Jan 19 2009
Paganism, Armageddon, the Apocalypse, and 2012
Recently, there has been a lot of information and hype on television, the internet, and in popular culture regarding the year 2012. Several sources, including the Mayan calendar, apparently point to the end of the world. As the Mayans were an ancient culture with nontraditional beliefs, this caught my attention. More interesting still is that the Christian Bible and texts of the Jewish and Muslim faiths also point to 2012 as the time of Armageddon, at least according to The History Channel.
From a critical perspective (or that of a student), I wonder if that point was made to show some kind of odd unity between three mainstream religions that do not always seem to agree, thus making the show more politically correct. Personally, I believe that these religions have more in common than they lack in common, but I do wonder about the subjective agenda of the makers of these shows. The History Channel’s message boards harbor some discussion on the issue, and one of the original 2012 theorists also denounces how The History Channel treated the topic.
I tend to agree with this viewpoint, although I am no expert. Still, that doesn’t mean I’ve dealt with the issue thoroughly. As a pagan on my own path, I do feel a sense of alertness and urgency in reaction to these “documentaries” specific point: math, astrology, astronomy, religion, and philosophy all seem to collide on this 2012 date.
If 2012 means the end of the world, I can’t do anything about it, so who really cares? However, I do think it’s significant and interesting that we are now advanced enough to use computers to coincide with religion and spirituality.
The other thing that concerns me is nature. Whether global warming is completely manmade or part of the cycle of ice ages or both, our environment is drastically changing at a rate I can see and feel from year to year, season to season.
After all the hype, another New Age site also points to several different meanings and interpretations of the Mayan calendar.
I remain a skeptic, but I still find it all rather interesting. I also consider it my duty as a pagan, an American, and a human being to question whatever the television attempts to feed me, specifically concerning large topics such as Armageddon or the apocalypse. At the end of the day, I don’t think my personal beliefs really address the end of the world, but they certainly leave room for the possibility assuming it’s the course of nature or humans are terrible to the earth.
What do you think?
Does this mean you watched their week-long downer week about this too? Hubby would just keep shaking his head at me every night when he’d come home and I’d be watching a new documentary about how we were all about to die.
I think there was a lot of information presented that was more subjective than fact or cultural teachings. From the Christian perspective, I found the way they covered “our” view of Armageddon to be lacking and thought they lost all credibility when they brought up the Bible Code. I happen to have an affinity for the number 13 so perhaps I should go through the Bible and string together all the information found in each 13th chapter and verse. *shakes head*
I was especially disappointed in all 4 hours spent on Nostradamus. I expected better, somehow. Both the believers and the skeptics came off looking like crackpot loons…in my opinion.
On a slightly different topic, there’s a LOT of discussion going on in the paranormal community about 2012 and with the Empath community most have reported a shift in the energy around them and that they’re experiencing heightened abilities/sensitivities. The Empaths are also saying they get negative impressions followed by a more positive energy. At least there’s one community out there who doesn’t believe we’re all done for.
Jen
I’ve read The Mystery of 2012: Predictions, Prophecies and Possibilities very recently. Its basically a collection of articles by various people.
What i got out of it is hopefulness that 2012 will not be the end of the World, but the end of an age & the beginning of an age of awakining & universal awareness. I am looking forward to it
I was listening to Coast to Coast AM one night and they were talking about the 2012 thing. The gentleman that was on there said since there are still Mayan’s around they kinda know whats going to happen. He said it isn’t going to be the end of the world. That it’s merely going to be an awakening. Spiritual or otherwise. I vote for Spiritual myself. Tho I do find it interesting hearing about all the other possible outcomes of 2012. As Stephanie, i’m looking forward to it as well, tho if the world does end i’m going to be mad! I have to renew my drivers license on the 23rd of march!!! And if the world DOES end in December, I just wasted my money!! Had to interject my own humor in there, Sorry :0)
An end of an age is a shift .A realization brought on by the physical manifestation of a truth,maybe but even that’s a reach.People are still individuals,no matter who you believe created them.We are not all going to suddenly gather in a circle singing peace songs.As individuals we will all interpret an end to an age differently.This is depending on whom you talk to either the age of the machine or the age of men.So what the manifestation of either of those mean is anyones guess