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Have a Nice Doomsday: Why millions of Americans are looking forward to the end of the world
A bizarre and fascinating journey into the United States' religious heartlands - and why 50 million Americans believe the apocalypse is imminent
336 pages, Paperback
First published October 2, 2007
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149 people want to read
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April 2, 2009
When I was young I was told that Jesus would come back like a "thief in the night." It was said to me like it was a golden, glowing promise- something sweet and something sure to happen any day now. The words thief and night scared me to death, and since I was also told that no one would know the hour of his coming I would every day wake up and say with as much certainty as I could muster, "Jesus is coming back today" just to make sure that he wouldn't.
That said, I totally got this book. I knew where the author was going and was surprised at how respectful and clinical he remained.
One of my favorite passages in the book is advice that Tim Lahaye, co-author of those horribly written Left Behind cash cows, gives the author.
"Keep up the good work, and remember this. The best way to reach the minds of people is the printed page. God chose the printed page to communicate with mankind."
That said, I totally got this book. I knew where the author was going and was surprised at how respectful and clinical he remained.
One of my favorite passages in the book is advice that Tim Lahaye, co-author of those horribly written Left Behind cash cows, gives the author.
"Keep up the good work, and remember this. The best way to reach the minds of people is the printed page. God chose the printed page to communicate with mankind."
November 19, 2007
I am so fascinated by apocalyptic culture and this is a great look into some of the US's famous personalities like Tim La Haye, Joel Rosenberg and John Hagee. Their political influence is pretty frightening, especially the fact that they are used as "middle east experts" on Fox news without disclosing that they believe war in the Middle East will hasten the apocalypse and their own rapture!!
January 9, 2023
I am coming back to review this because —
1. It was extremely well written and researched!
2. I wish the scope was a little larger beyond certain televangelists and apocalyptic figures // and if anyone can recommend further reading I’d love that
3. What’s super interesting is that I would love to hear what Nicholas Guyatt thinks now (16 years later) given the rise of the radical right wing and accompanying conspiracy theorists (think Qanon). It steeped in Christianity and more importantly apocalyptic Christianity: Alex Jones, for example, frequently blames “Globalists” for the downfall of society which mirrors so closely the idea that one world government is a sign of the end times, and so much more.
I’d love to hear what he thinks about how January 6th is sort of a culmination of what a lot of the men he discusses in this book are working for (particularly the ones who say that you can have a role in politics as an apocalyptic christian).
All of that being said I will be watching movies from the Left Behind franchise as a wine night activity because, why not.
1. It was extremely well written and researched!
2. I wish the scope was a little larger beyond certain televangelists and apocalyptic figures // and if anyone can recommend further reading I’d love that
3. What’s super interesting is that I would love to hear what Nicholas Guyatt thinks now (16 years later) given the rise of the radical right wing and accompanying conspiracy theorists (think Qanon). It steeped in Christianity and more importantly apocalyptic Christianity: Alex Jones, for example, frequently blames “Globalists” for the downfall of society which mirrors so closely the idea that one world government is a sign of the end times, and so much more.
I’d love to hear what he thinks about how January 6th is sort of a culmination of what a lot of the men he discusses in this book are working for (particularly the ones who say that you can have a role in politics as an apocalyptic christian).
All of that being said I will be watching movies from the Left Behind franchise as a wine night activity because, why not.
February 22, 2009
What you'll think of this book depends on what you're expecting it to be.
If, like me, you're expecting a gentle mickey-take of wacky American preachers rooted in end-times prophecy (as you'd expect from the title and my edition's cover) you'll be disappointed.
The book is reasonably easy to read in most places, although I got stuck around chapters 3-4, when you suddenly hit a block of solid history, detailing apocalyptic thinking from the past few hundred years for 50 pages or so. Once you get back to the on-the-ground interviews and the current stuff, it becomes accessible once more.
It was interesting to see how different people tackled the paradox of naturally wanting things to improve in the world, while knowing that things getting worse was a sign of the (wanted) apocalypse coming !
If, like me, you're expecting a gentle mickey-take of wacky American preachers rooted in end-times prophecy (as you'd expect from the title and my edition's cover) you'll be disappointed.
