A sense for the time: A brief note on the study of relations between time, Christianity and politics

Authors

  • Daniel Rocha Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
  • Wellington Teodoro da Silva PUC Minas

Abstract

This article seeks to reflect briefly about political implications of the “Christian time”, more specifically, about the impact of the conceptions concerning the establishment of a millennial Christ’s kingdom on the “end times”. Initially, the historical and cultural contexts and the religious beliefs influences about the different perspectives related to the sense of time along the history will be analyzed. Then, the Christian sense of time and the relationships between the millenniallist prospects and political questions on Christian West will be examined, in which the millenarian dreams assumed different facets in different historical and social contexts. Finally, the importance for the historiography of studies that take account not only a political comprehension about religion, but, a religious comprehension about politics as well will be considered.

Key words: time, millennialism, religion, politics.

Author Biography

Wellington Teodoro da Silva, PUC Minas

Professor do Departamento de Ciências da Religião da PUC Minas. Doutor em Ciência da Religião pela UFJF

Published

2012-03-06