📘 Lexicon Entry: Binary Apocalypticism

A theological mutation that reduces complex eschatological hope to simplistic good-versus-evil dualism, dividing the world into absolute categories of friends and enemies

Binary Apocalypticism represents a theological mutation that corrupts authentic eschatological hope by reducing the complexity of divine judgment and redemption to simplistic dualistic categories. This framework divides the world into absolute categories of good and evil, righteous and wicked, chosen and damned, creating a stark us-versus-them mentality that eliminates nuance, complexity, and the possibility of redemption for perceived enemies. Unlike biblical apocalyptic literature which maintains tension between divine judgment and mercy, binary apocalypticism transforms eschatological hope into a weapon for demonizing opponents and justifying violence against them. This mutation provides theological justification for the political polarization characteristic of MAGA Christianism and Dominative Christianism, enabling Christians to view political opponents as cosmic enemies rather than fellow human beings created in God’s image.

Theological Mutation

eschatology, apocalyptic, dualism, good and evil, enemies, judgment, end times, polarization, cosmic warfare

Geevarghese-Uffman, Craig. “Binary Apocalypticism.” *Political Theology Lexicon*. https://www.commonlifepolitics.com/p/lexicon. Accessed [date].

Eschatological hope that maintains tension between divine judgment and mercy

Recognition of complexity in human moral situation and need for divine grace

Apocalyptic literature understood as symbolic disclosure of divine purposes rather than literal blueprint

Enemy love commanded even in context of cosmic conflict between good and evil

World divided into absolute categories of good and evil with no middle ground

Political opponents cast as cosmic enemies deserving destruction rather than conversion

Apocalyptic hope weaponized to justify violence and demonization of others

Complexity and nuance eliminated in favor of stark moral clarity

Reduction of complex moral situations to simple good-versus-evil binaries

Demonization of political opponents as cosmic enemies

Elimination of possibility for redemption or conversion of enemies

Use of eschatological language to justify present violence and exclusion

Rooted in ancient dualistic religious traditions absorbed into Christianity

Amplified by medieval crusading mentality and holy war concepts

Modernized through apocalyptic fundamentalism and dispensationalist theology

Weaponized in contemporary culture wars and political polarization

Confusion of political conflicts with cosmic warfare between good and evil

Reduction of divine judgment to human categories of friend and enemy

Elimination of divine mercy and possibility for redemption

Subordination of love commands to warfare metaphors

Literalistic reading of apocalyptic literature without attention to symbolic nature

Ignoring Jesus’s commands to love enemies and pray for persecutors

Missing tension between judgment and mercy throughout biblical narrative

Reducing complex eschatological hope to simple reward-punishment scheme

Political rhetoric that casts opponents as existential threats to civilization

Religious language used to justify violence against perceived enemies

Apocalyptic interpretations of current events that eliminate moral complexity

Resistance to dialogue or compromise as collaboration with evil

Casting political opponents as demonic forces threatening Christian civilization

Apocalyptic interpretation of election results and political developments

Justification of political violence through cosmic warfare language

Elimination of possibility for redemption or conversion of political enemies

Divine election interpreted as justification for violence against non-chosen peoples

National enemies cast as cosmic opponents of God’s purposes

Historical conflicts interpreted through absolute good-versus-evil framework

Rejection of complexity in favor of clear moral categories supporting group superiority

Polarization of political discourse through elimination of middle ground

Justification of violence and exclusion through religious language

Undermining of democratic dialogue and compromise

Creation of religious communities oriented around enemy identification rather than love

Studies of apocalyptic rhetoric in contemporary American politics

Research on dualistic thinking and political polarization

Analysis of enemy construction in religious and political discourse

Related Primary Concepts: MAGA Christianism, Dominative Christianism, Providential Identitarianism

Key Mutations: Primitive Biblicism, Practical Atheism, Tribal Epistemology

Contemporary Movements: Christian Nationalism

Theological Alternatives: Counter-Imperial, Being With

Historical Context: Civil Religion

May 22, 2025

*This entry is part of the Political Theology Lexicon, accessible exclusively to subscribers. View the complete lexicon to explore related concepts and the full theoretical framework.*