Thursday, April 16, 2009

Year 2012


The subject of "Year 2012", including a specific date - December 21, 2012 came up on one of my favorite blogs yesterday. The Gold Puppy explored whether or not people believe a cataclysmic event will occur on that date, the resetting of the Mayan calendar. Of course, I had to Wikipedia the date and look at some of the other information on the subject that is on the Internet. I came away with the following:

  • Some people believe we will experience Armageddon
  • Some people believe we may come in contact with asteroids, or other planets
  • Some people believe will will have WWIII
  • Some people believe we will experience massive climate changes, similar to the Ice Age
  • Some people believe we will enter an Enlightened Age
  • Some people believe we will have changes in our DNA
The list goes on and on. So my question to you is - have you heard of this date, and if so, what do you believe? 

59 comments:

Anonymous said...

Since you asked - I hadn't heard of a 2012 event. I do believe a cataclysmic event will happen (aka Armageddon) but I believe only God knows the time and that we can only guess.

Kathy G said...

The date was new to me.

luksky said...

I have never heard anything about the date. Througout time there has always been "dates" that certain things were forecasted to happen...that being said I am the more optimistic person and can only hope that if anything specific does happen on this date I would hope that it would be "enlightement". We could sure use some of that for our world. :-)

Anonymous said...

I knew a fundamentalist Christian who is eagerly waiting to sit by Jesus' side on that date. She tried to convince me of the exact time of Judgement Day, but I'm really not a believer. I've also heard that something cataclysmic is supposed to happen because of the Mayan calendar, but again.... I usually don't pay attention to anything/anyone who predicts such things, it all seems slightly extremist to me...hope I don't offend anyone, it's just my opinion! It's interesting to me as to why most of these 2012 predictions are based on creating fear that we are approaching the end of the world. But I agree with luksky, if anything enlightenment among humans would be a great thing to happen - I think we could change our entire experience if only we'd stop the hatred.

CrazyCris said...

That's like people worrying about YK2 right? pffffft!

No way to predict an "end of the world" scenario... and if has to happen it will happen when it happens. No point in making your life miserable worrying about it!

People need to live life as it comes, and not plan for an apocalypse! (unless they can figure out how to cancel it) ;o)

Glynn said...

I have a friend who's really heavily interested in this kind of stuff. He goes on about 'Planet X' a lot and says it will collide with earth on that date.

Personally I don't think much will happen. It reminds me of the Millenium Bug - anybody remember that??

Lillian Robinson said...

Well, the Y2K thing was real, but just a technical glitch from lack of planning.

As far as Armageddon... A Christian should not put much basis in that date, for the Bible states that it is not for man to know, even the Son does not know. Even in ancient history, it seemed society always selected a certain future date to fear. Thankfully, Jesus has given me peace to fear nothing. Whenever the time comes for me to leave this earth, whether alone or in masses, I am ready. Not anxious mind you... just ready.

Swetha said...

i have never heard this date.. but if its true..i think i ll stop being rude with my sister..
this article is good

Anonymous said...

My husband believes so strongly in December 2012 that he joined the Marine Corp. for self defense purposes. I've noticed his opinions on it changing since we fell in love. Now that he is where he wants to be in his life, he doesn't want to believe the world will end.
As for me:
If it is true, then I don't think I want to spend the rest of my days worrying about it. I welcome whatever plan for me the Lord has.
It is also an awesome reason to go bungee jumping. :D!!!

Stella Jones said...

I believe it's going to be a wonderful Olympics in London that year! I can't wait to watch it happen. Cataclysmic events? phooey...
Blessings, Star

scarlethue said...

I've heard of it before.

In 2012, I will be turning 30, and I plan on celebrating with a massive Italy trip for which we're already saving. If the world ends (sure), fine, whatever, we'll all be dead so who cares right? Any other big changes, well, we'll just roll with the punches. No point in "preparing" when we have no idea what we're preparing for.

But I think it's all a bunch of hooey. Remember y2k?

Katie Anderson said...

