The apocalyptic mind-set [View all]
Forgive me if I'm a bit off topic, but I don't think I am. I think this post falls under the "role of rationalism" section of the SoP. And, besides, it looks as if this forum could use the post anyway. I've been a subscriber here for a while and this place used to be a lot more active. What happened? Anyway, here we go.
A while back I identified in myself what I call the apocalyptic mind-set. It seemed to me that the world was imminently doomed. Between peak oil, climate change, war, economic issues, and the Mayans something was bound to do us in. When I think about it now, I had a really depressing outlook on life back then.
Then one day a thought occurred to me as I noticed that the world was failing to end: What if things aren't that bad? It turns out that they aren't.
But I see the apocalyptic mind-set all over the place, including a great deal here at DU. People seem convinced that humanity is doomed and the end is near for all of us. Where is that coming from? I don't think it's all just religion.
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