Global risks and non-religious eschatology: the problem of eschatological ideas of modernity research

Abstract

The article analyzes the eschatological model of ideas about the tragic prospects of human existence, as one which includes two large groups of research directions: religious and non-religious eschatology. It is stated that non-religious eschatology is considered to be the research area within which the role of global risks on a planetary scale is being explored on a basis of a scientific approach in analyzing the causes of a possible eschatological scenario for the development of earth history. In this case scientists pay attention to identifying the factors or objects that threaten to destroy mankind, and they also evaluate the likelihood of all-planetary disasters. Another direction of their search is to study the facts about global natural disasters that occurred earlier in the history of our planet. The author also notes that these scholars avoid the use of the concept of "eschatology" and its derivatives, using the concept of "global risks" instead. We suppose that such a predetermined desire of scientists, especially representatives of the natural sciences, to disassociate from generated throughout history by religious thought warnings (divination) about finiteness of not only human life, but also mankind overall because of supernatural factors. The author emphasizes the necessity of thorough analysis of the works of so-called non-religious eschatology representatives by contemporary religious scholars in order to compare and summarize the various scenarios of human development, including those developed within various theological doctrines and religious philosophy. To my mind, Global information field of the modern world leaves people with no chance to avoid realizing the global risks. Global threats of non-religious content that are considered potentially possible by scholars are highlighted in the article. It is stated that the global information space of the modern world does not leave a person with the opportunity to be unaware of the global risks eschatological by nature.