The book is reasonably easy to read in most places, although I got stuck around chapters 3-4, when you suddenly hit a block of solid history, detailing apocalyptic thinking from the past few hundred years for 50 pages or so. Once you get back to the on-the-ground interviews and the current stuff, it becomes accessible once more.
It was interesting to see how different people tackled the paradox of naturally wanting things to improve in the world, while knowing that things getting worse was a sign of the (wanted) apocalypse coming !
September 15, 2015
While mainly about American prophecy writers, I enjoyed the historical review of apocalyptic thought from the start of Christianity to Cromwell in England. (Shout out to the 5th Monarchist and their bloody fight in January 1661)
For Americans, It was intriguing that for a time America was thought of as the safe place for Satan and his minions (the native Americans), or so said the leading British prophecy guy or the 17th century Joseph Mede.
But the killer stuff starts with William Miller in the 1830's and 40's. Who used “replacement theology”, so that America replaced Jerusalem as the place of Christ's return, a NEW Jerusalem. But even though he convinced thousands of the return, it proved to be untrue and was labeled “The Great Disappointment”. It is interesting that for so many the fact that the world isn't ruined by a great tribulation causes such dismay.
The comes John Nelson Darby who is cited as identifying a literal return of the Jews to Israel as a true marker, and he is credited with promoting the idea for the rapture. Guyatt sees him as the first of the modern prophecy line that goes on to Tim Lahaye, John Hagee and Hal Lindsay
One recurring point of interest for Guyatt is whether these modern prophecy guys are actually promoting and working towards the end of the world, or the final battle. When he asks them directly they say no, but I think that he thinks that their actions say otherwise. THEY want a nuclear war in Israel.
As to how this all comes about...These people feel that all they are doing is “connecting the dots” and once connected it is an amazingly clear picture of Rapture, Tribulation and Christ's angry return to earth. But as I see it these dots of news and Bible quotes are analogous to a page full of random dots and if you have an image in mind you connect those dots that match the picture in your heart.
I can imagine the allure of Biblical end times thought, after all it brings a wonderful clarity to the chaos of civilization and conflicting ways of life. You identify evil and see yourself on the side of good. And to really remedy the ills of the world you just point out the evil and wait for God's transport beam to materialize you up in heaven.
And of course in a world that always seems to be getting worse (rumors or wars and such), you have your “proof” of the correctness of you view.
At the end he makes a claim that “liberal” non-believers are like the bible end-timers because they also think the world will end, except because of global warming. It struck me as odd, since while it is true both types expect the world to end, one uses a very selective reading of the bible alone, while the other springs from years of data and thousands of actual scientist explaining this data. So the equivalency thing seems weak to me.
But, all in all, a good book. He keeps the reader interested and provides a nice narrative to follow. I think that narrative was stated as asking the phrophecisors to explain their views to those who don't come to them naturally. But I really don't think those guys can't do that as they purposefully ignore evidence outside of their world view. And really they don't care, they know what they believe (even if they can't explain why)and that is enough.
HOWEVER, to explain it to others I think Guyatt should done some more work, because the source material in this case can't deliver. So I think this easy read, misses out on its actual intent.
This is what I recommend Guyatt should read now to fill in that gap...
Cosmos, Chaos and the World to Come: The Ancient Roots of Apocalyptic Faith by Norman Cohn.
I did not actually read this book but just from reading the jacket I see that the basic thrust of the book was that the apocalyptic world view was first introduce by the Zoroaster religion going back 3500 years. The upshot is that their description of an ultimate combat between good and evil happens on earth with GOOD (GOD) winning. So this way of thought long precedes modern American theology.
Don't Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change, by George Marshall.
(https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
Here we see that our brains are seemingly hardwired to react emotionally rather than rationally.
The Tenacity of Unreasonable Beliefs: Fundamentalism and the Fear of Truth by Solomon Schimmel.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here we see the benefits of ignoring a rational/ scientific way of handling “evidence”. Basically this ties in with Marshall book in that ultimately it is the emotion satisfaction that determines what we believe.
For Americans, It was intriguing that for a time America was thought of as the safe place for Satan and his minions (the native Americans), or so said the leading British prophecy guy or the 17th century Joseph Mede.
