Longing for the End: A History of Millennialism in Western Civilization - Hardcover

Frederic J. Baumgartner

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312210922 ISBN 13: 9780312210922

Publisher: St. Martin's Press, 1999

Synopsis

A history of millennialist thought analyzes the religious and philosophical threads behind the belief, and hope, that the world will end in the year 2000, identifying the role such thinking may have played in the Crusades, Columbus's voyages, Marxism, and the Third Reich.

About this title

From the Publisher

"In this timely book, Baumgartner makes a complicated topic not only intelligible but also interesting to a broad reading audience. Through two millennia of millennialism, apocalypticism, chiliasm, and messianism he traces a line of succession in which he finds a place even for contemporary cults." --Monsignor Robert Trisco, Professor of Church History at the Catholic University of America and editor of Catholic Historical Review

"Longing for the End is a lucid and readable survey of the many varieties and permutations of millennialism in Western thought. At every stage, Baumgartner roots his discussion in the social realities of the time. This admirably accessible overview provides a useful historical context for ideas that remain pervasive and potent today." --Paul Boyer, Author of When Time Shall Be No More: Prophecy Belief in Modern American Culture

About the Author

Frederic J. Baumgartneris Professor of History at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg. He is the author of many books including Louis XIIand France in the Sixteenth Century.

Edition details

• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0312210922
• ISBN 13: 9780312210922
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288