Images Of The Apocalypse In American Thought

Abstract

America has historically been a land of progress and hope. Consequently, American society is future-oriented. Because of this, the myth of the apocalypse – especially visions of the end of the world – is fundamental to the American consciousness. Just as history tells society where it has been, so the apocalypse tells society where it is going. From seventeenth-century visions of a glorious consummation of history to today's doomsday mentality, America has cultivated a rich and varied apocalyptic tradition. Throughout the history of American apocalyptic thought, images of the apocalypse have closely reflected societal trends. Gloom and doom prevail with the perceptions of a miasmatic society. But for the most part, versions of the American apocalypse have offered a glimmer of hope in the midst of tribulation.