AIDS as an Apocalyptic Metaphor in North America

Henry G. MacLeod teaches sociology at both Trent University and the
University of Waterloo.

This book explores the impact of AIDS on the metaphors, healing
practices, and apocalyptic fantasies employed by a variety of religious
minorities in North America. We learn how the Jehovah’s Witnesses, for
example, have used the spread of AIDS through blood transfusions to
validate their well-known opposition to transfusions. Palmer groups the
responses of each religious movement described in the book into six
categories: judgmental, compassionate, healing, isolating, threatened,
and pragmatic.

The discussion is not limited to Christian sects. The International
Society for Krishna Consciousness, the Vajradhhatu Buddhist
International Church, the Nation of Islam, and many other organizations
are also considered, along with various New Age movements and gay
spirituality groups. In a chapter on secular popular culture, the author
examines the use of AIDS as a metaphor in science fiction and in media
portrayals of both real and fictional individuals. (Although
interesting, this chapter seems out of place in a book on the religious
responses to AIDS.)

Palmer’s treatment of different theoretical perspectives is
disappointingly cursory at times. Nevertheless, this is a valuable
reference that will be of particular interest to students of sects,
cults, and new religious movements.