Preparing for the apocalypse

Hosted by Jonathan Bastian May. 01, 2021 Health & Wellness

What’s the obsession with the end of times, and do America’s historical roots inspire survivalism? Image by Zastolskiy Victor/Shutterstock.

Throughout history, there have always been a small group of people who prepare for doomsday. Today, according to a YouGov poll conducted in 2020, roughly one in five Americans feel that an apocalypse is coming. So what’s the obsession with the end of times, and do America’s historical roots inspire survivalism?

KCRW’s Jonathan Bastian learns about the lives and mindsets of people who think the apocalypse is around the corner. Journalist Mark O’Connell crosses the globe in search of preppers and shares his experiences. We also explore the psychology and religious beliefs of preppers, and examine whether the Book of Revelations offers an alternative way to understand apocalyptic moments with Williams College Professor Jaqueline Hidalgo and Yale University Professor Yii- Jan Lin.

From this Episode:

How to prepare for the end of world

When the pandemic hit last year, it didn’t take long for grocery stores to have their shelves wiped clean. Long lines sprung up as shoppers scrambled to stock up on canned...

32 min

The religious roots of today’s apocalypse

For many people of faith, the pandemic has felt as close to an apocalypse as the nuclear threat from the Cold War. So what can we learn about the apocalypse from religious...

19 min