I heard I was the end of the world. I thought, however it was on December 24th - a date that particualy stuck in my mind, because I thought that should something happen, that christmas may turn out to be pretty dismal.
I, personally, don't think anything will happen. (Although I do want to have achieved a few goal by that point 'just in case'...)

Tess Kincaid said...

Yes, I've heard quite a bit about it and I'm not sure exactly what to think. It is intriguing.

Joanne said...

Your blog post is the first I've heard of this phenomenon. Interesting, but I don't believe a catastrophic event will occur then. Though the next 3 years will be interesting in following the predictions!

Butternut Squash said...

Yes, I have heard about it for years and years. My dad used to talk about it in the 70's. I think that there may have been some predictions like that in a book called, "The Late Great Planet Earth."

I have also heard that there are dates refering to events that take place after 2012 on the Mayan calandar.

Last night my son started talking about 2012 because some kids were talking about it at school. He was really worried and having trouble falling asleep.

This is what I told him, "We never know how long we have to love, we only know how well. Things are constantly changing, that is something we know for certain. But, fearing the change can only bring misery to the moment. If this were your last day on Earth, wouldn't you want to live it in the happiest way possible?"

Zack + Julie said...

When I talked to my Husband about this a few months ago (after watching a Discovery channel special) He said, "We'll they couldn't continue the calendar on forever could they? Wouldn't they run out of stone??"

gifted_rebel187 said...

Well really i believe that the world will experience some destuction but not to annihilate the human race but to give us a new start at seeing the world and the universe for what they are and what the hold and what they mean.

Linda Pendleton said...

The date has to do with myth and apparent prophesies of the Hopi and has been taken up by others—some based on fear, others based on optimism. It started with the Hopi prophesy, author Frank Waters (excellent book on the Hopi), Jose Arguelles and his book, and several others who jumped on the idea of a coming end of the world. Throw into the mix the new agers, the religious fundamentalist, and other types of extremists, and you have an apocalyptic scenario that people will buy into. I’ve heard of it since the Harmonic Convergence in 1987, mainly thanks to Arguelles and other writers. Yes, I consider myself to be somewhat New Age (really nothing new about it) as that is often what I write about.

Yes, Our Planet may end one day from outside influences but I would bet we destroy ourselves first….not in our lifetimes but maybe in the not too distant future (in the bigger picture of time).

Throughout history, doomsday has always been predicted, usually at the end of a century. There have been talk of that even in my lifetime, and yes, we all can remember the fear and panic over Y2K —and we and our machines sailed right through it, to the surprise of many. I know of some who felt the fear and stockpiled supplies (all to the benefit of those selling Y2K goods). Fear does strange things to people. Here is an example of how people use fear: Alex Jones is already advertising special seeds to grow food, what he calls a “Crisis Garden”: “New “Survival Seed Bank” Produces Thousands Of Pounds Of Nutrient-Dense Food For Pennies Per Pound… Enough To Feed Friends And Family Forever!”

Think you’ll be here “forever”…??

I am optimistic and believe we are currently in a positive consciousness shift and if this shift intensifies and goes beyond 2012, all the better. That’s what 2012 means to me. :-)

ellen abbott said...

I've heard of it also, recently read a book that talked about it. If it happens, it happens, nothing to be done to prevent it and who knows, I might get hit by a bus tomorrow so I continue to live in the now. And I don't believe in the concept of armageddon (or hell for that matter) anyway. Now, Worlds In Collision by Velakovski, I can get behind that. But wrathful god, the end of all the universe (or is it just the world?) because of humans? We are insignificant. No offense intended to believers, just my opinion.

pandoraskey said...

I have heard of this many times and remember one historian trying to make the point that, yes, it will be an event that will change the world as we know it. Who said it had to be a bad thing? the changes and event may have already started into play but it more then likely will NOT be the end of the world. I myself am hopeing for something along the lines of an outcome of living a simpler life for all. A silver lining out of something they may be a shock to our everyday habits (ie: economy, political unbalance, fuel dependancy, electrical grids). Here's to hopeing :)

Prince Kaleido said...

