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Published in: Journal of Religion and Health 1/2021

Open Access 01-02-2021 | COVID-19 | Biographical Exploration

Covid-19 and the Apocalypse: Religious and Secular Perspectives

Author: Simon Dein

Published in: Journal of Religion and Health | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

The current Covid-19 pandemic has led to existential crises. One way of finding meaning in this is through apocalyptic narratives. We differentiate between religious (based upon eschatology) and secular apocalypticism (based upon radical political and economic change) and argue that both are to be found in the wake of Covid-19 infection. For religious believers, the apocalypse signifies the rapture of the faithful into heaven while those on earth will undergo the tribulations. For secular believers, the apocalypse signifies sociopolitical change. The paper ends by speculating upon the socio-political and economic changes during and after the pandemic- the New Jerusalem.
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Metadata
Title
Covid-19 and the Apocalypse: Religious and Secular Perspectives
Author
Simon Dein
Publication date
01-02-2021
Publisher
Springer US
Keyword
COVID-19
Published in
Journal of Religion and Health / Issue 1/2021
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-020-01100-w

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