CHRISTIAN APOCALYPTIC EXTREMISM: A STUDY OF TWO CASES
CHRISTIAN APOCALYPTIC EXTREMISM: A STUDY OF TWO CASES
Author(s): Alar LaatsSubject(s): Christian Theology and Religion
Published by: Kaitseväe Ühendatud Õppeasutused
Keywords: Christian extremism; Taiping Heavenly Kingdom; Russian Old Believers; eschatological figures; utopias and dystopias
Summary/Abstract: The article treats two cases of large scale Christian extremism: the establishment of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in China in the middle of the 19th century and the Russian Old Believers movement that started in the second half of the 17th century. In both cases there were intense expectations of the end of the world. In both cases their extreme actions were provoked by the violent activity of the state authorities. The extremism of the Chinese Christians was directed outside whereas the extreme behaviour of the Russian Old Believers was directed first of all inside, towards themselves. One of the reasons of the difference in their actions was the difference in their respective theological thinking.
Journal: KVÜÕA toimetised
- Issue Year: 2011
- Issue No: 14
- Page Range: 163-177
- Page Count: 15
- Language: English