What a bunch of baloney. The worst is that everyone my age (teenagers) think that there's something to it, and these are the same people who flipped out over the movie "the day after tomorrow".
Perhaps it means that the world as we know it will end, like (hopefully) an enlightenment, if we should ever be so lucky. Or some sort of revolution. rather than a literal ending of earth. That's another problem, these things tend to be taken too literally. But its probably another stupid scare tactic for the new-age retards to freak out over

Anonymous said...

It's one of those things going around. That's my view. I don't think I do beliefs anymore. In a free society and in our own heads people can believe any thing(s) they wish to, there's a need to, borne out of fear mostly. Beliefs explain the inexplicable. Mostly they came about from myth from times when people had no way of understanding the universe and existence. We need not fear any myths like this. It's very hard not having beliefs though. Knowledge, experience, morals, ethics etc are the alternative although people with beliefs would have us 'believe' that they are theirs only by virtue of their belief system and faith. What a very tangled knot. Emotional and spiritual intelligence as it evolves will replace beliefs may be. You dont half make me think!

lolit said...

i always hear something similar to this. It said that no one can really predict when will it happen.

Elizabeth Bradley said...

My pop used to say that there have been naysayers and doomsayers since the beginning of time. We humans have a yearning to know future events. I just live my life and do my best to show love to friends and family for TODAY. I have learned that today is what we have. What we can count on. I don't worry about doom and gloom predictions.

Sarah Lulu said...

G'day and no I hadn't heard of that date I don't think. I have such an appalling memory for dates, probably a blessing really.

I think what I'll do is what I always do ..live in this day only and leave the rest to God.

etznab said...

"2012: Time for Change"
is a feature-length documentary, directed by Joao Amorim of Curious Pictures and featuring Daniel Pinchbeck, the bestselling author of "2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl" (Penguin, 2006). In the style of "An Inconvenient Truth", "What the Bleep Do We Know", and "Waking Life", our film explores ideas about what the immediate future may hold, symbolized by the myths and prophecies of the Mayan culture of Mexico. Interviews with design scientists, anthropologists, physicists such as Dean Radin, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Nassim Haramein John Todd and Paul Stamets and celebrities such as Sting, Ellen Page and Gilberto Gil. 2012 combines film and animation in an innovative way, taking us on a journey through our own evolution.

http://www.2012timeforchange.com/

Rae said...

I have heard about it and when I did I was completely in shock. I didn't know how to feel. Just to think that you're life will soon be over is a scary thing to actually really frightening. Maybe it's just me who feels this way, but I want to live my life for as long as I can.

And I agree with Debbie. Only God truly knows when the world will end.

But I also agree with Glynn. The millennium bug thing didn't happen so who's to truly think that 2012 will? Then again, 2012 was the end of the Mayan calender and they predicted a lot of things that did happen. So did Nostradamus.

Anonymous said...

Yes! I have heard of this, readt about 20 articles that I googled about this date. I think something will happen. Don't know what. Don't know if it will be good or bad. But something will happen.

Kelly said...

OK, I just have to chime in here, being an Anthropology major, with my focus being Mesoamerica, and with that comes the Maya, where this originates.

To date, there has been nothing found in Mayan archaeological record indicating what the Maya thought would happen on Dec. 21, 2012. The only thing we know for sure is that their calendars, both secular and sacred, ended on that date. To the current date, the Maya, who were a phenomenally advanced people for their time, with their astronomical calendar (including dates and times of eclipses, sunrises, sunsets, and the like) is only off by 33 SECONDS from our current events. That's a pretty amazing feat for people who never moved beyond stone-tool technology.

There are many theories that spin about this enigmatic date, from absolutely absurd to thought-provokingly serious. Ask three archaeologists, you'll get 3 different answers. The one thing you'll get from all of them, however, is that it needs more study, and only time will tell. The lighter-minded of us will tell you to ask us again on December 22.

Me personally, I'm in the camp that they simply could not or weren't willing to continue to predict astronomical observances beyond that date. The Maya counted time in very specific patterns; every 52 years the calendars merged, and on that day, the Mayan people would completely start over, destroying all their personal possessions and making new ones. December 21, 2012, is the 52nd time that 52 year cycle meshes, and this number, which obviously holds sacred meaning for the Maya, may have seen it as a sign the the world would begin anew, but not necessarily that it would be destroyed. Again, there is no archaeological evidence one way or the other.

All the myths that have come out of this enigmatic date have been created by more modern cultures, and while they are interesting theories, until someone can ask an ancient Mayan what that date really means, we're all in the same boat... Waiting for December 22nd!

Andrea said...

I hadn't heard anything in particular about the date, but there's always a "story" about one date or another floating around. Some of those things are happening already (climate changes) and others are probably in the making. I believe anything is possible at any time - so live each moment to the fullest!

Tony said...

Nothing is going to happen. It's just another conspiracy theory. Civilization has been predicting the end of the world for thousands of years. I've heard of this date. Just a bunch of crap...

Lee Ryan said...

On December 21, 2012 - it will mark the 133rd anniversary of the birth of Joseph Stalin. What better cataclysmic event?

Kill^Bill said...

I've heard of that date, re mentioned the date recently after watching this movie called knowing last week. Then coincidentally it was on your blog.

Aztecs predictions. Who knows, I'm just open to the idea. If not, then we'll all just die eventually. So, come what may...

HeadLevel said...

Hmmm... Christians and Mayans agree on the subject. What does that say about the validity of Christianity...?

At least George W is out of office so he cannot personally validate his "faith" by pushing the big red button.

gayle said...

I have never heard of this date but would love to know more.

TheChicGeek said...

Intriguing to think about, but cataclysmic event, nah...

Congratulations on the Blog of Note too :) You deserve it!

Anonymous said...

I have heard of this. But no I don't believe in it. If I remember correctly Y2K was suppose to be the end. And here we are in 2009! It's all fun to talk about though. There's a movie coming out called 2012. I'll give you the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VXa82AuwHU

C. E. Scribner said...

I'm familiar with this date, as I teach about the Maya in my gifted and talented education classes.

My students get "freaked out" in some of the ways that have been mentioned in the comments, but I remind them that the Maya saw time in terms of cycles. This date is the end of a cycle, and it implies a new beginning rather than a cataclysm. In this I agree with the previous comment from Kelly, who is an anthropology major.

Lori ann said...

I like what Butternut had to say to her son. That's what I've said to my own children, and to myself.
good question love!
♥ lori

Anonymous said...

I've heard about it before..
Traveled to Mexico last summer and saw
an ancient Mayan calender that did in fact end
on that date.. It does seem a bit odd to me,
I just wonder if people read too much into it.

If something was to happen on that date though,
I'm hoping it'll not be the end of the world.
The enlightenment would be nice.
Maybe like a.. New Age Renaissance. ;)

Again though, many many times in history- people
have legitimately believed the end of days to be near..Yet, we're all still here....

I heard once this "future teller" of sorts say that Atlantis will rise up out of the Pacific Ocean and California will fall into the sea on that date.. That one seems to be one of the most absurd I've heard.

Eva Marie said...

Yes, i have heard about it and know people who take it very seriously...they're already planning their gardens..getting supplies stored, and going fully "green" to be prepared for whatever happens.

Personally I try not to allow the fear to dictate how I live today. You never know...tomorrow may be your last...so I appreaciate each one I have.

There are a lot websites out there on that date..just google 2012

Anonymous said...

Mmm.. Back again..

Good quote from a friend of mine.. Its interesting..

"the world will end the second we all decide theres no way it ever will".

OoBethanyoO said...

Well if everyone would just think for one moment- religious based people especially; Did God not say that he would never detroy the world again? Do you not remember what the rainbow symboloizes? The world will NEVER end; Why? Well if you think on it mainly based through religion, is the golden kingdom not placed on earth? And scientifically- People are smart. We'll figure something out!

OoBethanyoO said...

I have a quote that I have carried with myself for many a year.

"Life starts with one simple plan, then you plant a seed, and watch it grow."

Take that however it means best to you.

Kringle90210 said...

