“We’d be better off if we ended our obsession with endings.

Predictions of an apocalypse are rooted two models of history. These are cyclical and linear, a circle or a line.

The cyclical view of history dominates most Eastern religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism and pagan cultures like that of the ancient Greeks.

There’s neither a starting nor an end point. Such a view doesn’t encompass end-of-the-world predictions.

A linear view sees history generally heading in a single direction. Historical events have a specific purpose and an ultimate end point at which that purpose is fulfilled.

The Western mind has been enormously influenced by the linear model. We invariably see worldly events heading in a continuous direction with a particular purpose.

The questionable concept of progress reflects this. You have to be heading towards a future which is an improvement on the present.

The linear view of history encourages end-time thinking. Apocalyptic thinking has a clear goal. Events in the world are thought to be moving towards some huge upheaval.”

— Ed Strong on Phil Rockstroh’s post