The wise, it seems to me, become comfortable with the idea of their own death. Christians even more so, with the hope of eternal life of some sort, free of pain and worry.
While health, disease, and fear of death are big concerns of many people, apocalyptic fantasies of mass catastrophe have captured the imagination of humans since the beginning. Life can be humdrum, but imagining apocalypse is exciting.
Apocalypse Not: Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Worry About End Times (h/t Hot Air)
Related: On the 40th Anniversary of the "Limits to Growth"