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Acknowledgments
My scholarly interest in apocalyptic literature dates back to the early and mid-
1980s when I was a graduate student in Religious Studies at Rice University in
Houston, Texas. I wrote my candidacy exam for my minor in the New Testament
on the oral elements underlying the text of the early chapters of the book of Rev-
elation. Along the way, as do many PhD students in religion and theology, I had
to learn German. After three years of undergraduate German work, I was finally
able to do research in that language. The first articles I read were on early Christian
apocalyptic. In no small manner of speaking, End of Days: An Encyclopedia of the
Apocalypse in World Religions represents a continuation of my graduate studies in
theology. I want to recognize the three professors who shepherded my time at Rice:
my dissertation advisor, the late Clyde Manschreck; Neils C. Neilson, Chair of the
Department of Religious Studies; and Werner Kelber, Professor of New Testament.
I want to thank ABC-CLIO for the opportunity of editing this encyclopedia.
It has been my professional privilege to work with Kim Kennedy-White, Senior
Acquisitions Editor for the American Mosaic at ABC-CLIO. I first crossed paths
with Kim when I contributed to her work America Goes Green: An Encyclopedia
of Eco-Friendly Culture in the United States (with Lesley Durham). Also, Barbara
Patterson, Books Project Coordinator for ABC-CLIO, promptly responded to all
queries and assisted me with contract issues. I also owe thanks to the unnamed
associates of Kim Kennedy-White and Barbara Patterson who helped see this proj-
ect to completion.
End of Days: An Encyclopedia of the Apocalypse in World Religions could
not have been published without the conscientious scholarship of our international
roster of contributors. Several contributors offered (and delivered) multiple entries
on short notice, which enabled us to meet our publication deadlines. The wide-
spread and genuine enthusiasm of our contributors for the subject matter made End
of Days a joy to edit. A list of the contributors and their professional affiliations is
included in the encyclopedia.
