Hal Linsday kind of captivated me in 1980 as well. Here is a Medium article of my experience.

https://davevolek.medium.com/the-late-great-planet-earth-5d70334b2c3a

These days, I encounter Evangelicals who believe Covid is the sign that end times have come and yet refuse to take reasonable precautions.

I try to point out that the Spanish flu was much worse--and Jesus did not come then. Then there was WW2, which really upset the planet. Then there was the Cold War which could have really upset the planet. Left unfettered, Covid might kill 1% of the population, mostly older people (like myself).

Even if Donald Trump had managed his way into a USA dictatoriship, it would not have been the end of the world.

Anyways, nice article.