But the killer stuff starts with William Miller in the 1830's and 40's. Who used “replacement theology”, so that America replaced Jerusalem as the place of Christ's return, a NEW Jerusalem. But even though he convinced thousands of the return, it proved to be untrue and was labeled “The Great Disappointment”. It is interesting that for so many the fact that the world isn't ruined by a great tribulation causes such dismay.
The comes John Nelson Darby who is cited as identifying a literal return of the Jews to Israel as a true marker, and he is credited with promoting the idea for the rapture. Guyatt sees him as the first of the modern prophecy line that goes on to Tim Lahaye, John Hagee and Hal Lindsay
One recurring point of interest for Guyatt is whether these modern prophecy guys are actually promoting and working towards the end of the world, or the final battle. When he asks them directly they say no, but I think that he thinks that their actions say otherwise. THEY want a nuclear war in Israel.
As to how this all comes about...These people feel that all they are doing is “connecting the dots” and once connected it is an amazingly clear picture of Rapture, Tribulation and Christ's angry return to earth. But as I see it these dots of news and Bible quotes are analogous to a page full of random dots and if you have an image in mind you connect those dots that match the picture in your heart.
I can imagine the allure of Biblical end times thought, after all it brings a wonderful clarity to the chaos of civilization and conflicting ways of life. You identify evil and see yourself on the side of good. And to really remedy the ills of the world you just point out the evil and wait for God's transport beam to materialize you up in heaven.
And of course in a world that always seems to be getting worse (rumors or wars and such), you have your “proof” of the correctness of you view.
At the end he makes a claim that “liberal” non-believers are like the bible end-timers because they also think the world will end, except because of global warming. It struck me as odd, since while it is true both types expect the world to end, one uses a very selective reading of the bible alone, while the other springs from years of data and thousands of actual scientist explaining this data. So the equivalency thing seems weak to me.
But, all in all, a good book. He keeps the reader interested and provides a nice narrative to follow. I think that narrative was stated as asking the phrophecisors to explain their views to those who don't come to them naturally. But I really don't think those guys can't do that as they purposefully ignore evidence outside of their world view. And really they don't care, they know what they believe (even if they can't explain why)and that is enough.
HOWEVER, to explain it to others I think Guyatt should done some more work, because the source material in this case can't deliver. So I think this easy read, misses out on its actual intent.
This is what I recommend Guyatt should read now to fill in that gap...
Cosmos, Chaos and the World to Come: The Ancient Roots of Apocalyptic Faith by Norman Cohn.
I did not actually read this book but just from reading the jacket I see that the basic thrust of the book was that the apocalyptic world view was first introduce by the Zoroaster religion going back 3500 years. The upshot is that their description of an ultimate combat between good and evil happens on earth with GOOD (GOD) winning. So this way of thought long precedes modern American theology.
Don't Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change, by George Marshall.
(https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
Here we see that our brains are seemingly hardwired to react emotionally rather than rationally.
The Tenacity of Unreasonable Beliefs: Fundamentalism and the Fear of Truth by Solomon Schimmel.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here we see the benefits of ignoring a rational/ scientific way of handling “evidence”. Basically this ties in with Marshall book in that ultimately it is the emotion satisfaction that determines what we believe.
June 23, 2008
An interesting read. The author interviews several well known evangelical christian leaders with the end of the world as the main topic of discussion. He pokes and prods, suggests and intimates, but never comes out and says what he seems to be thinking (and probably what many people who choose to read this book are thinking)...he shifts back and forth between a slightly mocking tone of narration and that of a serious interviewer/journalist. Just when you think he's gonna hit you with his punch line of "these people are all freaking nuts and they're influencing the leaders of our earth's nations"...he follows up with a different question or subject.
I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in religion, especially the christian-apocalypse version of the end of the world and how current political and religious leaders in the US view these topics. I'd like the book more if the author provided some editorial on what his thoughts are; if he directly offered his opinion. I wonder, though, if he disagrees with these folks and let it be known, they would have talked with him so openly...
I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in religion, especially the christian-apocalypse version of the end of the world and how current political and religious leaders in the US view these topics. I'd like the book more if the author provided some editorial on what his thoughts are; if he directly offered his opinion. I wonder, though, if he disagrees with these folks and let it be known, they would have talked with him so openly...
