Die symbolische Macht der Apokalypse

For more than 2,000 years, apocalyptic notions of doom and salvation, of Last Things and ultimate truths, of final destruction and renewal have been part of the cultural foundations upon which European societies were built. The series Cultural History of Apocalyptic Thought presents a diverse and interdisciplinary approach from the perspective of historical, social and cultural sciences, emphasizing contemporary epistemic, medial, and political contexts. It aims to trace the social dynamics and discursive strategies behind apocalyptic notions in order to shed light on the dynamic relations between processes of identification and apocalyptic interpretations. In doing so, the series encourages both authors and readers to break with uniform readings of so-called apocalyptic traditions, and also to engage with cross-cultural comparison in different religious and geographical contexts.