The tradition of Apocalyptic prophecy developed in the Middle Ages, first by Jewish and later Christians ‘consoles, fortified and asserted themselves when confronted by the threat.' Messianism and debates about the Antichrist were further developed during the Crusades. Later the good-bad dichotomy was enacted by the thousands of penitents masochistically scourging themselves across Europe as well as the Torquemadian sadistic persecutions. Yet all the major European powers used such cruel displays as it was socially, politically, and economically expedient to those in power. Unconscious manifestations of human cruelties find expressions in society and very often such matters are reframed, covered over, and even believed to be ideal states of humanity–such as ‘religious goodness.'

This recorded lecture is NOT ELIGIBLE for CE/CME