157 | TE001 | Transcending Eschatology | Part 1 | The Doomsday Clock
Date: April 10, 2023
Welcome one and all.
Today we're kicking off a new series - one that I can't believe I'm attempting.
This series is called, "Transcending Eschatology: How we can rise above the chaos of the end times.”
At this point I'm not 100% sure how long the series will go. And I'm not 100% sure I'll be able to release concurrent weekly episodes.
I haven't worked ahead. So each week I'll need to do the research, write the episode and record it.
If it get's done - great. If not - I'll keep working on it and release it the next week.
When it comes to this series - I'd rather release something that works - rather than release something not quite there just because I ran out of time.
So with that fun introduction - let's dive in.
Today's Topic: Transcending Eschatology | The Doomsday Clock
Why the Fascination?
Doom & Gloom
Science vs. Spirituality
// CHAPTER 1: WHY THE FASCINATION?
I'm going to start with a hypothesis...
It's my belief that when people are presented with information about the End of Time - they immediately separate into one of two camps:
People who find it fascinating and want to learn more
People who find it unsettling and want nothing to do with it
Now I know - that's very black and white - and I'm sure there is more of a spectrum.
But it just feels like you're either going to be interested in it or not.
Similar to common likes and dislikes:
You either like beans in your chili or you don't
You either like nuts in your brownies or you don't
You either like chocolate ice cream or you don't
It's not rocket science. And my hypothesis is that a desire to know more about the End of Time works the same way.
People either move toward it - or away from it.
Me - I run toward it. And I've been that way my whole life.
So what is Eschatology in the first place - besides a $5 word that makes you sound more important than you are - right?
Well, it's pretty simple:
According to dictionary.com Eschatology is a term used in theology - and means:
"Any system of doctrines concerning last, or final, matters, as death, the Judgment, the afterlife, etc."
"The branch of theology dealing with such matters."
According to the definition - the study of how life ends, the end of the world, what happens after death, etc.
Which is a bit more broad than I was taught. When I was growing up it simply meant: The study of End Time events.
I was brought up in a Christian home, and in a religious tradition that had some very specific beliefs about the End of Time.
I've mentioned this on the podcast a few times.
But I was raised Seventh-Day Adventist. And the term "Adventist" can loosely be defined as, "looking forward to the Second Advent." Or believing that Jesus is coming again - which would suggest that things on Earth would either end, or at least change in a pretty dramatic way.
So I came by my fascination honestly. Or you could say I was indoctrinated. Or brainwashed. However you want to look at it.
But that was my childhood, middle school, high school and college experience.
Raised in SDA home - and attended SDA schools throughout my educational career.
So Eschatology, or the study of the end times has always been part of my life.
But what about the "fascination" part? Are all SDAs fascinated by it?
Probably not. My guess is my original hypothesis holds true even within the SDA church.
Some latch onto that part of the faith - while others choose not to get involved.
But for me - there was something about it. Something that caught my attention and wouldn't let it go.
From a young age, hearing about it in my Christian school, to conversations with my parents. To church services where it was brought up.
I just found it fascinating.
In high school - we had a religion class - I think it was my Junior year - and a huge chunk of the textbook focused on the parts of the Bible that discuss the End of Time.
When I graduated from college, I went through that phase where you question everything you were taught.
And for me - for some reason - the questioning never really focused on God, Jesus or the Bible. It focused largely on Eschatology.
I felt like I had to research it for myself and decide if I truly believed the version I grew up with.
Around that time the Left Behind Series was being written and published. And it quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Very similar to the way The Harry Potter Series caught on in its day.
The problem for me was that the Left Behind Series taught a version of Eschatology I hadn't heard before. And I needed to understand why.
So in my mid twenties I spent a large chunk of time reading up on the various Christian beliefs about the End of Time. So that I could feel confident in my beliefs.
Then - life happened:
Around this time I met my future wife and we got engaged
I went back to school to get my Master's Degree
In 1999 we got married and I graduated with my MSW
Between 2000 and 2004 we had three kids
And family life took center stage
School, extracurriculars, travel sports, drama/theater, dance classes, vacations, home ownership
All the things
And during this time, my interest in Eschatology ceased to exist
It's as if I put it on a shelf - and didn't touch it for the next 20 years
Sure - every now and then something crazy would happen in the world - and I would look over at the shelf - just wondering
But then life would go back to normal and I would carry on with my life
It went that way like I said - for 20 years - almost exactly.
Then 2020 happened...
COVID 19 - the pandemic
Racial unrest
Political unrest
Wars around the globe
Protests
Riots
Inflation - high gas prices - soaring real estate costs
And a general sense of unrest
An uneasiness that even non-Christians were able to verbalize
But this time I didn't just look over at the shelf - I took it down, dusted it off - and allowed some of that fascination to return.
Now - before we go any farther - I want to go over a few caveats regarding this series:
I am not an expert in the field of Eschatology
I don't claim to have all the answers
At this point in my life I'm holding things a lot more loosely than I did back in my 20s
I've talked about deconstruction on this podcast quite a few times - and that definitely plays into things.
As I've deconstructed some of my religious baggage - I've been forced to look at my beliefs about Eschatology as well.
My struggles with organized religion, and whether or not the Bible is inerrant - all make it harder for me to hold onto a dogmatic belief about the End of Time. So I've had to loosen my grip. Become more open about the possibility that maybe we don't know things for certain. That maybe we're all on the right track in some areas - but off a bit in others.
So that's me - that's where I'm at. And I just wanted to make sure you knew that before we got too far into this discussion.
// CHAPTER 2: DOOM & GLOOM
So let's dive in - no - actually - let's start slow.
Let's slowly wade into the shallow end first. Because this topic can get very heavy very fast.
So let's just start with a cultural overview.
We'll get to the world religions, and Christian, and what the Bible says about the end.
But first, let's try to look at it from a completely non-religious or non-spiritual way.
I know - it might be difficult - because it's very hard to divorce peoples spiritual or religious beliefs from their view of the End of Time
But let's pretend for a minute
There is a person living in this country
They may have heard about God, and religion but are agnostic in that they choose not to address it either way
This person is most likely a product of public education
School has taught them about evolution and the importance of science
They most likely believe that something can only exist if it is proven to exist
And in order to prove something exists, there has to be a scientific test to validate that it exists
Now, believe it or not, people like this can also engage in Eschatology. They can think about, study and try to understand the concept that life could come to an end. That the world as we know it could cease to exist.
How do I know this?
Well - just look at our culture - and the things we create.
In a recent episode of this podcast we looked at the rise of AI, or Artificial Intelligence. And I went into detail about books and movies that seem to predict the future.
But many of these books and movies also seem hyper-focused on our world changing, or ending.
There are numerous genres - but think about how many books and movies fit into categories like dystopian literature, or apocalyptic thriller.
When it comes to books, the dystopian theme ran strong there for a while with book series like The Hunger Games, Divergent and the Maze Runner.
And then there are the numerous movies that are based on the apocalyptic theme:
This Is the End
I Am Legend
Don't Look Up
The Road
Shaun of the Dead
It Comes at Night
The Day After
A Quiet Place
12 Monkeys
Fail Safe
Melancholia
Wall-E
Children of Men
The Sacrifice
Mad Max
Not to mention big block buster films not on the previous list like:
Armageddon
Deep Impact
Outbreak
Moonfall
Greenland
2012
The Core
The Day After Tomorrow
Independence Day
The Matrix
Waterworld
So why do these types of books and movies seem to do so well in our culture?
My guess is that a lot of us fall into the "fascinated" category. Many of us are fascinated with the End of Time - and what it could look like.
Now, my assumption is that many of the writers, directors and producers are not religious people. Or if they are - they weren't writing their books, or making their movies based on their religious beliefs.
Because a lot of these movies are based on science. Scientific ways the world could end. Ways that seem capable of being proven by science.
