Eschatology

Eschatology literally means 'the study of last things'. It is a general purpose term that can have more than one meaning. In Christianity and in Norse pagan theology, eschatology refers to a theology concerning the end of the world, as predicted in in the prophecies of these faiths, and as recorded in their sacred texts. Eschatology also refers to the general afterlife concepts of other religions, especially the western monotheistic faiths. In this broader sense eschatology can refer to the messiah, a messianic era, the afterlife, and the soul in religions which have such beliefs.

Eschatologies of particular religions:

Ancient religions (no longer widely practised)

• Ancient Egyptian eschatology
• Ancient Greek eschatology
• Ancient Roman eschatology
• Ancient Norse eschatology

Modern day religions (still widely practised)

• Buddhist eschatology
• Christian eschatology
• Hindu eschatology
• Islamic eschatology
• Jewish eschatology
• Zoroastrian eschatology

• Neopaganism and Wicca believe that the entire Universe continues in endless cycles of birth, death, and rebirth.

Science doesn't have an eschatology as such, but the study of cosmology does deal with theories about the possible origins and the ultimate fate of the Universe.

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External Resources:

http://alexm.here.ru/mirrors/www.enteract.com/jwalz/Eliade/eschat.html