A Sense of Presence: Mediating an American Apocalypse

Here I build upon Robert Orsi’s work by arguing that we can see presence—and the longing for it—at beyond obvious spaces of religious practice. Presence, propose, is alive and well in mediated apocalypticism, intense imagination future preoccupies those who consume its narratives film, games, role plays. Presence a way bringing worlds into tangible form, touching them letting touch you. It is, this sense, Michael Hoelzl Graham Ward observe “re-emergence” religion with “new visibility” much more than “simple re-emergence something has been decline past but now manifesting itself once more.” propose awareness religion” they posit includes enchant empower us via deeply immersive fandoms. Whereas institutions today may be suspicious presence, it lives on thick media fandoms their material manifestations, especially forms make ultimate promises about world to come.