January 2, 2008
I was very excited about this book and found myself a little dissapointed by the end. A great idea--exploring why more than 50 million Americans believe that the Second Coming, or at least the Rapture, will happen in their lifetime and the influence that this belief has on American foriegn policy--ended up feeling forced and kind of shallow. The author didn't even try to hide his condecension when interviewing and reviewing Bible prophecy enthusiasts, which I think it pretty irresponsible for religious journalism. He should have allowed the reader to make up his or her own mind regarding how crazy these people are (my vote: pretty damn crazy). Still, it's an interesting topic. Also, the author clearly wanted to uncover some kind of massive conspiracy where government officials and high-ranking politicians were allowing Bible prophecy to influence their decision making and policy planning. His thesis was never proven. Sorry, even though George W. Bush is an evangelical Christian, he is not looking for Gog and Magog in Russia.
May 3, 2008
It is bizarre that so many people are taken in by these ideas, but it is an interesting read. Nicholas Guyatt is a Brit who tries to understand the American doomsday prophets and their message.
November 30, 2008
Excellent! In fact, it really explains it all... I get it now.
September 14, 2017
A pretty good report on the phenomena of Apocalyptic Christianity in America. The tone was more respectful than the goofy title and cover led me to believe it would be. At the same time this is no somber report. The book is breezy and conversational. More an overview than an in depth study.
The history of End Times belief is followed from its origins in England and we are shown how those beliefs moved to the New World even as they faded from Europe. This history was pretty light, but that wasn’t my primary interest in the book, so I didn’t mind it.
By far the most interesting parts of the book for me were the interviews with the End Times superstars and also-rans. Tim LaHaye and Joel Rosenberg are interesting guys. While I don't doubt they sincerely believe their End Times eschatology, you can't help but feel that they aren't glorying in their celebrity a bit. Guyatt lets them skewer themselves with their own words. It never felt like he was holding these people up for ridicule, though he didn’t gloss over some of the negative image they project on their own.
The real revelation (pardon the pun) for me were some of the guys 'in the trenches'. The host of a cable access show: Final Hour, the guy who felt a calling to sell his home and travel the country in an RV and Mel Odom, a Christian contract writer of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Sabrina the Teenage Witch novels who was hired to write a Tom Clancy-esque spin-off series to the Left Behind books. These are regular work-a-day guys doing what they believe in but wrestling with some of the stickier questions of End Times belief.
The author gets them to grapple with their seemingly contradictory views that things must get worse in order to trigger The Rapture and at the same time that Christians should exercise their influence in politics in order to make America a more Christian nation.
Over all I would say Have A Nice Doomsday is a good introduction to End Times belief for anyone who’s seen those Left Behind books and are wondering what that whole Rapture thing is about.
The history of End Times belief is followed from its origins in England and we are shown how those beliefs moved to the New World even as they faded from Europe. This history was pretty light, but that wasn’t my primary interest in the book, so I didn’t mind it.
By far the most interesting parts of the book for me were the interviews with the End Times superstars and also-rans. Tim LaHaye and Joel Rosenberg are interesting guys. While I don't doubt they sincerely believe their End Times eschatology, you can't help but feel that they aren't glorying in their celebrity a bit. Guyatt lets them skewer themselves with their own words. It never felt like he was holding these people up for ridicule, though he didn’t gloss over some of the negative image they project on their own.
The real revelation (pardon the pun) for me were some of the guys 'in the trenches'. The host of a cable access show: Final Hour, the guy who felt a calling to sell his home and travel the country in an RV and Mel Odom, a Christian contract writer of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Sabrina the Teenage Witch novels who was hired to write a Tom Clancy-esque spin-off series to the Left Behind books. These are regular work-a-day guys doing what they believe in but wrestling with some of the stickier questions of End Times belief.
The author gets them to grapple with their seemingly contradictory views that things must get worse in order to trigger The Rapture and at the same time that Christians should exercise their influence in politics in order to make America a more Christian nation.
Over all I would say Have A Nice Doomsday is a good introduction to End Times belief for anyone who’s seen those Left Behind books and are wondering what that whole Rapture thing is about.
November 1, 2019
The apocalypse. Maybe it will be today. Maybe it will be tomorrow.
