapters use “apocalyptic,” “millenarian,” and “eschatological” interchangeably without cross-referencing definitions—a potential confusion for undergraduates.
-Theoretical Gaps: While strong in historical surveys, the volume would benefit from a synthesizing chapter engaging critical theory (e.g., Agamben’s state of exception framework).
-Visual Material Limitations: The described illustrations and artwork are not reproduced in the text; an online companion repository would enhance accessibility.
Why It Matters Now
In an era of overlapping crises (pandemic recovery, AI anxiety, climate collapse), this anthology equips students to critically analyze the narratives shaping collective fear and hope. The editors’ refusal to trivialize apocalypticism as mere superstition—instead treating it as a hermeneutic for power, resistance, and identity—models the nuance urgently needed in public discourse.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the review copy. This edition’s classroom-ready features (e.g., discussion questions tied to Watchmen and Parable of the Sower) make it ideal for courses bridging religious studies, political science, and media criticism.
Rating: 4.7/5 (A near-definitive interdisciplinary survey—would elevate with stronger theoretical scaffolding and embedded visuals.)
Note: The volume’s emphasis on “continuities and contrasts” succeeds brilliantly, though a concluding meta-analysis of apocalypticism’s psychological/sociological functions could further unify its rich diversity.
(Edited by Kelly J. Murphy and Justin Jeffcoat Schedtler)
A Foundational Text for Interdisciplinary Apocalyptic Studies
This expanded second edition solidifies its position as an indispensable resource for teaching and researching apocalypticism across temporal and cultural boundaries. As a frequent reader of religious studies, I found the volume’s thematic breadth—spanning ancient Jewish and Christian apocalypses to modern climate anxiety and political rhetoric—remarkably cohesive despite its collaborative nature. The editors’ deliberate structuring of chapters (with study questions, media recommendations, and revised content based on classroom feedback) demonstrates a pedagogical commitment rare in anthologies.
Scholarly Value and Emotional Resonance
The new chapters on contemporary apocalypticism (e.g., climate discourse and Middle East policy) provoked visceral reactions. One contributor’s analysis of environmentalist rhetoric as a secular eschatology forced me to confront my own unexamined assumptions about “emergency framing.” Similarly, the revised chapter on apocalyptic visual culture—comparing medieval illuminated manuscripts to modern comic books—unexpectedly moved me by highlighting humanity’s persistent need to visualize catastrophe as a form of meaning-making. The inclusion of non-Western traditions (often marginalized in such surveys) lent emotional weight to the universalizing thesis that apocalyptic thinking transcends specific religions.
Constructive Criticism
-Terminology Inconsistencies: Some chapters use “apocalyptic,” “millenarian,” and “eschatological” interchangeably without cross-referencing definitions—a potential confusion for undergraduates.
-Theoretical Gaps: While strong in historical surveys, the volume would benefit from a synthesizing chapter engaging critical theory (e.g., Agamben’s state of exception framework).
-Visual Material Limitations: The described illustrations and artwork are not reproduced in the text; an online companion repository would enhance accessibility.
Why It Matters Now
In an era of overlapping crises (pandemic recovery, AI anxiety, climate collapse), this anthology equips students to critically analyze the narratives shaping collective fear and hope. The editors’ refusal to trivialize apocalypticism as mere superstition—instead treating it as a hermeneutic for power, resistance, and identity—models the nuance urgently needed in public discourse.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the review copy. This edition’s classroom-ready features (e.g., discussion questions tied to Watchmen and Parable of the Sower) make it ideal for courses bridging religious studies, political science, and media criticism.
Rating: 4.7/5 (A near-definitive interdisciplinary survey—would elevate with stronger theoretical scaffolding and embedded visuals.)
Note: The volume’s emphasis on “continuities and contrasts” succeeds brilliantly, though a concluding meta-analysis of apocalypticism’s psychological/sociological functions could further unify its rich diversity.
October 4, 2019
This is an edited volume, and some chapters are better than others.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews