Will you die in 3 years? According to the Mayans, you will. Why is it in such a time of necessity for scientific-backing, some still heed the prediction of a civilization that was prominent over 680 years ago when whims and drastic explanations for unknown events ruled? Many claim that there is scientific backing, like the polarity levels are the lowest that they have been in two thousand years and the likelihood of a massive solar flare is great. There is one thing that supporters are forgetting. The Mayans had no earthly idea what either of these two attributes were and how they are related. If the Mayans predicted the end of the world was in 2000, then these facts would still be true, the magnetic field would have still been at an all time low and we would have still been due for a massive solar flare. Also, a big “kink” in the conspiracy is that many professionals in the field of astronomy like astronomer Philip Plait argue that the Mayan calendar does not end in 2012. He relates the calendar to a car’s odometer. When your odometer reaches 9, it must go back to 0; the Mayan calendar is the same way. The calendar happens to need to “turnover” during the month of December, 2012. Then, the calendar will continue many more years with a different starting number. Over the grand scheme of the idea of the end of days, there is scientific evidence supporting both sides. Anyone with a scientific view will realize that since there is conflicting evidence, the most prestigious level the “End of Days” claim can be is a theory; a theory, just like Big Foot, the Yeti, or if Walt Disney is frozen. I do not read of anyone stocking up on supplies and forming groups across the world to prepare for Big Foot attacks.
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/28/disastrous-commercial/
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/28/disastrous-commercial/
There are several beliefs and theories in the world that are subject to validity. The spark for this whole "the world will end in 2012" lies in the fact that a majority of people actually believe it. Our opinions and beliefs sometimes form from what the majority believes.
ReplyDeleteWith the sun being 93 million miles from the Earth, a massive solar flare would be needed to wipe out civilization on Earth with huge amounts of radiation. From what I know, the sun has lots of sun spots and these emit solar flares almost daily to release built up solar energy. Should we worry that our lives will end in 3 years due to some theory? People should be optimistic and enjoy their lives, not constantly worry about the end of the world. When it comes, it will come. That is the job of scientists to investigate. Besides, what can we do to "prepare" for the end of the world?
I think that an engineered pathogen built by a malcontent scientist is more threatening to the survival of the human race than some Mayan hocus pocus.
ReplyDeleteThink about it. A scientist discovers how to build a highly contagious and deadly microorganism, and he (or she) is the only person with a vaccine. That person controls who lives and who dies, and, therefore, has complete power.
Never underestimate the cruelty and evil present in the dark recesses of humanity, especially in an age where technology's limits truly know no bound.
I don't personally buy into new age apocalyptic predictions, but I've never thought about how the public perception of 2012 could affect society and economy; regardless of its scientific veracity, the idea of an imminent apocalypse will definitely impact society in a multitude of ways. This seems like a very unique topic with a lot of potential for interesting elaboration.
ReplyDeleteMany people, who actually believe in the Mayan calendar myth, have told me that a series of events predicted in the myth are “coming true”. Many people during this last election claimed that Obama was the anti-Christ, well according to a friend I talked to on the subject of the Mayan Calendar, Obama fits a the description of a anti-Christ type figure who is supposed to instigate a series of event that will ultimately end in the end of the world. Do you think there is any logical reason why the Mayan calendar says we will all die, there are scientists who also believe that on that very day a meteorite is supposed to crash into earth and send it into the sun.
ReplyDeleteI believe it is quite interesting how people would take this myth seriously just because of a Mayan calendar. This topic of discussion is somewhat related to the Y2K subject in 2000 when some people believed that the world would be coming to an end in 2000. I did not believe that theory and I do not believe this one.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if have heard about this or if its true, but my uncle who is a Christian pastor told me about two years ago that the end of the world was near, because the bible mentions some predictions that would happen when the world was about to end, and he said that most of them had already happened.
ReplyDeleteLike I said I don't know if that is true, but your blog made me remember that.