Mahatma Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Various religions and cultures view this date as the end of civilization as we know it. Be it evolution of the mind to the apocalypse, many people put meaning to this date. I personally do not believe much in it, but a lot could happen in the next three years. I believe very highly in the probability of us all using nuclear weapons on each other and ending it. What are your beliefs? Link to post Share on other sites
Trialbyfire Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 That's my wedding date! Link to post Share on other sites
Enema Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 There have been hundreds of predictions about the end of the world. I fail to see why this one would be any more successful than the others. Link to post Share on other sites
knaveman Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 The worlds just as likely to end on that day as on any other. Link to post Share on other sites
Tony T Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Various religions and cultures view this date as the end of civilization as we know it. Be it evolution of the mind to the apocalypse, many people put meaning to this date. I personally do not believe much in it, but a lot could happen in the next three years. I believe very highly in the probability of us all using nuclear weapons on each other and ending it. What are your beliefs? The world will come to an end at 11:18p.m. EST on February 19, 2078. There's absolutely no doubt in my mind about that! Mark it on your calendar! Link to post Share on other sites
Tony T Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 The worlds just as likely to end on that day as on any other. Did you ever stop to think the world ends for you the second you die. So if a million people die each day, the world ends a million times each day. Who cares? In 3 billion years, the sun will burn out anyway so what's the big deal? Link to post Share on other sites
norajane Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 I thought the world was supposed to end in 2000. So what's so special about 12/21/12, besides all the 1's and 2's? Link to post Share on other sites
chris250 Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 According to my understanding of the bible the end of the world happened 2000 years ago. The day that Jesus died on the cross to take away the sin of the world was the last day. It was the end of the world. Hebrews 9:26 declares that Jesus appeared at the end of the world to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself. John 12:31-333 Jesus Christ speaks that now is the judgment of this world (at the point that He hung on that cross) and that if He be lifted up from the earth He will draw ALL people to Himself. He said this signifying what kind of death He would die. I believe all bible prophecy was fulfilled in the life, death, burial & resurrection of Christ. The cross is the dividing line of the old covenant & new covenant. We are living in the new earth and new jerusalem ever since the day of the cross. This is the world of the new covenant. The end of the world that the bible talks about is the end of the old covenant. So what's going to happen in the future? I don't know. I suspect that our world will get better as that has been our trend over the centuries. We continue to get better. If this planet were to end someday it probably won't happen for at least another 5 billion years. It would be man's own doing that destroys this planet and not because God is angry. If we don't take care of the planet then it's only a matter of time before it will decay and die. Link to post Share on other sites
Quinch Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Think of the money you could save by not buying Christmas presents - "sorry, I thought the world was going to end so I didn't bother." Or are we just going to have one big End Of The World party Link to post Share on other sites
LucreziaBorgia Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Calendar dates are human concepts - something we made up to put some understanding to the celestial and metabolic processes around us. They are arbitrary and meaningless, basically. That date is no more or less significant than any other. In terms of cycles though, after observing a number of cycles people can predict a certain set of circumstances - but again, it wouldn't be happening because of any supernatural or religious things (more human concepts applied to nature). Huge solar flares? Old news. They are cyclic and have been observed for a number of years. I think at best, we'll have some problems with some grids and satellites. Link to post Share on other sites
Moose Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Hebrews 9:26 declares that Jesus appeared at the end of the world to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.properly an age; by extension perpetuity (also past); by implication the world; specifically (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future): - age, course, eternal, (for) ever (-more), [n-]ever, (beginning of the, while the) world (began, without end). - Strong Dictionary.... Christ didn't appear at the end of the world, or we wouldn't have Sin present at all right now. He appeared at the end of the old covenant, (age). He ascended to His Father, and will likewise RETURN in the same manner....that hasn't happened yet, and noone knows when that will be. Link to post Share on other sites