I dont see why you would go to wiki because hardly anything that is on there is true. its a bad sight unless your looking up famous people.

but i do belive that on that date something bad and incredible will happen. it doesnt mean that the world will end like most people think.

Miss Mapp said...

Hi there,
Can't say Iv'e heard of the date - would it make a difference?
Guess If I get there it will be by putting one foot in front of the other and walking through each day, hopefully touching hearts and enriching on the way.
MM

Anonymous said...

For Bethany--

God never said that he wouldn't ever destroy the world again.

The rainbow symbolizes his promise to never FLOOD the earth again. There's a bit of a difference.

The end of this world, as we know it, will end.. If we're thinking from a Christian perspective. And that will happen during the second coming of Christ, which, stated in scripture- Only God knows when the exact time will happen.
When I say, "as we know it", that just means I don't think the world is going to all of a sudden blow up once Jesus comes back down to earth.

rammer44 said...

This is one of many "dates" that people thru out history have come up with as to when the end of the world is coming. As a Christian i believe that only God the Father knows when that day will be. One thing is sure, all of the signs the Bible talk about are happening right now. It doesn't mean that Christ is coming back tomorrow. It could still be another 1000 years. But it sure seems closer than ever. Christians are waiting for this with eager anticipation.

wolfe1226 said...

wow. isnt that supposed to be THE END OF THE WORLD?

RACHEL_ANN said...

AHH THE YEAR 2010. EVEN THOUGH THE CALENDAR ENDS IM STILL NOT %100 SURE I BELIVE IT. I MEAN THE WORLD WAS SUPPOSED TO END MANY TIMES, BUT THESE WERE ALL RANDOM GUESSES. ALL WE CAN DO IS PREPARE!
GOOD TOPIC :)

Judy said...

I HAVE heard of this date so in 2012 I an NOT buying any Christmas presents until December 22nd!

The Dodgy Parrot said...

I have heard of this date before.. what gets me is that apparently the Mayans predictions have been confirmed as very very close to the mark in the past. So in that then I believe something will happen but as to the end of the world - no I don't believe that but some major change of a sort I think is on the cards. Only time will tell.

Elaine L. said...

I have known about 2012 for quite some time. From all I have gathered, it is the time when a major shift in the energy that rules the planet changes, sort of like going from one zodiac sign to another. The new energy is one of compassion and cooperation, an age of Enlightenment some say. I don't believe Armageddon will happen but when anything changes in life, there is an adjustment period. I just hope we get through it as smoothly as possible.

susan said...

I think they ran out of room on the rock they were carving their calendar on :-)

C. E. Scribner said...

Susan, perhaps you didn't know that the Maya constructed pyramids prior to the Egyptians', and that their astronomical system is parallel to none.

No rocks.

Catherine Rector said...

I have heard things here and there, but I agree with some of the previous comments.
If things are going to happen, there is nothing we can do about it. Nothing bugs me so much as a person who is so worried about when they will die that they forget to live.

gipsy said...

the best to explain 2012 theory is gregg braden. you can find him in you tube. in english and italian-
it's very interesting and amazing!!! if you want to take a look at my blog..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jqdfj_ASFY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0i1HYbfTiM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__LysKdNoT0

Sprout said...

I have heard a lot about the 12/21/2012 predictions. I have a certain curiosity about it, mostly because so many different cultural and religious texts seem to point to that timeframe in one context or another. I believe that the predictions themselves are purely guesswork. How can anyone know for sure what will or will not happen on a future date. I have paid closer attention to the scientific aspects. The worlds scientists do say that the magnetic alignment of the earth shifts on a very specific cycle and that date corresponds with the end of the current cycle. My thoughts are that we may begin to see changes, probably subtle ones. Changes in our planet's atmosphere, global relations, etc. I do not believe that there will be a cataclysmic event as such. I do believe that humans are destroying the earth and causing it to be uninhabitable someday.

Adiya said...

I have never heard of this year. I just googled it though, and i truly believe that absolutely NOTHING will happen in year 2012, except the coming of new versions of the xbox and the iphone