What if humanity never plans for tomorrow because it believes there won’t be one? What if entire societies stop caring about the planet, justice, or progress because they think the world is doomed anyway? This is the terrifying reality of apocalyptic religions—faiths that teach the world is headed for a catastrophic, divine judgment, and nothing we do can change it.
For centuries, these beliefs have shaped cultures and governments, but as we look at the climate crisis, rising political extremism, and growing global instability, we must ask: Are apocalyptic religions actively destroying our future?
How Apocalyptic Faiths Undermine Society’s Survival
Environmental Collapse: “Why Save a Dying World?”
Why care about deforestation, clean energy, or protecting biodiversity if the Earth is doomed anyway? Millions of believers reject urgent environmental action because they think the planet’s destruction is God’s will.
Christian fundamentalists in the U.S. actively fight climate policies, arguing that global warming is part of the biblical end times.
Some evangelical leaders have said attempting to stop environmental disasters is a rebellion against God’s plan.
If the world is seen as a sinking ship, apocalyptic faiths make sure no one even tries to plug the holes.
Blocking Science and Medical Progress
Apocalyptic movements often view scientific advancements as threats rather than solutions. Instead of funding research and global health initiatives, they focus on “spiritual preparation” for an end they believe is imminent.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, some religious leaders refused vaccines, claiming the virus was a sign of the end times.
Medical breakthroughs that could extend and improve human life—such as stem cell research—are often opposed by apocalyptic believers.
By rejecting science in favor of prophecy, these groups turn their backs on solutions that could save millions of lives.
Political Extremism: The End Justifies the Means
When people believe the world is about to end, they stop caring about democracy, peace, and diplomacy. Worse, some believe they must help bring about the apocalypse by pushing war, conflict, and authoritarian control.
Some American Christian nationalists believe war in the Middle East is necessary to trigger biblical prophecy.
Right-wing extremists in the U.S. and Europe invoke religious prophecy to justify eroding human rights, crushing dissent, and even inciting violence.
These people aren’t planning for a better world—they’re actively rooting for its destruction.
Rejecting the Future: No Hope for Generations to Come
If you were told there was no future, would you save for retirement? Build a better education system? Invest in curing diseases?
That’s exactly what’s happening on a global scale. Long-term planning is being crippled by apocalyptic thinking.
Why fund space exploration if the world will be destroyed soon?
Why invest in new energy sources if the end is coming?
Why push for equality and justice if God is going to sort everything out?
The future is collapsing under the weight of religious fatalism.
Is There Any Hope?
If humanity wants to survive, we must reject the death cult mentality of apocalyptic faiths. It’s time to replace fear with responsibility, despair with action.
Religions must be held accountable when they encourage inaction on climate change.
Political leaders must be challenged when they push prophecy over policy.
Society must prioritize facts, science, and progress over destructive fantasies of the end.
The real danger isn’t some divine apocalypse. The real danger is what apocalyptic believers are doing to our world right now.
Sources
The Guardian – We Need Dramatic Social and Technological Changes: Is Societal Collapse Inevitable?
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/28/we-need-dramatic-social-and-technological-changes-is-societal-collapse-inevitable
Pew Research Center – How Religion Intersects with Americans’ Views on the Environment
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/11/17/how-religion-intersects-with-americans-views-on-the-environment/
Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) – The Faith Factor in Climate Change: How Religion Impacts American Attitudes on Climate and Environmental Policy
https://www.prri.org/research/the-faith-factor-in-climate-change-how-religion-impacts-american-attitudes-on-climate-and-environmental-policy/
Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict (ASU) – Apocalyptic Narratives and Climate Change
https://csrc.asu.edu/apocalypticnarrativescalimatechange
The New Yorker – What We Learn About Our World by Imagining Its End
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/02/03/everything-must-go-dorian-lynskey-book-review
The Atlantic – Apocalypse, Constantly
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/02/apocalypse-stories-allure-dorian-lynskey-glenn-adamson/681097/