December 21, 2012 = Doomsday?

While many Central American countries prepare celebrations for the end of the Mayan calendar [which began in 3114 B.C.] and the beginning of a new Mayan era, others are anxiously anticipating a global apocalypse. According to the Mayan "long count" calendar the last day will be December 21, 2012, which has caused eschatological chaos amid mankind.

Many are flocking to such countries as [central] Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala in preparation of the upcoming celebrations, which will mark the end of a more than 5,000 year era. These believers observe the date as the end of one cycle of life and the beginning of a new cycle for the world's current population.

The 2012 Theory of Doomsday:

The 2012 Theory is comprised of a range of eschatological beliefs and prophetic predictions according to which cataclysmic or transformative events will occur. Various astronomical alignments and numerological formulae have been proposed as pertaining to this date, though none have been accepted by the predominant mainstream scholars and theologians.

Among the various beliefs are:

The New Age interpretation of this transformation is that the date marks the start of time in which Earth and its inhabitants may undergo a spiritual transition, and that December 21, 2012 may mark the beginning of a new epoch.

Religious groups, such as the Evangelical Protestants, suggest that the date marks the end of the world or a similar catastrophe. Other scenarios suggested for the end of the world include the arrival of the next solar maximum, an interaction between Earth and the black hole at the center of the galaxy, or Earth's collision with a planet called "Nibiru".

In India, the guru Kalki Bhagavan has promoted the year 2012 as a "deadline" for human enlightenment since at least 1998. Over 15 million people consider Bhagavan to be the incarnation of the god Vishnu and believe that 2012 marks the end of the Kali Yuga, or degenerate age.

Other theories include: an asteroid collision or some other interplanetary object, nuclear war, the return of Jesus, alien invasion, and the Earth being destroyed by a giant supernova. However, scientists from NASA, along with expert archaeologists have stated that none of those events are likely to happen.

According to some scholars, Nostradamus (1503-1566) also predicted cosmic disturbances for this frightful date of December 21, 2012. While the Renaissance soothsayer was quite elusive in his writings, the following quatrains make a startling parallel reference to such events:

Quatrain II.41

The great star for seven days will burn,

The cloud will cause two suns to appear:

The big mastiff all night will howl,

When the great pontiff changes countries. 

Quatrain II.46

After great misery for mankind an even greater one approaches,

when the great cycle of the centuries is renewed.

It will rain blood, milk, famine, war and disease.

 In the sky will be seen a fire, dragging a tail of sparks.

 

The 20th century psychic and spiritualist, Edgar Cayce, also saw calamitous events occurring at the turn of the 21st century. His visions included coastal flooding [with New York City being hit the hardest and completely engulfed by water] and affiliated upheavals in the Artic and Antarctica. Cayce foresaw violent volcanic activity in the northern Scandinavian countries, along with the horrid and utter destruction of Japan. However, Edgar Cayce was not very enlightening when it came to the particular date of December 21, 2012.

For more information, please read the following links:

http://www.december212012.com/

 

http://www.squidoo.com/the-end-of-the-world-2012

http://www.history.com/topics/2012/videos?predictions#lost-book-of-nostradamus
 

The Skeptics Viewpoint:



Scholars from various disciplines have dismissed the idea of such cataclysmic events occurring in 2012. Professional Mayanist scholars state that predictions of impending doom are not found in any of the extant classic Maya accounts, and that the idea that the "long count" calendar "ends" in 2012 misrepresents Maya history and culture. Astronomers and other scientists have rejected the proposals as pseudoscience, stating that they conflict with simple astronomical observations and amount to "a distraction from more important science concerns, such as global warming and loss of biological diversity".

NASA vehemently denies the Doomsday theory of 2012 and assures the inhabitants of Earth that no imminent catastrophes are headed towards our planet.  Earlier this month, NASA posted a list of frequently asked questions about why the world won’t end in 2012, like some believe the Mayan calendar indicates. The post explained that Earth has been getting along fine for the last 4 billion years and there is no threat to our planet this year.

For more information, please read the following links: 

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012.html

http://www.euronews.com/2012/12/13/nasa-explains-why-the-world-won-t-end--/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/us-news-blog/2012/dec/13/nasa-end-of-the-world-december-21

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/12/111220-end-of-world-2012-maya-calendar-explained-ancient-science/

The 2012 Doomsday Conclusion:

Contrary to popular understanding and belief, the ancient Meso-Americans, be they Maya or Aztec or any other group, left no oral or written “prophecy” record about what would or could happen. Other than a great age of 5,125 years would end and another era commence, the Mayans did not leave any written account of Doomsday.

Whether one wishes to believe that the end of the world is upon us or another believes it to be a grand hoax, the final outcome will soon tell the correct story when December 21, 2012 arrives. With the "Doomsday" date fast approaching, only one question remains: "Who's ? Right"