Eschatology

Definition: Literally meaning "the study of the last," eschatology is the study of the end of the world. It is generally addressed in a religious context, describing a particular system of belief's expectations on how the world will eventually end. For example, the Rapture, Second Coming, emergence of an anti-Christ, Armageddon and Judgment Day are all common components of Christian eschatology. Zoroastrian eschatology also features a Judgment Day, when all souls are submitted to fire and molten metal to purge all wickedness. Ragnarok is the Norse tale of the end of days, where several gods will die and natural disasters will kill all but two humans, who will rebuild. The growing popular notion that the world will end on December 21, 2012 might be described as New Age eschatology, based on a misunderstanding of ancient Mayan beliefs.