What is Doomsday 2012?

Some call it "doomsday" while others call it the "end of days", or "the apocalypse".  I call it "the end of the world as we know it".  Now, I didn't say it is the end of the world; on the contrary, I said it is the end of the world "as we know it".  So what does this mean?  Well, for starters, things are going to change in 2012.

The ancient Mayans left codes that clearly suggest something cataclysmic and apocalyptic is at hand when their calendar ends.  The date of this "end" is either December 21 or December 23, 2012 - depending on who you talk to.  Most Mayan code analysts believe the date translates to December 21, 2012. 

According to the Maya code, there are 5 great cycles of time, of which 4 have already passed.  Each cycle lasts 5,125 years, with a great destruction of the earth and every living creature happening at the end of them.  Now, much of this information comes from how "experts" have translated the Mayan code, glyphs, and calendars. 

Author Michael Coe, publisher of "The Maya" in 1966, was the first to report on the date December 21, 2012.  In his book, he suggests that the code foretells the total destruction of the earth and mankind (the universe) when the present great cycle reaches the end of this thirteenth Baktun.

What is known is we now live in (near the end) of the fifth great cycle - the one in which the Mayan lived, only 500 to 4500 years ago.  This cycle began in the year 3114 BC, and ends on December, 2012.

The driving force behind the doomsday "prophecy" is the Mayan Long Count Calendar.  Having use three significant calendars, the Long Count Calendar is an extension of the 52-year Calendar Round.  The problem is there isn't enough information to scientifically compliment the belief that something bad is going to happen when this great cycle ends.

But, as the Mayans were the astute astronomers of the day, there is plenty of accuracy in their astronomical predictions.  For example, the earth will line up with the galactic plane on December 21, 2012 - something proven even today.  This even happens once every 26,000 years. 

But, other things are predicted (by doomsdayers) to happen along that day.  Threats such as Planet X (also known as "Nibiru") entering our solar system, timewave zero, asteroid strikes, solar flares, and a devastating polar shift are all plausible methods for bringing in Armageddon.  

Many books have been written on the subject 2012.  And the 2012 movie that is scheduled for release in November 2009 will like fuel interest in doomsday 2012.  One of the best books is 2012: Surviving the Mayan Calendar, which can be found on this website.

On the more safer contrary, a New Age following has emerged, suggesting mankind will have a choice of entering a time of peace and understanding.  More of an astrological point of view, this spiritual understanding will supposedly entail a new era of positive living.  This global consciousness shift, supported by New Age beliefs that have re-explained Mayan civilization and even confused modern humanity, is called Mayanism.

Academic professionals who have studied the Mayan culture beg to differ when it comes to earth's destruction by some heavenly force in December 2012.  A simple explanation of "resetting" the calendar to Baktun 13.0.0.0.0, the beginning date of a new great cycle, is their belief.

Whether you believe something will happen on December 21, 2012 or not, it's probably prudent to become more educated on the subject.  The Mayan were very aware of lunar, solar and galactic cycles and relied upon the sun God for continued survival.  Much of their culture was destroyed by the Spanish during the Inquisition.  But what wasn't destroyed foretold astronomical events that will scientifically occur. 

So, to dissuade from learning about potentially devastating events could prove unfortunate for mankind.