How an atheist looks at the end of the world

Might be summed up in tonight's ABC 20/20 special, The Last Days on Earth. They use a countdown for the format, listing the various ways the world could come to an end, or at least a sizeable portion of it, with a possible extinction of mankind... but at the very least, many, many deaths...

What is our fascination with death and destruction? Are we so tired of living? I didn't watch all of the program; I wonder if they deal with our responsibility for our choices. There is no notion of Divine Providence in this presentation; while God permits moral evil and wills natural evil, this is all limited according to His providence. Would God permit mankind to extinguish itself completely. I don't think so, though he could allow the sin to have its effect, leading to injustice, injury, and death, even possibly on a vast scale.

How is the ABC website advertising the program?

For thousands of years, different religions have warned Earth about Armageddon and the final days.

We are now living in an age where scientists are adding their voices and their evidence in support of end-of-the-world
possibilities.

"Last Days on Earth" is a program that could change the way
you see your world and yourself. The world's top scientists, including Stephen Hawking, considered the foremost living theoretical physicist, describe seven riveting scenarios detailing the deadliest threats to humanity.

Some can destroy the planet, others have the ability to render us extinct, and all have the power to destroy civilization.

How likely are they to occur, and what exactly would happen if they did, and could we survive?

"Last Days on Earth" goes beyond science fiction to science fact.

Of course there is that appeal to the authority of scientists, who are our intellectual elites, telling us how dangerous we are to ourselves. If only we would listen to them.

This is the kind of irresponsible fear-mongering that the devil would inflict, as an attack on God's existence, goodness, and wisdom. One would have thought that this sort of program would be limited to PBS, but back in the '80s I remember some programs on the major networks detailing the consequences of nuclear war.

"Of all the generations of humans that have walked the surface of the Earth — for 100,000 years, going back when we first left Africa — the generation now alive is the most important," said Michio Kaku, professor of theoretical physics at City University of New York."

"The generation now alive, the generation that you see, looking around you, for the first time in history, is the generation that controls the destiny of the planet itself."

The view of a practicing atheist, if not a believing one. Do our choices have consequences upon ourselves and others? Certainly. But Who is Pantokrator and Lord of History?

The top three spots are occupied by the dangers we have brought upon ourselves.
#3 Nuclear destruction.
#2 Modern-day plagues (including man-made biological weapons)

and of course, #1 Global warming/climate change

The use of fear and terror, with an exaggerated emphasis on our ability to save ourselves--these are the tools of the antichrist; when he comes, he will work his wonders in order to persuade the willing to give him power.
I have thought that if we don't address peak oil now, and if peak oil does happen in the near future, with the worst consequences possible, compounded by starvation, resource wars, and pandemics and whatever evils that may befall us, that would that be the opportune time for the antichrist to come and promise mankind a remedy for death in all these forms, as if death were the greatest evil that could befall one...

How does news and warnings about peak oil not fall under fear-mongering? Because the amount of oil is finite, and we are charged to be prudent and not live intemperate lives. The only questions that are not answered are (1) when global oil production will peak, and (2) whether demand will also decline with production, or if it will continue to increase. Once we realize how dependent current economic and social arrangements are upon cheap oil, we should be working to mitigate the effects of peak oil while it is easier to do so (not that it is at all easy even now). Our way of life is not sustainable. The sooner we understand this, the better.

Perhaps there is little we can do to avoid bad consequences; in blaming mankind for the miseries it brings upon itself, do we become misanthropes and even more self-absorbed? No, as Christians we are called to live out charity to a heroic degree, even when things look bleak and death is near, but even when there are no immediate dangers. Instead, too many of us are complacent with our atomistic lives in a materially rich, but spiritually poor, post-industrialized nation.

Perhaps it is an exaggeration to say that there is an unholy alliance between ABC and Disney (it is true that Disney owns ABC, but as far as I know they don't micromanage ABC); nonethless, ABC continues to fail to impress with their programming.

"Armegeddon Cocktail Hour"

20/20 on Friday -- "Stupid in America," discussing the decline in standards and of the public education system...