▲ 173 ▼ Apocalyptic beliefs are no longer fringe—and they’re shaping how people respond to global threats (news.ubc.ca) submitted 5 months ago* by Beep@lemmus.org to c/science@lemmy.world 29 comments fedilink hide all child comments Research. In an era of climate anxiety, geopolitical tensions and rapidly advancing artificial intelligence, apocalyptic thinking is no longer confined to the fringes of society
[–] Typhoon@lemmy.ca 12 points 5 months ago (1 child) According to reports, a lot of military commanders https://jonathanlarsen.substack.com/p/us-troops-were-told-iran-war-is-for permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [+] totally_human_emdash_user@piefed.blahaj.zone -8 points 5 months ago (3 children) Sure, but were they speaking officially on behalf of the U.S. military, or were they just expressing their own (distressingly commonly held) view? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 6 child comments replies: [+] SARGE@startrek.website 6 points 5 months ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 child) [deleted] permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] totally_human_emdash_user@piefed.blahaj.zone -2 points 5 months ago I think it is much more likely that Trump enjoys the power trip that comes from bullying the weak than that he is specifically out to start a holy war, and at the end of the day the goal of the U.S. military is to do whatever he says, no matter what they personally think about it. permalink fedilink source parent [–] Francisco@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago (1 child) When are military personel not talking officially? ...have you seen Sen. Kelly prosecution by trump-hegseth-dptOfWar, they claim retired military personel do not have free speech, aka they are always bound to speak officially. So, I ask again, when are military personel not talking officially? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] totally_human_emdash_user@piefed.blahaj.zone 2 points 5 months ago When are military personel not talking officially? When they are sharing their own viewpoint and not the official viewpoint of the military as an organizational whole. …have you seen Sen. Kelly prosecution by trump-hegseth-dptOfWar, they claim retired military personel do not have free speech, aka they are always bound to speak officially. Actually, what they are trying to charge him for is sedition for encouraging troops to disobey orders, which is even worse (nonsense) than charging him merely for speaking unofficially. permalink fedilink source parent [–] TerrabyteMarx@quokk.au 1 point 5 months ago (1 child) Since when has the military ever officially and explicitly stated their actual intentions permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] totally_human_emdash_user@piefed.blahaj.zone 1 point 5 months ago (1 child) According to the person I was responding to, this is exactly what they are doing: Doesn’t help that the US military are saying the recent war in Iran is to start a holy war and bring about the apocalypse. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] in4apenny@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 point 5 months ago https://newrepublic.com/post/207270/military-leaders-iran-war-donald-trump-jesus-armageddon "By Monday evening, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, or MRFF, was “inundated” with complaints, receiving more than 110 grievances from U.S. military personnel stationed at dozens of sites across the Middle East, reported independent journalist Jonathan Larsen." Definitely not the idea of just a few coocky officers. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/03/us-israel-iran-war-christian-rhetoric https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/troops-being-told-to-prepare-for-armageddon-in-iran_n_69a6ffe3e4b076ac5d63c82c https://asiatimes.com/2026/03/us-troops-were-told-iran-war-is-for-armageddon-return-of-jesus/ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-iran-armageddon-second-coming-complaint-b2931579.html https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-troops-told-iran-war-anointed-jesus-bring-armageddon-watchdog-says https://www.commondreams.org/news/iran-armageddon-military https://metro.co.uk/2026/03/04/us-soldiers-told-iran-conflict-gods-plan-trigger-armageddon-27220172/ permalink fedilink source parent
[+] totally_human_emdash_user@piefed.blahaj.zone -8 points 5 months ago (3 children) Sure, but were they speaking officially on behalf of the U.S. military, or were they just expressing their own (distressingly commonly held) view? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 6 child comments replies: [+] SARGE@startrek.website 6 points 5 months ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 child) [deleted] permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] totally_human_emdash_user@piefed.blahaj.zone -2 points 5 months ago I think it is much more likely that Trump enjoys the power trip that comes from bullying the weak than that he is specifically out to start a holy war, and at the end of the day the goal of the U.S. military is to do whatever he says, no matter what they personally think about it. permalink fedilink source parent [–] Francisco@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago (1 child) When are military personel not talking officially? ...have you seen Sen. Kelly prosecution by trump-hegseth-dptOfWar, they claim retired military personel do not have free speech, aka they are always bound to speak officially. So, I ask again, when are military personel not talking officially? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] totally_human_emdash_user@piefed.blahaj.zone 2 points 5 months ago When are military personel not talking officially? When they are sharing their own viewpoint and not the official viewpoint of the military as an organizational whole. …have you seen Sen. Kelly prosecution by trump-hegseth-dptOfWar, they claim retired military personel do not have free speech, aka they are always bound to speak officially. Actually, what they are trying to charge him for is sedition for encouraging troops to disobey orders, which is even worse (nonsense) than charging him merely for speaking unofficially. permalink fedilink source parent [–] TerrabyteMarx@quokk.au 1 point 5 months ago (1 child) Since when has the military ever officially and explicitly stated their actual intentions permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] totally_human_emdash_user@piefed.blahaj.zone 1 point 5 months ago (1 child) According to the person I was responding to, this is exactly what they are doing: Doesn’t help that the US military are saying the recent war in Iran is to start a holy war and bring about the apocalypse. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] in4apenny@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 point 5 months ago https://newrepublic.com/post/207270/military-leaders-iran-war-donald-trump-jesus-armageddon "By Monday evening, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, or MRFF, was “inundated” with complaints, receiving more than 110 grievances from U.S. military personnel stationed at dozens of sites across the Middle East, reported independent journalist Jonathan Larsen." Definitely not the idea of just a few coocky officers. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/03/us-israel-iran-war-christian-rhetoric https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/troops-being-told-to-prepare-for-armageddon-in-iran_n_69a6ffe3e4b076ac5d63c82c https://asiatimes.com/2026/03/us-troops-were-told-iran-war-is-for-armageddon-return-of-jesus/ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-iran-armageddon-second-coming-complaint-b2931579.html https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-troops-told-iran-war-anointed-jesus-bring-armageddon-watchdog-says https://www.commondreams.org/news/iran-armageddon-military https://metro.co.uk/2026/03/04/us-soldiers-told-iran-conflict-gods-plan-trigger-armageddon-27220172/ permalink fedilink source parent
[+] SARGE@startrek.website 6 points 5 months ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 child) [deleted] permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] totally_human_emdash_user@piefed.blahaj.zone -2 points 5 months ago I think it is much more likely that Trump enjoys the power trip that comes from bullying the weak than that he is specifically out to start a holy war, and at the end of the day the goal of the U.S. military is to do whatever he says, no matter what they personally think about it. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] totally_human_emdash_user@piefed.blahaj.zone -2 points 5 months ago I think it is much more likely that Trump enjoys the power trip that comes from bullying the weak than that he is specifically out to start a holy war, and at the end of the day the goal of the U.S. military is to do whatever he says, no matter what they personally think about it. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Francisco@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago (1 child) When are military personel not talking officially? ...have you seen Sen. Kelly prosecution by trump-hegseth-dptOfWar, they claim retired military personel do not have free speech, aka they are always bound to speak officially. So, I ask again, when are military personel not talking officially? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] totally_human_emdash_user@piefed.blahaj.zone 2 points 5 months ago When are military personel not talking officially? When they are sharing their own viewpoint and not the official viewpoint of the military as an organizational whole. …have you seen Sen. Kelly prosecution by trump-hegseth-dptOfWar, they claim retired military personel do not have free speech, aka they are always bound to speak officially. Actually, what they are trying to charge him for is sedition for encouraging troops to disobey orders, which is even worse (nonsense) than charging him merely for speaking unofficially. