Post-Apocalyptic world

This past weekend I enjoyed reading a "tween" book, which I read because I wanted to, but also to keep one step ahead of my children who are hungry for well written contemporary books.  The book describes a not-so-future world damaged by global climate change.  The main character has to survive in an area outside the cities that are strongly controlled by the government.  It reminds me of "Mad Max" meets global warming.  The post-apocalyptic / distopia theme is prevalent in popular media - television, film, literature.  The stories, or series usually tell how ordinary people survive in a damaged world, often by their own skills, and the help of a few close associates.

What does a true post-Apocalyptic world look like?  The issue that kept nagging me, as a Catholic, celebrating All Saints - All Souls this weekend, is that our faith teaches us to hope for a brighter future, not a damaged one.  OUR post-apocalyptic vision is

•  the Kingdom of God.  
• a New Heaven and a New Earth.  
• if we die with Christ, we rise with Christ.  
• evil is defeated finally and forever.
• your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  

Our human progress is toward the Kingdom God.  Even if we sometimes feel that we are taking a step back, our hope is in the future that God has planned for us.

If your primary tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.  There are people out there who are preparing for the collapse of our civilization.  Some have converted 60's era fall-out shelters into post civilization havens for themselves and a few close friends.  Some have even gone "off the grid" already.  They store up provisions preparing for that big event that pushes our civilization over the edge.  It seems as if they would be disappointed if there is not a collapse, because that is what they have been getting ready for.  

It is okay to be ready.  There is a difference between having an evacuation plan and being a prepper.   It just makes sense to have an evacuation plan if you live in an area prone to natural disasters; hurricane prone coastal areas, flood plains, earthquake prone areas.  It also makes sense for the rest of us - who knows when a tornado or chemical spill from a train car may force us to evacuate.  But that is fundamentally different than planning for the world to change so drastically that we have no civilization for extended periods of time.
"Our hope is in the Lord, who made heaven and earth."