Maybe it will by July 12th 2028. Or it might be that year on the stroke of midnight New Years Eve. Don't ask me why I know, I just know. But then I also don't. Because I said the world will end and then it didn't. But I know it will. Trust me, Armageddon is coming...
That's basically how it works, right? (SIGH) Anyway...
If this book didn't just feature clueless lunatics making absolutely no sense or reason... Or logic... Or proof... They are also American. And not the good ones either. This is a story of obsession, blind faith and kooky characters and the lengths they will go occupying their lives with a belief that it's all going to go tits up. And not just that, how they are affecting and influencing society and law making at every level.
Mind you, this book was written just over ten years ago and if the current outlook of the world, and that particular country that they live in, is anything to go by. They may have a point.
Maybe it will by July 12th 2028. Or it might be that year on the stroke of midnight New Years Eve. Don't ask me why I know, I just know. But then I also don't. Because I said the world will end and then it didn't. But I know it will. Trust me, Armageddon is coming...
That's basically how it works, right? (SIGH) Anyway...
If this book didn't just feature clueless lunatics making absolutely no sense or reason... Or logic... Or proof... They are also American. And not the good ones either. This is a story of obsession, blind faith and kooky characters and the lengths they will go occupying their lives with a belief that it's all going to go tits up. And not just that, how they are affecting and influencing society and law making at every level.
Mind you, this book was written just over ten years ago and if the current outlook of the world, and that particular country that they live in, is anything to go by. They may have a point.
Read
July 5, 2021Published about 15 years ago, this investigative book with interviews of those leadin the evangelical end-tims movements in the early to mid 2000's this book is still very, very applicable today. Why are millions of Americans looking forward to the end of the world? Why do Americans think that the end of the world requires a strong America? Why are American Christians pushing back against the end of the world if they believe that Christ's return comes with the end of the world?
These questions and many more are explored in this book.
These questions and many more are explored in this book.
March 25, 2020
This is a very good (and funny) look at the apocalyptic Christian movement that's swept the country over the last thirty years (everything from "Left Behind" to the George W. Bush administration). Would be nice to say that the influence of these Rapture folks has decreased in terms of public policy over the years, but just take a look around at who's crowding around the current president and you'll see that is not the case.
January 18, 2024
I was hoping this would be similar to Jon Ronson’s ‘The Men Who Stare at Goats’, and while it explored similar ideas, it got too bogged down in biblical minutiae for me and lacked the fast paced humour that carried me through Ronson’s book. Some interesting ideas and an insight into something I didn’t really even know existed, but not the most gripping.
December 5, 2024
It's a book.
February 15, 2010
I liked this book, although I don't think it ever really answered "why millions of Americans are looking forward to the end of the world." It did answer why a few influential evangelical pastors and writers might be, though.
Guyatt interviews some of the key poeple in the "End Times" movement and also does a good job giving a broad history of Christian end time phrophecy beliefs (all of which did not go according to predictions). Guyatt does use a kind of humorous, slightly mocking tone in his writing (a tone that I can't believe he used in his interviews) which, actually, I enjoyed. The author describes an incident where a woman asked rhetorically, and, according to Guyatt, without rancor, how a nonbeliever could write about these issues. It's an interesting question, which is answered by the fact that Guyatt is writing this book for either nonbelievers or people who don't know if they believe or not. There's plenty of 'straight up' literature out there to satisfy the end time believer (most of the interviewees were writers). So even though Guyatt obviously doesn't believe in the End Times as revealed prophecy, I don't think he expressed the beliefs of those who do inaccurately. He just mildly mocked them. Entertainingly.
One theme that Guyatt returned to frequently, though, is the idea that religious zealotry can have dangerous consequences, especially if that zealotry has, as a central theme, the glorification of the end of the world and the political muscle to affect the policy decisions of a powerful nation.
Guyatt interviews some of the key poeple in the "End Times" movement and also does a good job giving a broad history of Christian end time phrophecy beliefs (all of which did not go according to predictions). Guyatt does use a kind of humorous, slightly mocking tone in his writing (a tone that I can't believe he used in his interviews) which, actually, I enjoyed. The author describes an incident where a woman asked rhetorically, and, according to Guyatt, without rancor, how a nonbeliever could write about these issues. It's an interesting question, which is answered by the fact that Guyatt is writing this book for either nonbelievers or people who don't know if they believe or not. There's plenty of 'straight up' literature out there to satisfy the end time believer (most of the interviewees were writers). So even though Guyatt obviously doesn't believe in the End Times as revealed prophecy, I don't think he expressed the beliefs of those who do inaccurately. He just mildly mocked them. Entertainingly.