disgracian Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 The only thing anyone needs to remember is that doomsday prophets have a 0% accuracy rating. Cheers, D. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Mahatma Posted January 16, 2009 Author Share Posted January 16, 2009 I thought the world was supposed to end in 2000. So what's so special about 12/21/12, besides all the 1's and 2's? End of the Mayan Calendar. It seems as though none of you do believe it and neither do I. I was interested to get some discussions brewing, but I know nothing about it. Hmph. Link to post Share on other sites
The Collector Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 If the Mayans were so bloody clever they wouldn't have got genocided. Link to post Share on other sites
wuggle Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Stop worrying about it, it's rubbish. You'll die at the age of 109 of a heart attack just like me. Link to post Share on other sites
tanbark813 Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 So what's so special about 12/21/12, besides all the 1's and 2's? The 1's and 2's are just coincidence. On that date, the Earth will be in alignment with the Sun and the center of the Milky Way. That only happens once every 26,000 years. I think I would be more convinced if a bunch of civilizations predicted the same random day that had no other significance. With 12/21/12, some really predicted a cosmic event and assumed it meant the end of civilization. Then all these stories get handed down over the millenia and adds to the mystery and makes it seem more important. I'm sure it will just be another Y2K panic over nothing. Link to post Share on other sites
kashmir Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 If the Mayans were so bloody clever they wouldn't have got genocided. The 1's and 2's are just coincidence. On that date, the Earth will be in alignment with the Sun and the center of the Milky Way. That only happens once every 26,000 years. Considering the Mayans were INCREDIBLY accurate about predicting this astronomical occurance, I'd say they are bloody clever. Cleverness can't defend against deadly disease, though, which is the most probable cause of Native American civilizations' declines. The Mayan calender, the numerical Bible code, and some of Nostradamus' "prophecies" make for a very good coincidence. I do think that date or the period surrounding it will hold significance that pertains to the astronomical alignment. I'm no expert in astrophysics, but apparently the Earth will be the most vulnerable to radiation coming from the center of the Milky Way when we're aligned with it. Of course, it would take many many years to reach the Earth, but over the span of a few thousand years the Earth can undergo some significant changes due to this radiation. Link to post Share on other sites
Lovelybird Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 Stop worrying about it, it's rubbish. You'll die at the age of 109 of a heart attack just like me. what is important is after one die, one still exists, but in another form, that is ETERNAL ! not just 109 years Link to post Share on other sites
clv0116 Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 The real date to be worried about is mid-2037 when time_t rolls over. Link to post Share on other sites
Trimmer Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 The real date to be worried about is mid-2037 when time_t rolls over. Absolutely - that's gonna suck. Storing up canned food and hoarding Apple ][ Pluses now... Link to post Share on other sites
Trimmer Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 That's my wedding date! Now there's a prediction: committing to her wedding date, 4 years ahead of time. TBF, you just met the guy; take it a little slow! The 1's and 2's are just coincidence. On that date, the Earth will be in alignment with the Sun and the center of the Milky Way. That only happens once every 26,000 years. I think I would be more convinced if a bunch of civilizations predicted the same random day that had no other significance. With 12/21/12, some really predicted a cosmic event and assumed it meant the end of civilization. Actually, it happens around every 13,000 years (twice in the 26,000 year cycle) and when you really look at the astromechanics and the math, you end up concluding that the Mayans didn't really predict the event at all, but just struck upon a moderate coincidence by having a calendar cycle roll over within 30 or so years of it (see below.) Considering the Mayans were INCREDIBLY accurate about predicting this astronomical occurance, I'd say they are bloody clever.... I do think that date or the period surrounding it will hold significance that pertains to the astronomical alignment. In fact, this astronomical alignment is something that has decades of uncertainty in it, even with our best calculations today. It's essentially the alignment of our view of the sun as it crosses our view of the Milky Way in the sky. Indeed, there is a very real phenomenon called precession of the equinoxes that causes the sun to appear to move around the sky in a