Writing The History Of 2012

When we write the history of 2012, what will we say? Did it bring a New Age, or the end of life on earth as we knew it? Harmonic convergence, or horrific chaos?

That something unusual is going to happen on or near that date is increasingly obvious, but no one - however well informed they are - really knows for sure what that is. There are many groups out there clamoring for our attention, eager to assure us that THEY have the inside story, and are anxious to convince as many people as possible of that "fact". But amidst all the hype and hysteria, of what can we really be sure?

As far as science is concerned, there is little dispute that there will be some unique natural events that will occur around this time. Meteorological and astronomical events have been identified and predicted, and most scientists readily agree upon the facts. But the world is having to deal with issues beyond unusually dangerous weather, natural disasters that are increasing in both frequency and destructive power, and the uncertain physical consequences of an impending planetary alignment. In terms of the sociological and psychological effects that accompany any drastic change in the status quo, the results are much less predictable.

There has been so much speculation on the significance (or lack thereof) of this date, that a groundswell of psychic energy has grown to near-tsunami proportions, practically guaranteeing that "something" will happen on that date, through sheer force of the combined wills of so many people. Maybe it will go down in history (if any more history is to be made after that date) as "The Great Fizzle." But even out of disappointment and expectations denied, new paradigms have been created. When Baptist preacher William Miller predicted with persuasive confidence that the world would end in 1843, or 1844, or on any of several proposed dates that subsequently came and went without incident, that didn't discourage his followers. They simply acknowledged the error, and went on to found what eventually became the Seventh Day Adventists, a large and active Christian denomination that thrives to this day. Will the history of 2012 be known as yet another Great Disappointment? Perhaps. So many of the predictions for the fate of mankind on this date are so dire that we can only hope that they're just gigantic bullets that we'll be lucky enough to dodge.

The specifics of this fate varies depending on who is interpreting the evidence. Skeptics believe that it will be a day, just like any other day. Scientists acknowledge that some rare astronomical events will be occurring on the date, but place no significance on that fact. However, some scientists express a fear that the previously observed weakening of earth's magnetic field and increased global warming may be exponentially worsened, with possible catastrophic consequences, by the stress that will be placed on the Earth with the magnified gravitational pull of the planetary and galactic alignment. While no scientists are predicting that a comet or an asteroid will hit the earth on that specific date, many believe that such a strike is bound to happen at some point, and some laypeople have taken the scientific evidence for this and forced it to fit their personal vision of what will happen in 2012.

In addition to the science, a number of religious interpretations come to bear on the chorus of opinions. The Mayan Calendar is the most prominent of these, as it is the most specific regarding the actual date. There's no question that the Maya were the most brilliant astronomers of the ancient world - their ability to predict eclipses and other astronomical events rivals and occasionally even exceeds ours in accuracy - and much significance is placed on the fact that their extremely complex calendar, created to span thousands of years, comes to an abrupt halt on December 21, 2012. It's by no means clear that the Maya intended this to be interpreted as the end of all life on earth, only another of the countless transitions from one age to the next. But they do emphasize that this upcoming transition is unusual in its violent upheaval and stress.

Many people supplement this grim view of our immediate future with other prophecies that they claim strengthen the overall "end of days" scenario. Such prophetic heavy-hitters as Nostradamus, Edgar Cayce, Mother Shipton, the I Ching, the Hebrew Cabala, and the Christian Book of Revelation, among others, are frequently referred to as authorities on the subject of 2012. Native American traditions such as those of the Hopi suggest similar unusual events are in the offing. Even science plays a role, with the Web Bot project, the statistical claims made for the Bible Code, and some evidence for the existence of a Planet X whose imminent return will spell disaster for life on earth all feeding into a pre-conceived conclusion that humanity is doomed. And even further to the fringes of the doomsday crowd are those who claim to be in contact with extraterrestrials, who are supposedly handing down the news that they will finally make their visits to Earth official on that date.

While at first glance there would seem to be great weight added to the religious arguments in favor of dire happenings in 2012, it helps to keep in mind the fact that only the Maya actually put a date on their predictions. None of the other big-name prophets or seers has been prepared to stick their neck out so far as to be that specific. It has become popular to roll every doom-laden remark made by anyone with pretensions to prophetic fame or skill into the 2012 fold, but closer examination of the original statements and documents show that nowhere is that date mentioned. The Book of Revelation, in fact, makes it clear that, whatever the future holds for mankind, absolutely nobody is ever going to know the actual day on which any specific event is due to occur. Bear in mind too, that the date put forward by the Maya only indicates an unusual galactic alignment of the planets, something which modern science has agreed is correct while placing very little significance on the fact.

With the lack of any concrete evidence that December 21, 2012 is destined to be a day that will live in infamy (assuming anyone lives past it at all, of course), it is left to us as individuals to develop our own interpretation of the "signs" we have been given. It is certainly interesting to note that so many people are concluding that this date is going to be deeply important to all of humanity, far more than any previous doomsday date that has come and gone, leaving only a relative handful of embarrassed or disappointed adherents to wonder where their calculations went wrong. In contrast, 2012 has caught the attention of millions of people the world over, sparking debate and debunking in equal measure. This suggests that the need for change - even drastic, painful change - is something for which we are all increasingly desperate. It's possible that this expenditure of physic energy, as I mentioned earlier, will take on a life of its own, creating the change we need out of the combined will and prayers of everyone who participates. If this is possible, then we need to turn a deaf ear to the doomsayers who look forward to a stern and inescapable justice that will fall upon the innocent as well as the guilty, and try to imagine a world that is better than the one we have, and take a step out of our old ways of thinking and into the light of a new day.

Once it becomes history, 2012 can be the kind of turning point that future generations look back upon with awe and reverence, if those of us who are living now make a concerted effort to take action on the issues that face us with an attitude of hope, respect, and faith that our better nature can overcome the many temptations to despair and become apathetic.

While it's difficult to prepare for something we can't quite imagine, it's smart to at least make some effort to keep ourselves and our families safe in the event of an emergency or catastrophe. Whatever 2012 brings, the fact remains that right now, there are increasing incidents of natural disasters and - even more tragically - the real possibility of terrorist attacks that must be dealt with. Even if it turns out that 2012 is another over-hyped non-event like Y2K, at least we can feel that we took reasonable precautions against the worst, and if the worst never happened, our efforts won't have been in vain, should we become victims of the all-too-real challenges of life in the 21st century.

About the Author

But like they say, better safe than sorry. At 2012 Global Solutions, you'll find articles & more to help you prepare for a disaster. 2012 or not, it makes sense to protect yourself against the normal challenges of life; solar flares, hurricanes, tornadoes, & earthquakes don't keep to a schedule & are no respecters of person!