For example - in the list of movies above - here are just some of the scenarios that would lead to the world ending:
AI taking over
Alien invasion
Global warming
The Earth overheating from within
Extreme weather
An asteroid strike
Pandemics
A medical abnormality causing the Zombie Apocalypse
Extreme water shortage
Extreme flooding
World War III
Nuclear war and nuclear fallout
Just to name a few
But back to the title of this section... Doom & Gloom
Before you start to think that all the doom and gloom exists as fictitious stories made up by authors and movie creators.
I'd like to introduce you to the Doomsday Clock.
Some of you may have heard of it before. But for those of you who have not - here is a quick overview from Wikipedia:
The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic representation of how close we are to a human-made global catastrophe
It was created in 1947 and has been kept up to date since then
A hypothetical global catastrophe is represented by midnight on the clock
And the big hand represents how close we are to midnight
The concept can be traced all the way back to the group of scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project - the project that led to the production of our first nuclear weapons
The clock wasn't so much a declaration of our struggle with other countries as it was to reflect the continuous danger we're in living with nuclear weapons
The clock illustration was used to reflect urgency - the same way a countdown suggests something will happen unless it is stopped
If the clock was originally created to depict danger based on nuclear proliferation - it has been expanded over the years to take into account things like nuclear threats, climate change, bioterrorism, and artificial intelligence
As threats in these areas increase - the clock gets closer to midnight
The Wikipedia page has a great little graph and table showing the fluctuations over the years
The largest it has been is 17 minutes to midnight in 1991 - when the US and the Soviet Union reached an arms agreement and the USSR dissolved into Russia and other independent countries
The shortest amount of time ever set happened this year - on January 24, 2023. The clock is now sitting at 90s to midnight due to things like:
The war in Ukraine
International issues between US, Russia and China
Nuclear instability around plants in the Ukraine
Continued issues related to climate change
Of course the COVID-19 pandemic and the fallout from that
Again, similar to authors and movie producers - the Doomsday Clock is not being set based on spiritual or religious beliefs. This clock is set by members of the "Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists."
These are people heavily invested in science and culture. Their predictions are based on real, tangible things that can be proven to be true. Things like the danger of nuclear weapons. The visible signs of climate change. Technology concerns when it comes to things like the unregulated use of Artificial Intelligence.
So they aren't setting the clock based on their religious beliefs, after reading the Bible, or after assessing the spiritual climate in the world.
They aren't looking at the rise in Christian Nationalism around the world as a potential cause for alarm. At least no in their statement as to why they changed it to 90s to midnight.
But it makes sense. They are scientists. They're viewing the physical world through a physical lens. Addressing credible threats that can be defined, monitored and addressed.
Now before we move into our final chapter today I have one other thing I want to discuss.
Don't quote me on this. But I just find it fascinating.
Since we are using the Doomsday Clock to illustrate how close we are to extinction. With the end of the world being midnight - and the clock reading 11 "something" PM.
It's fascinating to me that the most popular platform the world is engaging on is called TikTok. After all - what sound does a grandfather clock make as the pendulum swings back and forth?
Tik Tok. Tik Tok. Tik Tok.
Again - don't quote me on that. Because that's where my fascination ends. There is no conspiracy theory. There is nothing tangible I can connect between the Doomsday Clock and the TikTok App.
The closest I can get to that - is on a more abstract, spiritual level.
In the Bible - in Daniel 12:4 - we read:
"But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase."
Many believe this is talking about information. That the creation of the Internet is what this verse is talking about.
In our recent episode on AI - I suggested it could be AI that fulfills this verse.
But I'm not opposed to throwing TikTok in there as a contender as well!
Not that it is as powerful as AI, or as expansive as the entire Internet.
But it is powered by the Internet - and uses AI on some level to comb through content and filter what you see on your FYP.
This functionality is called an algorithm. But my assumption is that the algorithm is now using AI as part of it's core functionality.
TikTok is the perfect platform for sharing information - an easy way for "knowledge to increase."
And not just short, choreographed dances, or funny clips of pets, or people doing dumb things.
I'm talking how to's, media clips, up to the minute video clips of things happening around the world, hot takes from both sides of the political aisle, religious beliefs, deconstructionists, alarmists, conspiracy theorists. All coming at you at 100mph.
