Amos - I think the idea has always been popular because, in a sense, every mortal ego anticipates the world ending with its own demise...certainly the world as that ego knows it, anyway. Thus an apocalypse is as certain as mortality itself, from the individual perspective.

The ego is also offended by the notion that despite its own passing everyone else is likely to carry on as usual...thus the idea of a world-ending cataclysm where EVERYBODY checks out en masse becomes quite appealing from the ego's point of view. It's more egalitarian that way!

This view is not, however, shared by those who wish for a good future for their children...

- LH