Post-Apocalyptic Stories and The Church

[SanRafael1102]

I was sitting in my house watching Kevin Costner’s ‘The Postman,’ when the question crossed my mind: Is there anything in Church teaching, Scripture, ect. that tells us that a post-apocalyptic scenario cannot take place?

This type of scenario isn’t a literal End of the World, but instead a falling out of civilization. Either by plague, war, electrical blackout, etc., the nation states that we know and love cease to be. It’s not really important I suppose, but I am curious,

Pax

 

[Trishie]

It’s conceivable, given the threats to world peace and security, such as nuclear weapons in the hands of potentially very dangerous leaders.

 

[SanRafael1102]

Wow, I expected this topic to get more interest than this. lol

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

This has happened, in a way.
The Black Death destroyed much of European population, and broke down a lot of the infrastructure for a time. There is even a theory that the devastation weakened the faith of people to the extent that it set up the conditions for the Protestant Reformation.
Although North America wasn’t a Christian land, there is evidence that the first contact between the explorers and the Native Americans spread such deadly disease that by the time the settlers arrived, the continent was essentially a post-apocalyptic landscape.
But a specific teaching on such a scenario? I don’t think so…

 

[spina1953]

Very interesting topic! Since at least the 1950’s and the advent of the atom bomb there has bee a flux of post apocalyptic stories in books and movies. That being said how does that have to do with the Church, Maybe nothing but till Christ returns I suppose anything can happen and I would like to think the Church will remain till Christ does return. At various points in Christian history many have thought the word was coming to an end. Black plague, for example. The left Behind stories that have become popular with many shows a scenario where Christians are not just being persecuted but fighting evil. While its all fiction it does stir up fears.

So what would happen if the was a world war or a germ war where the majority of the populations has died and only a few remain. The Church in Rome had been destroyed and those left are doing whatever to survive, who sees to their spiritual well being? One would think there still would be priests and Bishops who would continue do their best to continue the Church till Christ does return.

The real question in all of this is what if through some major war where in the end there are no human beings left? Frightful to say the least, then what happens? Who knows? There just is no answer to it all as no one knows. I suppose we all want to know and many do think about these things some for entertainment others a worry and still others for or from a religious point. But do we need to worry about it and would it not be better to try and just live in the present?