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] totally_human_emdash_user@piefed.blahaj.zone 2 points 5 months ago When are military personel not talking officially? When they are sharing their own viewpoint and not the official viewpoint of the military as an organizational whole. …have you seen Sen. Kelly prosecution by trump-hegseth-dptOfWar, they claim retired military personel do not have free speech, aka they are always bound to speak officially. Actually, what they are trying to charge him for is sedition for encouraging troops to disobey orders, which is even worse (nonsense) than charging him merely for speaking unofficially. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] TerrabyteMarx@quokk.au 1 point 5 months ago (1 child) Since when has the military ever officially and explicitly stated their actual intentions permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] totally_human_emdash_user@piefed.blahaj.zone 1 point 5 months ago (1 child) According to the person I was responding to, this is exactly what they are doing: Doesn’t help that the US military are saying the recent war in Iran is to start a holy war and bring about the apocalypse. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] in4apenny@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 point 5 months ago https://newrepublic.com/post/207270/military-leaders-iran-war-donald-trump-jesus-armageddon "By Monday evening, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, or MRFF, was “inundated” with complaints, receiving more than 110 grievances from U.S. military personnel stationed at dozens of sites across the Middle East, reported independent journalist Jonathan Larsen." Definitely not the idea of just a few coocky officers. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/03/us-israel-iran-war-christian-rhetoric https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/troops-being-told-to-prepare-for-armageddon-in-iran_n_69a6ffe3e4b076ac5d63c82c https://asiatimes.com/2026/03/us-troops-were-told-iran-war-is-for-armageddon-return-of-jesus/ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-iran-armageddon-second-coming-complaint-b2931579.html https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-troops-told-iran-war-anointed-jesus-bring-armageddon-watchdog-says https://www.commondreams.org/news/iran-armageddon-military https://metro.co.uk/2026/03/04/us-soldiers-told-iran-conflict-gods-plan-trigger-armageddon-27220172/ permalink fedilink source parent
[–] totally_human_emdash_user@piefed.blahaj.zone 1 point 5 months ago (1 child) According to the person I was responding to, this is exactly what they are doing: Doesn’t help that the US military are saying the recent war in Iran is to start a holy war and bring about the apocalypse. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] in4apenny@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 point 5 months ago https://newrepublic.com/post/207270/military-leaders-iran-war-donald-trump-jesus-armageddon "By Monday evening, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, or MRFF, was “inundated” with complaints, receiving more than 110 grievances from U.S. military personnel stationed at dozens of sites across the Middle East, reported independent journalist Jonathan Larsen." Definitely not the idea of just a few coocky officers. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/03/us-israel-iran-war-christian-rhetoric https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/troops-being-told-to-prepare-for-armageddon-in-iran_n_69a6ffe3e4b076ac5d63c82c https://asiatimes.com/2026/03/us-troops-were-told-iran-war-is-for-armageddon-return-of-jesus/ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-iran-armageddon-second-coming-complaint-b2931579.html https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-troops-told-iran-war-anointed-jesus-bring-armageddon-watchdog-says https://www.commondreams.org/news/iran-armageddon-military https://metro.co.uk/2026/03/04/us-soldiers-told-iran-conflict-gods-plan-trigger-armageddon-27220172/ permalink fedilink source parent
[–] in4apenny@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 point 5 months ago https://newrepublic.com/post/207270/military-leaders-iran-war-donald-trump-jesus-armageddon "By Monday evening, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, or MRFF, was “inundated” with complaints, receiving more than 110 grievances from U.S. military personnel stationed at dozens of sites across the Middle East, reported independent journalist Jonathan Larsen." Definitely not the idea of just a few coocky officers. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/03/us-israel-iran-war-christian-rhetoric https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/troops-being-told-to-prepare-for-armageddon-in-iran_n_69a6ffe3e4b076ac5d63c82c https://asiatimes.com/2026/03/us-troops-were-told-iran-war-is-for-armageddon-return-of-jesus/ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-iran-armageddon-second-coming-complaint-b2931579.html https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-troops-told-iran-war-anointed-jesus-bring-armageddon-watchdog-says https://www.commondreams.org/news/iran-armageddon-military https://metro.co.uk/2026/03/04/us-soldiers-told-iran-conflict-gods-plan-trigger-armageddon-27220172/ permalink fedilink source parent