THE ROLE OF ESCHATOLOGY IN FORMING CIVILIZATIONAL HOPES AND FEARS

Abstract

Eschatology, the study of end-times beliefs, plays a pivotal role in shaping civilizational hopes and fears across religious and cultural traditions. This paper examines eschatological frameworks from Abrahamic and non-Abrahamic religions, analyzing their influence on historical narratives, moral worldviews, and socio-political structures. The study explores how eschatological visions inspire civilizational aspirations—such as justice, renewal, and salvation—while also fueling fears including apocalypse, divine judgment, and societal collapse. By engaging theological texts and sociological interpretations, the article identifies eschatology as a critical mechanism that civilizations use to conceptualize destiny, ethics, and existential meaning in times of crisis and transformation.