The end times get a bad rap. Typically associated with Christian fundamentalists, the apocalypse has in fact been an object of human fascination for thousands of years.

In this offbeat conversation with Robert Joustra, professor of politics and international studies at Redeemer University, the Provcast crew (James Diddams and Robert Nicholson) unpacks the history of apocalyptic thinking and how it manifests in American society today. Aliens, zombies, dystopias, and armageddons—could these things, so frightening on the surface, flow from a divine longing inside us? And could the apocalypse actually be a prerequisite for hope?

Stick around to the end for Joustra's hot take on evangelical polarization and the need for a bit of humility.

Texts referenced:

Joustra, Robert, and Alissa Wilkinson. How to Survive the Apocalypse: Zombies, Cylons, Faith, and Politics at the End of the World. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2016.

Joustra, Robert. “Punching Blind: Why Grand Theories of Church and Culture Often Fail the Test of Place.” Comment Magazine, February 27, 2025. https://comment.org/punching-blind/.

Diddams, James. “The Real Problem at Wheaton College.” First Things, November 30, 2022. https://firstthings.com/the-real-problem-at-wheaton-college/.