The end of the world... Again

So December 21, 2012 is the end of the world according to Mayan legend. Actually the Mayan calender says no such thing, it is just that 2012 is simply the end of the cycle and after that it merely starts up again. My point is that any excuse is jumped upon these days for a good 'end of the world' panic. It must be something particularly deeply embedded the human psyche as it's been going on for centuries, leaving poor, confused and possibly disappointed believers still alive time after time. For example I was reading Samuel Pepys diary last night and came across an interesting entry, part of which quoted below:

25 November 1662

"Great talk among people how some of the Fanatics do say that the end of the world is at hand, and that next Tuesday is to be the day."

Obviously it wasn't as Pepys went on to write many more years worth of diary entries detailing his life (and the fact you are reading this blog) attests to the inaccuracy of the Restoration London doomsayers.

So why does this odd 'end of the world' phenomenon exist in so many societies? In my opinion it stems form a deep seated human insecurity about loss. Early man had little control over his world. Over time his power increased and his control has now become almost supreme (poorly managed, but supreme) yet still that archaic, instinctual fear of the dark remains, the only difference is now he just makes money out of it.

See you at the movies...