One theme that Guyatt returned to frequently, though, is the idea that religious zealotry can have dangerous consequences, especially if that zealotry has, as a central theme, the glorification of the end of the world and the political muscle to affect the policy decisions of a powerful nation.
February 26, 2011
Throughout this book, I kept waiting for Nicholas Guyatt to come out and say that he thought the apocalyptic believers he was interviewing were a bunch of nutjobs. That's what I felt he kept building up to. He kept pointing out how wild some of their predictions/prophecies were, and how some of their predictions/prophecies failed. He also repeatedly pointed out how today's apocalyptic preacher's predecessors had been mocked in the past when their predictions didn't come true. But Guyatt didn't laugh at the preachers, and he didn't mock the writers. He just kept going on, occasionally swinging between a casual tone and a serious tone.
This continual see-sawing is what bothered me in the end. I don't know what Guyatt wanted to say in the end, and I would have liked a little more of a conclusive ending. Did Guyatt think the prophesiers were ridiculous or not?
Some of the book was interesting, though- the interviews, particularly. I also liked all the information on the Left Behind series, and I admittedly want to read the first book now. Though whether I actually will is another story altogether. Furthermore, I found some of the anti-American slanting in terms of rapture to be reminiscent of the Westboro Baptist Church's messages- God Hates America and all that. Not perhaps the best thing to be, ahem, left behind with.
This continual see-sawing is what bothered me in the end. I don't know what Guyatt wanted to say in the end, and I would have liked a little more of a conclusive ending. Did Guyatt think the prophesiers were ridiculous or not?
Some of the book was interesting, though- the interviews, particularly. I also liked all the information on the Left Behind series, and I admittedly want to read the first book now. Though whether I actually will is another story altogether. Furthermore, I found some of the anti-American slanting in terms of rapture to be reminiscent of the Westboro Baptist Church's messages- God Hates America and all that. Not perhaps the best thing to be, ahem, left behind with.
July 7, 2012
This book is one man's tour through the Christian Apocalypse movement. If you've ever read any of the "Left Behind" series by Tim LeHaye and Jerry Jenkins, then you have some idea of what this particular subset of Christians believes. If you haven't, then the basic idea is that the Bible basically lays out how world events will (and are) working out God's plan to bring about the end of life as we know it and usher in a new theocratic reign led by Jesus Christ.
I can say that, having been raised in a Christian sect that believes this (and pounds away at making sure you get all the facts/dates/sequence of events correct so that you can warn other people), I was pretty knowledgeable about the apocalypse idea. It doesn't make plowing through the chapter that explains all of this any more pleasant. The book then goes on after that to give the history of the apocalypse throughout Christian history and how much of these ideas have shaped American history. It's pretty rough reading. At least it was for me.
The nice thing is that the author (who doesn't subscribe to this belief) lends a pretty light touch to the book and is often humorous in his descriptions of his encounters with the players.
I can say that I enjoyed the book. Mostly, I find the idea that people devote years of their lives to this to be sad and tiring. The people portrayed seem, overall, like nice people. It would just be nice if they gave as much effort doing more charitable projects.
I can say that, having been raised in a Christian sect that believes this (and pounds away at making sure you get all the facts/dates/sequence of events correct so that you can warn other people), I was pretty knowledgeable about the apocalypse idea. It doesn't make plowing through the chapter that explains all of this any more pleasant. The book then goes on after that to give the history of the apocalypse throughout Christian history and how much of these ideas have shaped American history. It's pretty rough reading. At least it was for me.
The nice thing is that the author (who doesn't subscribe to this belief) lends a pretty light touch to the book and is often humorous in his descriptions of his encounters with the players.
I can say that I enjoyed the book. Mostly, I find the idea that people devote years of their lives to this to be sad and tiring. The people portrayed seem, overall, like nice people. It would just be nice if they gave as much effort doing more charitable projects.
