According to some doomsday theorists, the end of the world is less than three months away – December 21, 2012 to be precise. That is the date on which the Mayan long calendar ends. I have several questions on this theory, which I’m going to ask and, if I’m doing my job properly, you’ll have questions as well.
First, how do we know the Mayan cuneiforms have been translated properly? Is there some sort of western hemisphere version of the Rosetta stone? These people who are touted as being Mayan “experts” – how do we know for sure? Is there some sort of exam you take and if you pass it you can call yourself a Mayan expert? There are no Mayans to test you.
Now, let’s move on to the calendar and the theories themselves. First, I’ve written some of this before, but it still applies. Can anyone give me one single reason why the Mayan long calendar wouldn’t act the same as our Gregorian calendar and simply start over? This is what an “expert” interviewed by the Toronto Star a couple of years ago believes will happen. Our calendar ends with December 31. Does the world end on December 31? No. The sun comes up the next day, January 1, and things carry on as usual. Why wouldn’t this also apply to the Mayan calendar? If we accept these theories for a moment (I don’t – I believe the calendar will just start over) I have one more question. You say the world will end with December 21, 2012. What time zone?
I know that some people put great faith in this calendar and the fact it ends just before Christmas this year. Couple more questions: Nobody else has successfully predicted the end of the world, so why should the Mayans do any better? And, if the Mayans were so great at predicting events, how come they couldn’t predict the fact they’d all die off? They’re all dead, so why should we put any great stock in their end of the world prediction? If they’re wrong, we certainly can’t turn to them and say “you screwed up”, can we?
I read an article in one of the Toronto papers several months ago that said archeologists had discovered a room at one of the Mayan ruins that indicated that their mathematicians didn’t believe the world would end. Again, if the translation is correct, this would lend credence to my statement the calendar will just start over.
And one final question: What are you going to do in December: plan for Christmas, or plan for the end of the world?
Enjoy your day and remember to hug an artist – we need love too.
Cat.
Catseyeview 
Nice post – nice questions. All valid.
In a weird sort of way (yes, I know I wouldn’t be around to find out) I’d like to believe the Mayans had some foreknowledge of the end of the world. I’d like to believe the calendar. I like the idea of the magical, the mystical and the unknown by scientists.
But I guess, all things considered, it’s pretty much tosh.
However, if it makes people think, makes them nicer if they believe the end is nigh, then it might be a good thing.
And I’m planning for Christmas. Boxing Day is my wedding anniversary (don’t ask) and planning for Christmas in my house is pretty much the same as planning for the world to end in a big way. Too much food, drink, jollity, silliness and general carrying on.
Normal really.
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Thank you. I think the one question that may give most people pause is “what time zone?”
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Very neat – their time zone, I guess. So does that mean we all get it then? In which case we get it too early. Or we have to wait for that time to appear for us? And watch the news of it happening on the other side of the world.
An interesting point.
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It sounds like garbage to me. The end of the world has been predicted time and time again, yet here we are.
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As I wrote, the Mayan calendar will do what our Gregorian calendar does – and start over again. But there are people who are more than willing to believe any doomsday prophecy that comes along, no matter how far fetched.
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