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'''Eschatology''' (Greek '''εσχατος''' or ''eschatos'' the last and '''λογος''' or ''logos'' a word) is the study of the last things that the [[Bible]] or other religious texts predict will happen to the world and mankind.

'''Eschatology''' (Greek '''εσχατος''' or ''eschatos'' the last and '''λογος''' or ''logos'' a word) is the study of the last things that the [[Bible]] or other religious texts predict will happen to the world and mankind.

Eschatology is the study of the last things: death, judgment, the afterlife, and the end of the world. Through centuries of Christian thought—from the early Church fathers through the Middle Ages and the Reformation—these issues were central importance to theologians.  After the [[Enlightenment]] of the 18th century, however, many religious thinkers began to downplay the importance of eschatology which, in light of rationalism, came to be seen as something of an embarrassment. The twentieth century, however, saw the rise of [[Fundamentalism]] that placed eschatology back at the forefront of religious thought. Furthermore there has been a proliferation of apocalyptic new religious movements.

Eschatology is the study of the last things: death, judgment, the afterlife, and the end of the world. Through centuries of Christian thought—from the early Church fathers through the Middle Ages and the Reformation—these issues were central importance to theologians.  After the [[Enlightenment]] of the 18th century, however, many religious thinkers began to downplay the importance of eschatology which, in light of rationalism, came to be seen as something of an embarrassment. The twentieth century, however, saw the rise of [[Fundamentalism]] that placed eschatology back at the forefront of religious thought. Furthermore, there has been a proliferation of apocalyptic new religious movements.

[[File:End-time.jpg|thumb|400px|Dispensationalist interpretation]]

[[File:End-time.jpg|thumb|400px|Dispensationalist interpretation]]

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=== Mutual criticism ===

=== Mutual criticism ===

Debate between and among holders of different eschatological doctrines is often highly contentious. Non-futurists often accuse their futuristic co-religionists of "newspaper exegesis," or what they see as a wrongful attempt to interpret the Bible from the pages of a daily newspaper or similar current-events organ. Futurists, for their part, often accuse preterists of "triumphalism," or inferring that frail human beings will actually accomplish victory in a war that, they say, Jesus alone can and will fight and win. Secular critics accuse it of woo-peddling, primarily due to it's unprovability using scientific methods, and because of it's tendency to draw in the gullible.

Debate between and among holders of different eschatological doctrines is often highly contentious. Non-futurists often accuse their futuristic co-religionists of "newspaper exegesis," or what they see as a wrongful attempt to interpret the Bible from the pages of a daily newspaper or similar current-events organ. Futurists, for their part, often accuse preterists of "triumphalism," or inferring that frail human beings will actually accomplish victory in a war that, they say, Jesus alone can and will fight and win. Secular critics accuse it of woo-peddling, primarily due to its unprovability using scientific methods, and because of its tendency to draw in the gullible.

==Further reading==

==Further reading==