The term "millennium" refers either to the next 1000 years, starting at the end of the year 2000 of the Western calendar, or to an imminent return of Jesus. Under either meaning, it seems that many of us expect something momentous to happen.
On the secular side, we certainly have much reason to question humanity's survival within the next 1000 years, due to the increasingly massive destruction of our planet's ecological systems caused by human overpopulation (see, for example, CNN's Overpopulation Could Be People, Planet Problem.
But on the religious side, it's important to remember that the first Christians expected Jesus to return within their own lifetimes, not two millennia later (see Apocalypticism Explained: Jesus and John the Baptist). That, in fact, was one of the reasons they promoted celibacy so heavily. They didn't see the point of marrying and raising a family when the time for spreading and cultivating Christianity was so short. (When Jesus didn't return, however, they were forced grudgingly to approve limited sexual behavior in order to avoid self-extermination.) Now, after 2000 years of divine silence, it isn't a divinely ordained apocalypse we have to fear, but a humanly ordained one -- from self-righteous theocrats who presume a mandate to judge and condemn others, and from irresponsible religious leaders who sanction overpopulation when they promote archaic sexual moralities and medieval attitudes toward women.
One certainty, if our species survives its self-destructiveness, is that the new millennium will usher in an era of extraordinary technological advancement and of space exploration. Space exploration, by itself, will so completely change humanity's frame of reference and parochial view that many religions, particularly the dogmatic ones, will be forced to change radically.
Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear. - Thomas Jefferson
Here's a short list of the some of best millennium sites and articles:
Apocalypse! Don't miss this beautiful online version of the TV presentation. PBS's Frontline seems to be alone these days in providing the public with first-rate, intelligent and in-depth shows about major religious issues. This eye-opening documentary explains the evolution of apocalyptic belief and how it shaped the Western world. Find out, for example, why the Book of Revelation became a political hot potato for the Church and had to be re-interpreted.
Center for Millennial Studies Both fun and serious, this surprisingly large site covers sacred and secular viewpoints. View especially the Mission and FAQ categories at Welcome to the CMS to get to the heart of millennial fever. Then, visit the long list of millennium links.
The Despoiling of America A well-documented article about "how a political religious movement called Dominionism gained control of the Republican Party, then took over Congress, then took over the White House, and now is sealing the conversion of America to a theocracy by taking over the American Judiciary."
The End Of Faith by Sam Harris, analyzes the clash of faith and reason in the modern world. Also, articles by and about Sam Harris:
"I'm Ready to Die": Fundamentalist Christianity Instills in Millions a Depressing - and Dangerous - Nihilism Return to the Dark Ages. "This young man does have an incurable disease, but it's spiritual, not physical: It's called fundamentalism...."
The Living Universe Foundation This site, based on the visionary book, The Millennial Project: Colonizing the Galaxy in 8 Easy Steps, by Marshall T. Savage, deals with humanity's future exploration of space. The consequences of that exploration are what the next millennium's really about.
Millennium Seed Bank Project An international collaborative plant conservation initiative which aims to safeguard 24,000 plant species from around the globe against extinction.
Population Explosion Threatens to Trap Africa in Cycle of Poverty "What's happening is alarming and depressing," said Jotham Musinguzi, director of the population secretariat in Uganda's ministry of finance, pointing out the clear correlation between high fertility levels and poverty. "Are we really going to be able to give these extra people jobs, homes, healthcare and education?"
Skeptic's Dictionary: The New Millennium A curmudgeon's accurate and humorous explanation of the new millennium.
TheocracyWatch This project of the Center for Religion, Ethics and Social Policy (CRESP) at Cornell University is a major source of information about the increasingly pervasive role of the Religious Right in the U.S. government, and support for activism opposing it. The commentary on the subversive Dominion Theology movement is especially worth noting.
Why Jesus Isn't Coming Again The primary usefulness of this essay is its citing of the many New Testament references which show that early Christians expected Jesus to return within their own lifetimes.
World Overpopulation Awareness Become aware of how overpopulation affects you, the world and the environment.
The Yurica Report Many articles about the threat of the subversive Dominion Theology movement to democratic government.
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