History as Apocalypse - Paperback

by Thomas J. J. Altizer (Author)

History as Apocalypse is a reenactment of the history of the Western consciousness from the Homeric and Biblica revolutions through Finnegans Wake. This occurs through a historical, literary, and theological analysis of the Christian epic tradition. While attention is focused primarily upon Dante, Milton, Blake, and Joyce, the Classical and Biblical foundations of the Christian epic are explored with the intention of discovering an organic unity in the evolution of the Western consciousness. Our primary epics are identified as revolutionary breakthroughs, not only as transformations of consciousness but also records of social revolutions. The Christian epic is both a consequence and a primary embodiment of the decisive historical revolutions, revolutions culminating with the ending of our historical evolution.

Author Biography

Thomas J.J. Altizer is the author of The Descent into Hell, The Gospel of Christian Atheism, The Self-Embodiment of God, Total Presence and several other books. Dr. Altizer is Professor of English and was the first chairman of an interdisciplinary program in Religious Studies at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.