Dec. 21st 2012 and the World's End

[ospylac]

Perhaps this is not a bad thing, but our overconsumption is reducing the likelyhood that future generations will live the lifestyles that we lead now. The huge human population puts us in prime position to be the species that survives whatever resource limitations we impose on ourselves. We're in little fear of destroying the planet outright, its much more likely that we will surpass (or have surpassed) a carrying capacity to sustain our population growth. I'd like to believe that our numbers will level off and then decline a bit to a new more sustainable population.

I think that no one religion holds all the answers, each one has insights into the greater whole. I personally feel that the higher power has little or no involvement in the routine affairs of our world.

"What really interests me is whether God had any choice in the creation of the world."
--Einstein

[quiltergal]

It's all about balance. Empirical data and the archaeological record show that the earth has made some pretty dramatic changes all on it's own. Most of those changes especially with regard to climate and weather patterns are cyclical. You see them over and over again in tree rings and the fossil record. Many of those events go so far back that humans either weren't on the planet at all or there were so few of them the environmental "footprint" they left was so tiny it was insignificant. I remember in the 70's everyone was freaking out because they thought we were surely headed into another ice age. Here we are 2 decades later freaking out about global warming.

The earth is pretty intolerant of supporting larger populations of any species than it can handle. Always seeking equilibrium and balance many of us will die as a result just as herds of deer die every year because there are too many of them for their environment to sustain. It's not rocket science.

The Mayans spent a lot of time looking at the sky. Their entire culture was built around what was happening in the heavens. That's why their calendar is far more accurate than our Julian calendar. The Mayan Long Count calendar ends on 12/21/2012, and resets to zero. It also happens to correspond with a rare astronomical conjunction that only occurs about every 13,000 years or so. I don't think they were predicting the end of days at all. They were marking a celestial event of major significance. I don't think you can read anything more into it than that.

With that in mind I plan to be star gazing at Chichen Itza with the Maya on 12/21/2012.

[Bolero]

Now that's some interesting information. Thanks for this contribution.

[gmdiaz]

Great info Terri,

[cb977]

Que Sera Sera, whatever will be will be...

none of us can possibly know when "it" (whatever "it" may be) is going to happen. This planet and it's inhabitants have gone through major upheavals throughout time and started anew. It is only logical that it happen again.

What we all need to do is try to assist in the longevity of this go-round...live life to it's fullest and be a good person.

[Tindomul]

Hi Terri! Thanks for the informative post. If I were you, I too would still be freakin' out over an ice age. If the ice caps keep melting, the global conveyer belt that keeps our winters relatively warm won't function anymore. The Return of The Ice Caps. Lol.
So, exactly what is the astronomical conjunction that occurs on 12/21/12??

[Dorothy]

Tindo .. let me know the exact time the world as we know it will be coming to an end .. I'll grab my favorite bottle of wine, climb myself to the roof of the house and kiss by hiney goodbye as I watch it all come to an end.

Are we wagering on the date? $100 says we will still be here after 12/21/2012

[Tindomul]

I'll take that bet if you are willing to wager against me when I say "I bet the world will come to an end after 12/21/2012.

[Dorothy]

Oh really?
Define 'come to an end'

[Tindomul]

Come to an End = Anything that causes the world civil order/current civilization`to be thrown in chaos and or disappear completely.
So, I'll take your bet if you take mine.