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'''Eschatology''' (from the Greek '', Eschatos'' meaning "last" + ''-logy'') is a part of theology and philosophy concerned with the final events in the history of the world, or the ultimate destiny of humanity, commonly referred to as the end of the world. While in mysticism the phrase metaphorically refers to the end of ordinary reality and reunion with the Divine, in many traditional religions it is taught as an actual future event prophesied in sacred texts or folklore. More broadly, eschatology may encompass related concepts such as the Messiah or Messianic Age, the end time, and the end of days.
The Greek word '' (aeon), meaning "age", may be translated as "end of the age (or historical period Achtemeier, P. J., Harper & Row, P., & Society of Biblical Literature, ''Harper's Bible Dictionary,'' San Francisco: HarperCollins Publishers, 1985, ISBN, s.v. "''eschatology''")" instead of "end of the world". The time distinction also has theological significance; while the end of time in mystical traditions relates to escaping confinement in the "given" reality, some religions believe and fear it to be the literal destruction of the planet (or of all living things) - with the human race surviving in some new form, ending the current "age" of existence.
Most Western monotheistic religions have doctrines claiming that "chosen" or "worthy" members of the one true religion will be "spared" or "delivered" from the coming judgment and wrath of God. For Judaism, see Isaiah. For Christianity, see the Book of Revelation. They will be ushered into paradise either before, during, or afterwards depending upon the end-time scenario to which they hold.

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Philosophy

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Notes

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Philosophy

Eschatology has also been a belief shared, sometimes theorized, by philosophers. Saint Augustine has been one of the most famous eschatological thinkers, followed by Hegel's philosophy of history, and, some have argued Marxists – as a secular religion. Theodicy has gathered together most Enlightenment thinkers, among whom are Kant and Rousseau.
More recently, many involved in futures studies and transhumanism note the accelerating rate of scientific progress and anticipate a technological singularity in the 21st century that would profoundly and unpredictably change the course of human history.^[1] Artist/futurist Michael E. Arth, for example, speculates about the emergence of a hive-like distributed being that would be self-conscious, integrated into a future version of the Internet, and also able to exhibit any individualized form, or speak any language. This collective intelligence, UNICE: Universal Network of Intelligent Conscious Entities, would connect everyone on the planet before it spreads outward into space.^[2]
For the eschatological beliefs of various religions, see: End Times.

See also

★ Amillennialism

★ Ancient Aztec eschatology

★ Apocalypse

★ Apocalypticism (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Rastafari Movement; comprehensive "see also" links)

★ Armageddon, End times

★ ''Death and Eternal Life'', by John Hick

★ ''The End Is Nigh'', a magazine looking at the end of the world

★ End of planet Earth

★ Eschatology (religious movement)

★ Futurology

★ Götterdämmerung

★ Immanentize the eschaton

★ Judgment day

★ Millennialism

★ Messianism and Messiah

★ The Pocket Guide to the Apocalypse

★ Postmillennialism

★ Premillennialism / Millenarianism

★ Preterism

★ Realized eschatology

★ Six Ages of the World

★ Technological singularity

★ Ultimate fate of the universe

★ UNICE:Universal Network of Intelligent Conscious Entities

★ The Urantia Book

Notes

1. "The Law of Accelerating Returns"
2. Information about UNICE

External links

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★ Christian Cyclopedia article on Last Things

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