Eschatology in Major Religious Traditions

The concept of eschatology, or the study of the last days, is derived from the Greek words eschatos and logos, the combined meaning of which is the study of the end or last things. Thus, it refers to the final events in religious history or the history of the end of the world. Eschatology can be a symbolic end to material reality and the reunion with God. This may also refer to the end of a religious cycle or age by the return of a manifestation of God or Messiah in the end-time.

Many contemporary religions and cults promote fear of an apocalyptic end of the world, a [Page 421]literal destruction of humanity and the earth. Other religions view the end as a gate to a new religious era. This entry discusses these issues in the context of the major religions of the world.

Bahá'í Eschatology

The Bahá'í faith is the newest world religion and second only to Christianity in its worldwide presence. A Bahá'í is a follower of the 19th-century “manifestation of God” named Bahá'u'lláh. Bahá'ís believe in a twin manifestation and forerunner to Bahá'u'lláh who took the name the Bab (the Gate). The Bab's ministry ended with his miraculous martyrdom witnessed by thousands in the city of Tabriz. Bahá'u'lláh fulfills prophecies from past world religions about the return of their messenger in the latter days to gradually usher in God's kingdom on earth. Bahá'u'lláh represents the Promised Lord of Hosts for Jews, the Immaculate Manifestation of Krishna for Hindus, the Buddha of Universal Fellowship for Buddhists, the return of the World Savior for Zoroastrians, the return of Jesus for Christians, and the Great Announcement for Muslims. His teachings and administrative order form the foundation for the gradual enfoldment of a future world theocracy based upon the best elements of governments. His coming fulfills prophecies symbolically represented by such language as the day of judgment, the resurrection of the dead, or end of the world.

Bahá'ís believe in the oneness of God and his manifestations, including Moses, Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster, Muhammad, the Bab, and Bahá'u'lláh. All world religions contain a commonality as evidenced by the belief in the “golden rule,” reward and punishment, the existence of heaven and hell, and the struggle between good and evil. Bahá'ís believe that contradictions in their dogmas and beliefs of various world religions are due to human misinterpretations and/or misquotations by religious leaders and scribes representing them.

Some of Bahá'u'lláh's spiritual teachings for this new era are the reality of heaven (closeness to God) and hell (remoteness from God), the efficacy of prayers for the dead in assisting the soul's progress in the afterlife, the harmony of science and religion, universal weights and measures, the elimination of all prejudices, the equality of men and women, universal auxiliary language, universal education, and the gradual development of a world theocracy spawned by global unity.

Buddhist Eschatology

There are three ways in which Buddhism exhibits a concern for final events: personal eschatology, cosmic eschatology, and cultural eschatology. First, Buddhism at its very essence is directing the adherent to achieve a personal end to the experience of samsara, or the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Engaging in ethical and meditative practices brings the adherent to a state of realized nirvana (a state of extinguishing of desire). After Buddha was enlightened, his first sermon was about the Four Noble Truths, which relate to the suffering, origin, cessation, and the path leading to cessation. The first Noble Truth indicates that life is a state of dukkha (suffering); the second Noble truth states the source of this suffering is desire. The third Noble Truth recognizes a state of no desire (nirvana), which is a state of nonsuffering. The fourth Noble Truth identifies a path to follow in extinguishing desire (tanha). Buddha called himself the Awakened One.

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