Church today. I had a thought, pulling into the parking lot, that my apocalypse anxiety is very likely related to the belief taught to us growing up that the Last Days are upon us. Adventists are interesting that way. When I was growing up, there was a lot of focus on the Last Days prophecies. Unlike the Left Behind-type rapturists, who believe that "Jesus is coming back-- and he is pissed," and that all true Christians will skip out on the ugliness and horror of the apocalyse... Adventists believe that no one will miss it except those lucky enough to die first. Lovely. :p
There was an apocalypse novel I read over and over again when I was younger; I can't remember the name now. It followed five characters through the end days: Duane and Laurel, a couple on the run from the evil government forces out to destroy them for being Adventists. Amy, a young mother whose daughter dies at the beginning of the book, and who ends up on the run with her husband and some friends. Another girl, can't remember the name, who is placed with her family in a concentration camp. And Sparn, the evil government agent who only realizes his wrongdoing when Christ returns and Sparn is forced to remember all the evil he's done.
So yeah. Eventually the bad guys will be defeated, but until then? Kids, you're going to be on the run, leave behind everything you've ever known and loved. If you're lucky, you can hide out and won't be caught. If you're unlucky, you'll be stuck in a camp where you'll be starved and beaten. You won't die, but you'll sure suffer a lot. And that's if you're good!
No wonder I personalize the apocalypse so much. I've been taught to do that my whole life. And how do I get over it? Purges and pogroms have happened for centuries. How can I believe it won't happen to me, especially when the rabit right wing calls for liberals' blood, and the US government seems poised to obey?
There was an apocalypse novel I read over and over again when I was younger; I can't remember the name now. It followed five characters through the end days: Duane and Laurel, a couple on the run from the evil government forces out to destroy them for being Adventists. Amy, a young mother whose daughter dies at the beginning of the book, and who ends up on the run with her husband and some friends. Another girl, can't remember the name, who is placed with her family in a concentration camp. And Sparn, the evil government agent who only realizes his wrongdoing when Christ returns and Sparn is forced to remember all the evil he's done.
So yeah. Eventually the bad guys will be defeated, but until then? Kids, you're going to be on the run, leave behind everything you've ever known and loved. If you're lucky, you can hide out and won't be caught. If you're unlucky, you'll be stuck in a camp where you'll be starved and beaten. You won't die, but you'll sure suffer a lot. And that's if you're good!
No wonder I personalize the apocalypse so much. I've been taught to do that my whole life. And how do I get over it? Purges and pogroms have happened for centuries. How can I believe it won't happen to me, especially when the rabit right wing calls for liberals' blood, and the US government seems poised to obey?
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