In a lecture here about two weeks ago, theologian Harvey Cox–while speaking on Tim LaHaye’s fundy Left Behind novel series–called for the end of apocalyptic Christianity.

That’s quite an apocalypse in itself. If infamous radical theologian Thomas Altizer (of “God is dead” fame) is right, the embrace of (a Hegelian typology of) apocalypse is the essence of Christianity, which climaxes with the death of God on the cross. But I suspect Altizer gets as much respect as Tim LaHaye, so I won’t press the point.

The point, then, is what would it take? What would it take to rid Christianity wholly of apocalypse, especially since its founder figure is credited with speaking a little apocalypse of his own?