The Internet has to be searched. AI has to be leveraged. But all you have to do is open TikTok and the information pours into our heads non stop.
TikTok is like the funnel we use to pour oil into our cars. The entirety of the Internet and the power of AI are funneled down into one, steady, ingestible stream that the entire world is connected to.
// CHAPTER 3: SCIENCE VS. SPIRITUALITY
Okay - let's wrap things up by talking about the difference between scientific Eschatology and religious or spiritual Eschatology.
Most of this episode has been talking about the first.
Scientific Eschatology. The study of end time scenarios through the lens of science and the observable world.
The Doomsday Clock and how it is set each year. Based on 4 very specific risk assessments:
Nuclear Risk
Climate Change
Biological Threats
Disruptive Technologies (like AI for example)
But like we said - these are all scientific in nature. And do not take into consideration a belief system based on religion or spirituality.
But that doesn't mean much. Because I would suggest that Eschatology from a religious or spiritual background is even more prevalent.
In other words - there are scientists who may stay in their lane and never think about the Doomsday Clock.
But my assumption is that every religion out there has a belief about the end of time.
I'll put that assumption to the test next week - but I'm running with it for now.
The truth of the matter is this:
Religions exist in part because we all need answers to the Big 3 Questions:
Where we came from
Why we're here
Where we go when we die
And like we said earlier - it's the third one that sends us down the eschatological path:
Trying to discern what might happen in the future
Trying to figure out what happens when we die
Trying to figure out if our world ends - and if so how
And trying to determine if there is anything we can be part of beyond this short life on earth
And as people all over the world seek answers to these questions - new religions emerge.
New belief systems are written down based off these answers. And before you know it - hundreds of thousands of people are following along with that religious belief structure. They have kids - and they teach them the same beliefs. And their kids teach their kids and before long you have a world religion - some even sanctioned by the country where that religion is the most prevalent.
This is where we're headed next week.
I want to look at the major religions of the world - and find out what they believe about the End of Time.
And then we'll bring it all back to the world view I hold - Christianity - and begin to dissect the various views on the End of Time within that religious tradition.
Let's Land the Plane:
First off - thanks again for choosing to go on this journey with me.
Not just the Transcend Human journey. But choosing to listen to this series of episodes - on Eschatology.
If you're the fascinated type - like me - I can see why you're here.
If you're on the other end of the spectrum - wow - I'm impressed and humbled to have you along for the ride as well.
I'll try to make it as simple, and painless as possible.
My belief is that a knowledge about the End of Time is important. Not having all the details - and not being right.
But being open to all of it - listening - reading and allowing God to impress you on the important things.
When I walk from one end of the Yosemite Valley to the other - these are the things I remember:
The Tunnel View of the entire valley
Bridalveil Falls
El Capitan
Sentinel Dome
Vernal Falls
Upper Yosemite Falls
Half Dome
The things I don't remember:
Every road, path or hiking trail you take in order to see these things
The names of all the parking lots, visitors centers and camping locations
The names of all the lodges in the valley
etc. etc.
And that's the way it is with Eschatology - specifically the intense, Bible prophecy based stuff we will eventually get into.
What I've come to learn is that knowing what the Bible says might just be more important than how we interpret it. Now I know - that will sound very blasphemous to those of you who grew up in the Christian faith.
But this is what I mean:
If there are three ways to interpret a section of Bible prophecy - what is more important?
Picking one of the three, and blasting everyone else for being wrong?
Or understanding all three - and holding them loosely? Allowing God to help us navigate it when the time is right?
But I digress - more on that in future episodes.
For now - thanks for joining me - and we'll wrap things up with some simple questions:
When it comes to the End of Time:
Are you the fascinated type?
Or are you the more ambivalent type?
Had you ever heard of the Doomsday Clock?
And what's your take on the recent change to 90s to Midnight?
What camp are you in:
Do you view Eschatology through the lens of science?
Or do you view it through a religious or spiritual lens?
That's all I have for this week friends.
I hope you're doing well wherever you are. Until next time, keep Transcending Human!
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