Oh no! 2012!

[CellarDweller]

I was just checking out the trailer for 2012 on Google.  Turns out there are "survival groups" out there because they truly believe the world is going to end or experience huge disasters on 12/21/12.

This is the first I've heard of this. 

Have I been living under a rock or something?

[LauraGigs]

It partly has to do with the Mayan Calendar, because it only goes until (or through) 2012.  (not sure about the month and day.)

I've heard vague references to it, but not the level of hype that we had approaching "Y2K".  Although that could change as it comes closer.  

[CellarDweller]

This is crazy.  According to the ABC website, there are actual surivival groups that are buying supplies (seeds, wheelbarrows, gasmasks, canned food) because they truly believe the world will end.

The ABC site also says this.

But for all the hype, there is little evidence the ancient Maya ever intended for the end of their calendar to be read as a portent for disaster.

"These prophecies of doom really don't have any basis in what we know about the Maya," said Stephen Houston, a professor of anthropology at Brown University and a specialist of Maya hieroglyphic writing. "The Maya descriptions barely talk about this event."

Instead, Houston said, the Maya saw their "long count" — the longest of their cyclical calendars — coming to an end in 2012 but also beginning anew on that date, without disastrous consequences.

The article ends with this quote from one of the survivalists...

Geryl said he found comfort in sharing his knowledge with others. Since "discovering" what the future holds, he has written three books on 2012 and maintains a Web site on the subject.

When asked what would happen if December 2012 were to come and go without the earthquakes and tsunamis of his predictions, Geryl fell silent.

"I don't really contemplate that possibility," he said. "[My predictions] are so spectacular, they can't possibly be wrong."



What's he gonna feel like when the New Year brings 2013? 



http://abcnews.go.com/International/Story?id=5301284&page=1

[Lynne]

I've heard about this from the baptist evangelical cousin...he is seriously worried about the anti-Christ (who "could be Obama or maybe not") and good Christians being tricked into sin by false prophets, etc etc etc...

 

It was one of the most bizarre conversations I've ever not had - because he only paused for feedback once or twice in nearly an hour.

When he asked me what I thought, I told him I thought if it were true, it might be a very exciting time to live.  He didn't like that much.  Then I told him that he should trust his instincts - he was a good person and that his God wouldn't let him be led astray if he always followed his inner voice.

For me, I'll just live for today and plan for tomorrow.

[delalluvia]

Why are Christian folk listening to Mayan calendar predictions? 

They're impressed with the date 12/12/12 but they weren't impressed with the date 09/09/09?

I'd like to know if these Chicken Littles were also freaked out by Y2K predictions.

Wasn't the year 2000 supposed to herald the end of the world as well and the return of the Anti-Christ?

Is he here already and I missed it somehow (and let's not devolve into politics again, thank you very much)

http://www.csicop.org/si/show/myth_of_nibiru_and_the_end_of_the_world_in_2012/

[Lynne]

Beats me, Del. As usual in these situations, logic need not apply.

:/

[Andrew]

People who are zealots do often have a fascination with death, don't they?  Predicting it for everyone, or in the case of religiously-inspired terrorists, trying actively to bring it about.  If you think your belief system provides a simple, final explanation for everything which no one can argue with, you almost can't help but be drawn to the greatest finality and the greatest simplicity there is.  Life as we are always experiencing it is so terribly messy and confusing, as it fidgets about and changes form, mocking us and slipping away, making us retract things and doubt.  Zealots must experience the possibility of doubt and complexity as a horrible, frightening thing; something they hope it will be a great relief to pass from, into an endless, perfect silence.

[Clyde-B]

Well, at least the Mayans were correct that they wouldn't need their calendar beyond that date.

[David In Indy]

People who are zealots do often have a fascination with death, don't they?  Predicting it for everyone, or in the case of religiously-inspired terrorists, trying actively to bring it about.  If you think your belief system provides a simple, final explanation for everything which no one can argue with, you almost can't help but be drawn to the greatest finality and the greatest simplicity there is.  Life as we are always experiencing it is so terribly messy and confusing, as it fidgets about and changes form, mocking us and slipping away, making us retract things and doubt.  Zealots must experience the possibility of doubt and complexity as a horrible, frightening thing; something they hope it will be a great relief to pass from, into an endless, perfect silence.

Hey there Andrew!! It's good to see you here! I've missed you!

[David In Indy]

Why are Christian folk listening to Mayan calendar predictions?  

They're impressed with the date 12/12/12 but they weren't impressed with the date 09/09/09?

I'd like to know if these Chicken Littles were also freaked out by Y2K predictions.

Wasn't the year 2000 supposed to herald the end of the world as well and the return of the Anti-Christ?

Is he here already and I missed it somehow (and let's not devolve into politics again, thank you very much)

http://www.csicop.org/si/show/myth_of_nibiru_and_the_end_of_the_world_in_2012/

According to some, the anti-Christ was born in the mid 1970s. I remember reading an article about this years ago when I lived in Vincennes. The article claimed the anti-Christ was born in...wait for it.....

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.



Anyway, it went on to say that he would ascend to power in the early 2000's and take over the world sometime near or after the end of the first decade of the new millennium.

I wish I could provide a link, but I can't. I read this back in the 1980s and as far as I know the Internet didn't even exist then, or if it did I certainly didn't use it. I only learned about online forums in 1988 when I joined Compuserve.