June 9, 2014
This is a well written easy read book and attempts to deal fairly with the people interviewed and their beliefs. The author tries to find out how such beliefs came about and what sustains them. He also looks at why they have evolved and how they are portrayed depending on the messenger.
It's hard not to see that the author feels that the beliefs are "odd" and not his own but he tries valiantly not to say that.
If your reading this book you probably already have firm views of the Rapture and this book won't dissuade you for them. It just shows that sensible and stupid people alike can be fooled into believing anything. But these beliefs are not just a bit of funny "new sports shoes anyone" wackiness. Extreme religious views are seriously seriously dangerous. They cause wars, unrest, fear, and psychological harm. Whether they are eastern, western, Christian or other.
We have a saying in Australia "Only in America". It's not polite and it is usually said with resignation and while shaking your head. It means that some Americans are batshit crazy. Things like this would not happen anywhere else it the world or at least would be recognised for how batshit crazy they are. Be afraid be very afraid.
It's hard not to see that the author feels that the beliefs are "odd" and not his own but he tries valiantly not to say that.
If your reading this book you probably already have firm views of the Rapture and this book won't dissuade you for them. It just shows that sensible and stupid people alike can be fooled into believing anything. But these beliefs are not just a bit of funny "new sports shoes anyone" wackiness. Extreme religious views are seriously seriously dangerous. They cause wars, unrest, fear, and psychological harm. Whether they are eastern, western, Christian or other.
We have a saying in Australia "Only in America". It's not polite and it is usually said with resignation and while shaking your head. It means that some Americans are batshit crazy. Things like this would not happen anywhere else it the world or at least would be recognised for how batshit crazy they are. Be afraid be very afraid.
October 17, 2009
This book was difficult to read due to the subject matter but it is well worth the time to read if you are curious about the current perverse obsession in some parts of the US with the mythical End Times. I was particularly distressed that prophecy enthusiasts like John Hagee and Joel Rosenthal are presented as "Middle Eastern experts" on Fox News without their true backgrounds being explained (they are fomenting their opinions on current events from poring over the Old Testament, not from any sort of formal education on Middle Eastern history, culture or language.) Yet another reason to get your news from the newspaper.
Guyatt speaks to Rosenthal as well as Tim LaHaye (of the "Left Behind" series) and a few other lesser known members of the movement. John Hagee and Hal Lindsey ("The Late Great Planet Earth"), two people that someone outside of the movement might be familiar with, refused to be interviewed. He is obviously skeptical but treats them very fairly.
Guyatt speaks to Rosenthal as well as Tim LaHaye (of the "Left Behind" series) and a few other lesser known members of the movement. John Hagee and Hal Lindsey ("The Late Great Planet Earth"), two people that someone outside of the movement might be familiar with, refused to be interviewed. He is obviously skeptical but treats them very fairly.
January 10, 2014
Although this book is a little dated (having been written in 2007), it's a fascinating overview of some of the biggest names in the apocalyptic Christian movement. Guyatt interviews everyone from the 1970s 'prophet' Hal Lindsey (author of the hipper-than-thou The Late Great Planet Earth) to Tim LaHaye, the driving force behind the infamous Left Behind series. For the most part, the interviews are conducted politely and Guyatt gives every impression that he sincerely wants to know the story behind each person's worldview.
There are times, though, that Guyatt's essential incredulity gets the better of him, and his tongue lodges firmly in his cheek. This detracts somewhat from an otherwise serious survey, which is a real shame. There are precious few non-academic books that even scratch the surface of this movement; Guyatt, unfortunately, invites the reader to laugh along at some of the more extreme or unlikely beliefs. It does his undertaking a real disservice.
August 2, 2013
I gave this book a full five stars.
It is difficult to add on to other positive reviews of this book. Like other readers, I could personally relate to this story. I grew up with a fundamentalist christian parent. I knew all about end time prophecies. I remember hearing about the rapture, the Great Tribulation, and how Jesus would come like a "thief in the night." So I was very interested in the topic. And it is a strange topic, but millions take it very seriously.
Guyatt tracks down and interviews many christian leaders and thinkers on this topic and shows their impact in modern culture. The background research is well-done and well-integrated into the story. It was a real fascinating read, and it's never boring. Dry material is written in a witty and engrossing way.
