There are certain beliefs that seem to be beyond dispute. For instance, most people believe that one day, the world will come to an end. There may be differences of opinion concerning the how, the when, the why. Some foretell the death of the sun, and the subsequent icing of the planets. Others insist that man, heedless, careless man himself will simply blow the whole business to smithereens once and for all. In any event, most of us seem fairly well resigned to our fate...