Dolf's Blog
Integral thoughts about development, humanity, spirituality
2012 is a Hype
Still almost three years to go and it seems many
people are getting frantic about the world ending in 2012.
Supposedly, the ancient Mayans created this calendar which they let
end in December 2012 and, apart from inspiring some bad movies, it
also inspired people to go back to their pre-personal magical
beliefs and assume that they were correct. So they panic.
In the first place, all that the Mayans predicted was the end of a
long-term cycle of their calendar, after which the new cycle would
start. No end of time, let alone end of the world.
Then there are several other prophecies that are associated with the
Mayan calendar, such as a polarity reversal of the Earth's magnetic
field, some stray planet appearing in our solar system, etc. A handy
overview with reasons why all these make no sense can be found in an
article on the National Geographic website:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/11/091106-2012-end-of-world-myths.html.
Still, people seem to associate current events, such as two major
earthquakes this year or the economic crisis, with whatever the
Mayans predicted. For me, this is all far-fetched "I want to
believe" stuff. Earthquakes have happened in all periods of time, so
why should these two particular ones have anything to do with the
Mayan Calendar? Did all other earthquakes and crisises have an
association with their predictions as well?
So why do people feel compelled to attribute current events to the
Mayans' predictions?
First of all because it is being hyped for commercial purposes -
similar to the year-2000 problem, which was far more technical in
nature, this is yet another end-of-the-world theory that people seem
to be happy to embrace.
But then why is it that people are looking for things like this to
embrace? As I indicated before, these predictions are purely
pre-personal, magical in nature (given the time and society that
they stem from) but seem to resonate with something in today's
people. I suppose it is some insecurity due to current events that
makes people look for a reason. Many people worldwide have been
affected by the economic downturn, which made them lose their money
and jobs. Natural catastrophes have taken many people's lives. No
wonder that people are thrown back into their more basic needs,
which are associated with more basic beliefs. And it is those basic
beliefs that may be at the same level as where the Mayan prophecies
come from. Then it is understandable why these predictions find a
fertile ground for people who are functioning at the same level and
need something to get a grasp of the world again. Perhaps in due
time, before or after December 2012, they will find themselves in a
better position in life and realise that the future cannot be
predicted based on a stone artifact.
