Rapture or risk: Signs of the end or symptoms of world risk society?
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Knowles, SteveAffiliation
University of ChesterPublication Date
2014-12-11
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In this article I argue that elements of contemporary fundamentalist Christian apocalyptic discourse are not only influenced by, but are a product of the rhetoric and fascination with the notion of risk. The world risk society thesis developed by the German sociologist Ulrich Beck will be utilised as a conceptual framework to measure one example of an online discourse centred on a Christian dispensationalist understanding of the rapture: Rapture Index. This popular website utilises a statistical probability index system based on 45 different categories that relate to global socio-political events; the higher the aggregate total the nearer the rapture. The Rapture Index is indebted to the impact of risk in contemporary society and it is a tool that exemplifies non-knowing: a product of the world risk society.Citation
Knowles, S. (2014). Rapture or risk: Signs of the end or symptoms of world risk society?. Culture and Religion, 15(4), 419-435.Publisher
Taylor & FrancisJournal
Culture and ReligionAdditional Links
http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rcar20/current#.VQMJNE1yZFohttp://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14755610.2014.982670
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ArticleLanguage
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This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis Group in Culture and Religion on 11 December 2014 available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/14755610.2014.982670ISSN
1475-5610EISSN
1475-5629ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1080/14755610.2014.982670
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