ESCHATOLOGY IN FOLK BIBLICAL TRADITION OF BELARUSIANS (BASED ON CONTEMPORARY RECORDS)

Abstract

The paper analyses several modern Belarusian peasant eschatological narratives. The presented sources show that traditional apocalyptic characters and plots are organically intertwined with rationalistic notions of environmental and social disasters and thus tend to offer a logical explanation of the depicted events. In the eschatological narratives, which prevail in urban environment, rationalistic interpretations displace the pre-existing mythological and religious motivations of Doomsday. The mythologised and rationalistic interpretations emphasise people’s responsibility for the end of the world – a global catastrophe that could be caused by supernatural powers, natural or man-made causes, directly or indirectly imposed on sinners.