Salon: End time belief has an almost salacious appeal in America--and not just to the four out of ten Americans who believe that Jesus Christ will return to Earth by 2050. At least since the Millerites were laughed off the national stage in 1844, watching prophecy fail has become something of a national pastime. The attitudes of the two groups--heavenly-minded believer and smirking spectator--are well captured in a pair of bumper stickers: In case of Rapture, this car will be unmanned and In case of...