What Is Eschatology? The End Of The World?

eschatology

Popularity

es·cha·tol·o·gy

 noun \ˌes-kə-ˈtä-lə-jē\

plural es·cha·tol·o·gies

Definition of ESCHATOLOGY

1

:  a branch of theology concerned with the final events in the history of the world or of humankind

2

:  a belief concerning death, the end of the world, or the ultimate destiny of humankind; specifically :  any of various Christian doctrines concerning the Second Coming, the resurrection of the dead, or the Last Judgment

Origin of ESCHATOLOGY

Greek eschatos last, farthest

First Known Use: 1844

Other Philosophy Terms

dialectic, dualism, epistemology, existentialism,metaphysics, ontology, sequitur, solipsism,transcendentalism

Rhymes with ESCHATOLOGY

anthropology, archaeology, cardiology, climatology,cosmetology, criminology, dermatology, Egyptology,entomology, etiology, etymology, fu...

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eschatology

 noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Theological doctrine of the “last things,” or the end of the world. Mythological eschatologies depict an eternal struggle between order and chaos and celebrate the eternity of order and the repeatability of the origin of the world. The most notable expression of mythological eschatology is inHinduism, which maintains belief in great cycles of the destruction and creation of the universe. Historical eschatologies are grounded in datable events that are perceived as fundamental to the progress of history. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all have historical eschatologies. Eschatology in the Hebrew Scriptures sees the catastrophes that beset the people of Israel as due to their disobedience to the laws and will of God and holds that conformity to God's plan will result in renewal and the fulfillment of God's purpose. In Christianity, the end times are thought to have begun with the life and ministry of Jesus, the messiah who will return to establish the Kingdom of God. Millennialism focuses especially on Christ's second coming and the reign of the righteous on earth. In Shi'iteIslam it is believed that the mahdi, or restorer of the faith, will come to inaugurate the last judgment, in which the good will enter heaven and the evil will fall into hell. In Buddhism, eschatological traditions are associated with the BuddhaMaitreya and with Pure Land Buddhism, as well as with individual efforts to achieve nirvana.

Betting On The End Of The World

ERIN ARVEDLUND
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013
Philadelphia Inquirer, Business Section, Page A19



 
Your Money: Betting on the end of the world
ERIN E. ARVEDLUND
Published Friday, October 11, 2013, 2:01 AM
"Remember, the end-of-the-world bet has been a money-loser since the beginning of time," says Barry Ritholtz, founder of New York-based Ritholtz Wealth Management and a frequent market commentator.

What he means is, betting on the apocalypse - whether it is a U.S. debt default or another financial crisis - is most often a losing wager.
That said, and I can't believe I'm writing this, there are ways to profit in a potential debt default or crash in the U.S. Treasury market.

Charles Gradante, cofounder of the hedge-fund investor Hennessee Group, says money managers his firm speaks with are hedging their bets using exchange-traded funds.

In other words, if you think the U.S. stock market might crash as a result of the dithering between Congress and the White House, there's an ETF that could make money.

"Managers we speak to are not hedging against a 'debt default' but have bought the ProShares UltraShort S&P500 (SDS) ETF. These managers are not complacent about the shutdown but point out that all prior presidents with debt-ceiling shutdowns negotiated a settlement. Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Clinton all negotiated [their ways out of] debt-ceiling shutdowns," Gradante notes.

The ProShares UltraShort S&P500 is an exchange-traded fund that corresponds to twice (200 percent) the inverse (opposite) of the daily performance of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.

An ETF such as the UltraShort on the S&P allows investors to double their bets on the market. Using such an instrument, you're wagering the index will fall. Plus, the ETF gives you twice the return on your wager. It is like betting 2-1 that your horse will lose.

If the S&P 500 craters, this ETF will do very well. If the market rebounds, however, it will drop in value. Given the ups and downs of the market just this past week, it could go either way. The market rallied Thursday.

Remember, these ETFs use leverage, or borrowed money, to bulk up their bet - so they are highly risky.