certain way that has about a 26000 year cycle. Twice in this cycle, (thus, every 13,000 years) the sun crosses our view of the Milky Way, taking about 900 years to move completely across it. The Milky Way is a hazy and irregular region about 12 degrees wide in the sky; if reasonable estimates for the location of the exact central line of that hazy region vary by a half degree or so, that represents around 36 years of motion of the sun through the precessional cycle. So considering how slowly this motion occurs, and how uncertain this 'center line' is, even with today's astronomical measurements, it's ridiculous to consider that there's a specific, single day that represents a phenomenon that is creeping across a hazy region over 30+ years. And yes, if you insist that the 'exact' crossover - even if we can't calculate it - must have to happen on SOME day, then OK, but even with our current calculations, we cannot confirm that it's Dec 21, 2012, or anything close to it, so where has this idea come from that the Mayans got it right down to the day? In other words, nobody today can say with any confidence that it's Dec 21, 2012, so what is it that corroborates the Mayan's "incredible" accuracy, as kashmir puts it? And note that this conjunction does NOT represent the Earth or Sun actually aligning with the central plane of the galaxy, as some of the end-of-the-world afficionados state. Our solar system is tens of light-years "North" of the galactic plane, and not getting to that conjunction any time soon. In summary, this "conjunction" is indeed something that happens only every 13000 years, and the end of a cycle of the Mayan calendar happens to fall on a Southern Solstice somewhere within 30 or so years of our best estimates of the real conjunction. Neat coinicidence, but no evidence whatsoever to believe it's anything more than that. (Incidentally, by the best estimate of the center line of the Milky Way by the International Astronomical Union, we already crossed the conjunction back in 1999. So I ask again, where has the information come from that the Mayan's "got it right" down to the day?) For a reasoned explanation and review of these issues, which makes great sense if you know much of anything about astrophysics, see: http://www.astro.uu.nl/~strous/AA/en/2012.html (no ads or commercial content at this link) or do some searching yourself, and always CONSIDER THE SOURCE! I'm no expert in astrophysics, but apparently the Earth will be the most vulnerable to radiation coming from the center of the Milky Way when we're aligned with it. Of course, it would take many many years to reach the Earth, but over the span of a few thousand years the Earth can undergo some significant changes due to this radiation. Again, to restate: we will not be crossing, or anywhere near, the central plane of the galaxy - we remain many light years north of that plane. Again, if you are not an expert in astrophysics (no shame in that) please listen to reliable information from those who are... See the link above, or information from any real astronomer/astrophysicist. Speaking of astrophysics, did you know that Brian May - the guitarist you hear on all of Queen's gorgeous guitar solos (Bohemian Rhapsody, anyone?) - is now a PhD astrophysicst, and the Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University? A real-life Buckaroo Bonzai!!! Link to post Share on other sites
allina Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 So as we approach 12/21/12 we're going to have all these religious nuts running around buying canned food, "survival kits" and hiding in their home made bomb shelters again? I remember seeing this as 2000 was approaching, I couldn't believe it Link to post Share on other sites
jerbear Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 So as we approach 12/21/12 we're going to have all these religious nuts running around buying canned food, "survival kits" and hiding in their home made bomb shelters again? I remember seeing this as 2000 was approaching, I couldn't believe it I think this is a good way to generate specialized construction jobs. Time to get a telemarketing campaign started to sell kits. oh yeah put on a headset like that cutting kitchen appliance thingy and drying towel guy. Link to post Share on other sites
allina Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 I think this is a good way to generate specialized construction jobs. Time to get a telemarketing campaign started to sell kits. oh yeah put on a headset like that cutting kitchen appliance thingy and drying towel guy. I should start working on the ad campaign for my Apocalypse Proof Vest. 3 easy payments of $24.99,order before December 1st and I'll cut one payment and include a free pet sized vest (because everyone knows I love animals). That's all I have for now. And you're talking about the shamwow guy! I really ant a shamwow! Link to post Share on other sites
Trialbyfire Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 And you're talking about the shamwow guy! I really ant a shamwow! Those shamwows really work for drying my car after washing! Everyone needs a few of those towels for the Apocalypse. Imagine shamwow dykes all along coastal waters, to block the inevitable tsunamis! Link to post Share on other sites
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