Comments on: Obama As Millennialist Aspiration

By: Former Republican

Former Republican — Wed, 28 May 2008 19:57:05 +0000

North of 49: Cohn’s Pursuit of the Millenium is about millenarian movements in Europe in the Middle Ages, not the United States. But it’s a brilliant and fascinating book and certainly illuminates millenarian movements anywhere, anytime.

By: Bleepless

Bleepless — Wed, 28 May 2008 18:28:20 +0000

In some box somewhere, I have a pamphlet proving, beyond any doubt at all, that the world will end in 1927.

By: North of 49

North of 49 — Tue, 27 May 2008 18:14:50 +0000

A thoughtful essay. I agree with your view about the potential impact on the political process, but I am not sure the cause, millenarianism is unique to this confluence of events. There has always been a strong streak of Millenarianism in the United States. I believe the standard work on this was Cohen- Pursuit of the Millennium.
It may also be arguable that exceptionalism of the boomer generation was born out of affluence and economic growth. Our parents survived the war, depression, and we were the beneficiaries of unfettered opportunity and exceptionalism like millenarianism has always been an American trait.

By: Rich Horton

Rich Horton — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:32:59 +0000

My larger point is that there is a reason why various catastrophe scenarios, from the kinda plausible (e.g. peak oil or AGW) to the really lunatic (e.g. the Mayan calendar), find ready mainstream audiences. It feeds the vivid fantasies of folks who want to believe that the age is headed for disaster, unless of course everyone adopts their particular moral principles…then we may all be saved. (Gee, thanks.)

Nutcases have always and will always be with us, but this is much more widespread I’m afraid.

By: martian

martian — Tue, 27 May 2008 13:34:53 +0000

The catastrophists are being fueled by popular culture. Just go to the History Channel and see how many shows there are about Apocalypse and Armageddon. They even ran a special recently about all the "signs" and prophecies that the world will end in the year 2012 (on Dec. 21 if you believe the Mayan calendar). There have been whole books dedicated to proving this as a reality. This tends to keep the nutcases frothing at the mouth.

By: Americaneocon

Americaneocon — Mon, 26 May 2008 17:38:58 +0000

Actually, I just stopped by to wish you a great Memorial Day, but I’m pleased to report that this is an awesome essay – and believe me, you’re hitting the nail pretty hard.
Thanks and be a peace today.

By: Former Republican

Former Republican — Mon, 26 May 2008 16:32:07 +0000

There are strong rational arguments to be made both for anthropogenic climate change and for near-term peak oil. (On the latter, see the WSJ article on May 22 about the leaked International Energy Agency report.) IMHO, both are highly probable. But “highly probable” does not mean the same thing as “certain.” And neither problem would plausibly bring down civilization. Just for example, Germany in WWII kept up production pretty well notwithstanding a severe shortage of petroleum, a point I’ve never seen discussed by peak oil enthusiasts.

Your broader point is interesting. The prospect of Armageddon, Biblical or secular, seems to appeal to something in the American psyche. I don’t understand why, and I’ve never seen a satisfying explanation. It used to be pretty much confined to the right side of the political spectrum. Now you find it on the left as well, as your post points out.

By: Mwalimu Daudi

Mwalimu Daudi — Mon, 26 May 2008 16:26:59 +0000

Bleepless, most of the catastrophists act like a collapse of civilization is some kind of Hollywood "B" movie where it is all special effects and thrilling music and no one really gets hurt. That’s why they make weird choices about what would be needed to survive.

Most of the lame Hollywood attempts to depict post-Apocalypse life (like Mad Max and Jericho) almost never mention the ravaging effects of disease and accidents. It’s not the deranged maniacs dressed in rags and who ride motorcycles that you have to worry the most about, it cholera, pneumonia, influenza, and accidents that are your deadliest enemies.

By: Bleepless

Bleepless — Sun, 25 May 2008 17:55:08 +0000

If the catastrophists really believed that everything is going to crash, they would not limit themselves to chickens and tomatoes. If food is going to get scarce, they will not keep the hungry hordes away by thinking green thoughts. They will need firearms, at the very least. So either they are suicidally unrealistic or they are just play-acting. Either way, they are disgusting.