It is difficult to add on to other positive reviews of this book. Like other readers, I could personally relate to this story. I grew up with a fundamentalist christian parent. I knew all about end time prophecies. I remember hearing about the rapture, the Great Tribulation, and how Jesus would come like a "thief in the night." So I was very interested in the topic. And it is a strange topic, but millions take it very seriously.
Guyatt tracks down and interviews many christian leaders and thinkers on this topic and shows their impact in modern culture. The background research is well-done and well-integrated into the story. It was a real fascinating read, and it's never boring. Dry material is written in a witty and engrossing way.
October 3, 2013
Interesting book on the resurgence of Bible based prophecy in the US and also the phenomenon that is the massive selling Left Behind books that deal with the Rapture, and the increasing political and media influence of apocolyptic preachers like John Hagee who appears regularly on Fox News calling for the invasion of Iran and suchlike. (Although he believes that the invasion of Iran is an essential part of the hastening of End Times, this is rarely pointed out when he appears on Fox).
It features some good interviews with a variety of people in the prophecy/end times sphere and is written in a very easy to read and engaging style.
It features some good interviews with a variety of people in the prophecy/end times sphere and is written in a very easy to read and engaging style.
November 21, 2014
Guyatt does not clearly answer the question he sets out to: why, exactly, Americans are looking forward to the end of the world, and particularly why these same Americans are involved in the political machinations of a country in its last days. Nor will Guyatt's book be at all surprising to someone who grew up in conservative evangelical churches.
Nevertheless, Guyatt encounters a wide variety of Rapture believers and Rapture theories in the book. These he describes thoroughly, politely, and humorously. It's not a deep book. Great non-fiction read for someone looking for an interesting topic, or something besides a novel to read at night.
Nevertheless, Guyatt encounters a wide variety of Rapture believers and Rapture theories in the book. These he describes thoroughly, politely, and humorously. It's not a deep book. Great non-fiction read for someone looking for an interesting topic, or something besides a novel to read at night.
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January 22, 2008I figured this would be a comparatively painless way to learn about apocalyptic Christians, and it is--well written and humorous. Doesn't make the apocalyptic Christians and their agenda any less scary though.
I'm halfway through now and the story continues to be informative (in matters ranging from Biblical quotations to Cromwell-era British prophetic theology) and an interesting, occasionally tongue-in-cheek humorous read.
I'm halfway through now and the story continues to be informative (in matters ranging from Biblical quotations to Cromwell-era British prophetic theology) and an interesting, occasionally tongue-in-cheek humorous read.
April 16, 2009
I expected this to be quite scholarly but it had more of a journalistic edge. Guyatt's interviews and insights are intriguing but he fails to address his primary thesis directly which makes the book seem more like a collection of experiences and anecdotes with little histories rather than a large, coherent work focused on the question of how much influence right wing evangelicals have on American politics and to what extent the movement is homogeneous and organized.
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July 20, 2010Quite an engaging read, but nowhere near as incisive and penetrating as I would have liked. Guyatt lets these nutbags spout their irrational nonsense without really questioning it, and portrays them in a cutesy-Americana kind of way which belies their dangerous and frightening mindsets. However, he does a good job of covering the issue of apocalyptic Christianity, and he has further increased my scepticism of anyone who calls themselves a prophet or evangelical.
January 31, 2010
While this is an interesting read full of all sorts of entertaining and enlightening tidbits I can't help but feel the author failed to make any sort of coherent point. This is more like a collection of interviews with apocalyptic authors than the examination of Apocalyptic Christianity on American politics that it claims to be.
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July 27, 2011This is interesting - a good overview of Rapture theology and the men who have propagated it in America. They are sexist, racist and homophobic, which makes for a maddening read... while the author's tone is very even keeled, I really wanted him to scream "What? WHAT?? You're INSANE!" from time to time. Ah well. I suppose that's why I am not a journalist anymore.
August 6, 2011
scary...scary to know that some people actually believe what is in this book, and scary to think that it isnt just a couple of people, it is MILLIONS!!!
a very interesting book with a lot of concepts and ideas i had never heard before relating to the apparent impending rapture and biblical apocalypse that we all will face very soon...
a very interesting book with a lot of concepts and ideas i had never heard before relating to the apparent impending rapture and biblical apocalypse that we all will face very soon...
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