Each sunset and sunrise signifies the passage of time. As
with the passing of each day, the crisp, vibrant leaves that fall away from
their trees and powdery snow that delicately blankets the roofs of neighborhood
houses are both signals that tell us that the winds of change are sweeping
through our country.
It seems like just yesterday when the beaches were crowded with the vivid coloring of bathing suits and the sun was focused on tanning the innocent people who strolled by. Looking at my calendar, however, the word “December” is stamped in bold, black letters across the paper. It is already the last month of the year.
Yet, this year, 2012 is a special year. In 2007, José Argüelles, an American author, coined a certain theory that proceeded to convince the rest of the world that Earth would be destroyed in the year 2012. Argüelles’ theory sparked a chain reaction: the birth of thousands of other theories that elaborated on possible deaths of the world. Ultimately, they all led to one day: December 21, 2012, the day the world would cease to exist.
Almost everyone has heard of the 2012 theory at one point. Countless science fiction films have also been produced over the years, exploring the countless events that could eventually lead to the demise of humankind. But what exactly is the 2012 phenomenon, and how did it come to be?
When the man who started it all, José Argüelles, began receiving “prophecies” from ancient Mayan priests, he became convinced that the world would soon end. With the help of other religious men, their theory became a thickly woven prophecy.
Although they all agreed that the world would end on 12-21-2012, their theories differed. The most famous and most publicized idea, the Mayan Theory, focuses on the Mayan calendar. A highly sophisticated and technologically advanced race, the Mayans created an accurate calendar that, despite the extinction of their ancient civilization around A.D. 900, continued on for thousands of years. That is, until the date, December 21, 2012. After the 21st of December in the year 2012, the Mayan calendar reverts back to the beginnings of time, August 13th 3114 B.C. It is hypothesized that December 21 marks the end of time, or possibly the end of the world.
Another prophecy, the Galactic Alignment Theory, suggests that the world will end due to the alignment of the sun and the Galactic equator. The December solstice sun (when the sun is one-half of a degree wide) is predicted to be perfectly in line with the Galactic equator (which is the line that divides our galaxy, the Milky Way, in half). This only happens once every 26,000 years. The next time it is supposed to occur is December 21, 2012. Due to the disruption of the gravitational force of the sun in the middle of our galaxy, a massive black hole is predicted to open up. The disruption is suspected to throw off the gravity that pulls the moon to Earth, causing larger, monstrous tides. Subsequently, Earth will become flooded. Other natural disasters, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, are supposed to vanquish the remains of life on our planet.
Yet another theory deals with volcanoes. The Super Volcano Theory reflects back about 74,000 years. Back then, a huge volcano had erupted, blocking out the sun and wiping out two-thirds of life on Earth. That catastrophe also marked the extinction of the dinosaurs. Due to geological changes and the ever-moving tectonic plates, many people believe that the “super volcano” in Yellowstone is long overdue for a big eruption. After analyzing scientific research, these people predict that the volcano will conveniently erupt on December 21st and wreck havoc everywhere.
The theories listed above are just three of the millions of theories out there. It is up to you to judge whether December 21st will be Doomsday, filled with terror and death, or a day when the disbelievers of this theory sit down and laugh at the rest of the world. Are these theories realistic and all-too-possible or are they silly and imaginative sci-fi tales? The facts and science is laid out in front of you. It is up to you to judge the truth value of these theories.
It seems like just yesterday when the beaches were crowded with the vivid coloring of bathing suits and the sun was focused on tanning the innocent people who strolled by. Looking at my calendar, however, the word “December” is stamped in bold, black letters across the paper. It is already the last month of the year.
Yet, this year, 2012 is a special year. In 2007, José Argüelles, an American author, coined a certain theory that proceeded to convince the rest of the world that Earth would be destroyed in the year 2012. Argüelles’ theory sparked a chain reaction: the birth of thousands of other theories that elaborated on possible deaths of the world. Ultimately, they all led to one day: December 21, 2012, the day the world would cease to exist.
Almost everyone has heard of the 2012 theory at one point. Countless science fiction films have also been produced over the years, exploring the countless events that could eventually lead to the demise of humankind. But what exactly is the 2012 phenomenon, and how did it come to be?
When the man who started it all, José Argüelles, began receiving “prophecies” from ancient Mayan priests, he became convinced that the world would soon end. With the help of other religious men, their theory became a thickly woven prophecy.
Although they all agreed that the world would end on 12-21-2012, their theories differed. The most famous and most publicized idea, the Mayan Theory, focuses on the Mayan calendar. A highly sophisticated and technologically advanced race, the Mayans created an accurate calendar that, despite the extinction of their ancient civilization around A.D. 900, continued on for thousands of years. That is, until the date, December 21, 2012. After the 21st of December in the year 2012, the Mayan calendar reverts back to the beginnings of time, August 13th 3114 B.C. It is hypothesized that December 21 marks the end of time, or possibly the end of the world.
Another prophecy, the Galactic Alignment Theory, suggests that the world will end due to the alignment of the sun and the Galactic equator. The December solstice sun (when the sun is one-half of a degree wide) is predicted to be perfectly in line with the Galactic equator (which is the line that divides our galaxy, the Milky Way, in half). This only happens once every 26,000 years. The next time it is supposed to occur is December 21, 2012. Due to the disruption of the gravitational force of the sun in the middle of our galaxy, a massive black hole is predicted to open up. The disruption is suspected to throw off the gravity that pulls the moon to Earth, causing larger, monstrous tides. Subsequently, Earth will become flooded. Other natural disasters, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, are supposed to vanquish the remains of life on our planet.
Yet another theory deals with volcanoes. The Super Volcano Theory reflects back about 74,000 years. Back then, a huge volcano had erupted, blocking out the sun and wiping out two-thirds of life on Earth. That catastrophe also marked the extinction of the dinosaurs. Due to geological changes and the ever-moving tectonic plates, many people believe that the “super volcano” in Yellowstone is long overdue for a big eruption. After analyzing scientific research, these people predict that the volcano will conveniently erupt on December 21st and wreck havoc everywhere.
The theories listed above are just three of the millions of theories out there. It is up to you to judge whether December 21st will be Doomsday, filled with terror and death, or a day when the disbelievers of this theory sit down and laugh at the rest of the world. Are these theories realistic and all-too-possible or are they silly and imaginative sci-fi tales? The facts and science is laid out in front of you. It is up to you to judge the truth value of these theories.