According to a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, 41% of Americans stated that Jesus probably or definitely will return by 2050. Needless to say, this has been about to happen any day now for the past two thousand years. A partial list of these predictions is here.
By itself this belief is harmless. The danger comes when people believe it so strongly that it affects their planning for the future. In the case of the Millerites and other doomsday groups, this planning included selling all of ones worldly possessions, cutting worldly ties, and going into the wilderness to wait for the end. For others it may take the form of living in the present and not planning for the future, since there won't be one. Myths can provide comfort, but if taken too seriously they can also cause trouble to society.
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