Religious fundamentalism. Specifically, Dominionist Christianity (which is scary shit - dark_christian for info) and widespread belief in the Rapture. So many social ills trace directly back to the idea that, "well, Jesus is coming to take us away soon, so we don't have to care for the environment, invest in education and our children, help the poor, etc. because Jesus will do that for us really soon." At its worst, this thinking encourages strife in the Middle East, war, famine, etc. because all of these things are signs that Jesus is returning.