A New Look At Doomsday

When it comes to the subject of dooms-day, its preachers are unflagging, its believers are stubborn, and all the while nonbelievers scoff. After all, the cycle of life and death being the fate of all things, we still see the Earth's six billion people as standing on terra firma as usual. Could it all end in a day? And should we live in constant fear that the sky might fall?

The question we should instead ask is why humans, regardless of ethnicity, religion or time in which they lived, have almost always come up with doomsday prophecies.

Regarding this question, Juang Kai-dih, former chief of psychiatry at Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, explains that when people lack a sense of security, they struggle daily to regain it. It's an inborn human trait.

"People content with modern life are less likely to believe in doomsday prophecy," says Juang. Using psychology to probe subconscious motivations, we find that when humans are faced with problems, it's hard not think of destruction, whether it's the destruction of oneself or of all mankind. "There are some who would take advantage of our lack of security, spreading doomsday prophecies to create the false impression that we will all be destroyed together," he says.

Around the world, Taiwan included, there have been many strong quakes and landslides over the last couple years, instilling fear of imminent Armageddon. Some people even become emotional and weepy when they watch TV news.

In fact, compared to the past, with its world wars and other examples of inhumanity, "the proportion of people dying in natural or man-made disasters is very low at present. Shouldn't we take solace in these figures?"

Juang also notes that people with doomsday anxiety often pursue "100% security." Once there's a lapse in their sense of security, they suffer nervous breakdowns or even heart palpitations, and those severely affected won't even dare go outside to work or travel, fearing that disaster could strike at any time.

"Such feelings of anxiety can be traced to a source: they cling to natural disasters and apocalyptic thinking as a means to express their psychological insecurity," says Juang, who points out that it is necessary to find the source of this deep-seated anxiety before it can be alleviated.

Many people's anxieties are compounded in early life by parents and teachers. Through appropriate expression of thoughts, stress reduction, meditation or psychiatric counseling, it's possible for people to gradually regain a sense of security after a few months.

"The most important thing is the love and support of family," he says. Regrettably, when someone in the family manifests feelings of anxiety, most people will react rashly, criticizing them or saying "Don't let your imagination run wild." This doesn't alleviate anxiety; on the contrary, it often has the opposite effect.

"Doomsday prophecy is not a bad thing in itself. By changing your mindset, you can instead learn to cherish the moment," says Juang.

Juang once counseled a married couple whose different ideas of the future led to a disharmonious relationship. So Juang posed the hypothetical question, "If the world were going to come to an end in 10 years, how would you treat your partner?" This question prompted the couple to rethink their relationship.

Consequently, "They both wished that if disaster came, they would want to be by each other's side. After that, they once again began to cherish each other, wishing to go through thick and thin together and live life without regrets!"

Even if you don't believe in doomsday, there's no harm in pondering the "what ifs" that an apocalypse could inspire.