Many of these religious groups aren’t afraid to define who will make the cut and who will be left behind.  Those doomed to face the apocalypse seem to be out of luck.  However, they are now free to initiate plan B and start a business to capitalize on these apocalyptic predictions.  After all, it wouldn’t be America if we didn’t take advantage of fear in some way or another.  My favorite online business offered to take care of pets for those who were projected to make it to the promise land.  It’s a good thing they didn’t make the cut so they were available to take care of pets for those chosen few while they are on vacation…permanently.  Too bad the fee was nonrefundable.     

The most popular of these doomsday predictions is linked to the end of the Mayan calendar that will allegedly occur on December 21, 2012.  This may cause you to frantically recall your bucket list in your head-adding a few things as you go along or you’re still a little skeptical.  Either way it’s a pretty serious issue-it being the end of the world and everything.  I’m sure the individuals who informed us of this rumor researched it extensively or were even part of the Maya culture themselves.  I decided to look into it a little further and was shocked by what I found. 

I imagined that as popular as this prediction has become, the evidence would be littered across Mayan literature or at least be a buzz in that part of the world.  However, according to an episode of the Madeleine Brand Show on Southern California Public Radio (KPCC), “Guatemalan thinkers insist 2012 is mentioned only once in ancient Mayan texts.  They say the writings actually describe it as a time when the gods will return to earth and there will be a big event or party.” 

Does that mean this day on the Mayan calendar could bring about a new beginning instead of the end of the world?  Why would someone turn something so positive into something so fearful?  It sounds like a great party-I wonder if there will be a cash bar.  How did this ugly rumor got started in the first place? 

In the article “My Psychic Powers at Work: Behold the boldest, most Maya-endorsed predictions you will read for 2012″ in Time magazine Joel Stein sheds some light on the subject.  He contacted David Stuart a Mayan scholar who received the “genius” grant at age 18 to find out the truth.  According to Stuart, ”The end of the calendar is completely made up by people who don’t know anything about the ancient Maya.”      

Jill Replogle of KPBS Public Broadcasting asked Ernesto Arredondo Leiva, a Guatemalan archaelogist, about the doomsday prediction associated with the Maya.  According to Leiva, “This is an Anglo perspective of the world.”  According to Replogle, “He (Leiva) says a couple of misinterpretations and careless predictions have morphed into a 2012 doomsday tale.  That’s mostly thanks to some pseudo-scientific types looking for spiritual support.”  

Was this doomsday prediction just a big misunderstanding or clear ploy to boost ticket sales for the next big blockbuster?  After all, these end of the world predictions do tend to attract quite a following and it gives people of all ages and backgrounds something to look forward to OR complain about.  I’ll be waiting for t-shirts with the date 12-21-12 to hit street venders this fall. 

So there you have it-myth debunked.  Based on the evidence, December 21, 2012 sounds more like a party than an apocalypse.  So how does one go about separating the rumors from the correct predictions about the end of the world?  If you have to ask, you probably already have a post apocalyptic plan in place-no need to fret. 

Like a bad reality show or high school gossip-the drama associated with these predictions can be addicting.  It’s important to retain even an ounce of skepticism as you tune in to the news and remember that in the end these predictions will amount to nothing more than a pop-culture trivia question or the next big movie blockbuster.  In our society, fear still remains the best way to make a buck, manipulating those who are still susceptible to even the craziest of rumors. 

(Reuters) – If you are worried the world will end next year based on the Mayan calendar, relax: the end of time is still far off.

So say Mayan experts who want to dispel any belief that the ancient Mayans predicted a world apocalypse next year.

The Mayan calendar marks the end of a 5,126 year old cycle around December 12, 2012 which should bring the return of Bolon Yokte, a Mayan god associated with war and creation.

Author Jose Arguelles called the date “the ending of time as we know it” in a 1987 book that spawned an army of Mayan theorists, whose speculations on a cataclysmic end abound online. But specialists meeting at this ancient Mayan city in southern Mexico say it merely marks the termination of one period of creation and the beginning of another.

“We have to be clear about this. There is no prophecy for 2012,” said Erik Velasquez, an etchings specialist at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). “It’s a marketing fallacy.”

The National Institute of Anthropological History in Mexico has been trying to quell the barrage of forecasters predicting the apocalypse. “The West’s messianic thinking has distorted the world view of ancient civilizations like the Mayans,” the institute said in a statement.

In the Mayan calendar, the long calendar count begins in 3,114 BC and is divided into roughly 394-year periods called Baktuns. Mayans held the number 13 sacred and the 13th Baktun ends next year.

Sven Gronemeyer, a researcher of Mayan codes from La Trobe University in Australia, who has been trying to decode the calendar, said the so-called end day reflects a transition from one era to the next in which Bolon Yokte returns.

“Because Bolon Yokte was already present at the day of creation … it just seemed natural for the Mayan that Bolon Yokte will again be present,” he said.

Of the approximately 15,000 registered glyphic texts found in different parts of what was then the Mayan empire, only two mention 2012, the Institute said.

“The Maya did not think about humanity, global warming or predict the poles would fuse together,” said Alfonso Ladena, a professor from the Complutense University of Madrid. “We project our worries on them.”

In the core of that theory is the fact of a Mayan Calendar that ended right in the end of 2012 but also the fact that the Mayan civilization is known as experts in mathematics and predict astronomical events.
The fact is Calendars exist for keeping track of the passage of time and this happened for Mayan civilization as well.
The Mayan astronomers were clever, and developed a very complex calendar based on astronomical cycles. Therefore, the ending of the Mayan calendar means that 2012 marks the end of a cycle. The beginning of 2013 will mark a new solar cycle.
The main point to be covered here is that Mayan calendar ended to mark the end of the Mayan long-count period. Just like our calendars end on the 31st of December, every year. It doesn’t means the world will end, it just means we will start a new cycle; which in our case is a new 365 days year.

Nevertheless, all the bus about this calendar is also related with all doomsday theories such as Planet alignment, Solar Storms, Meteor collision, all of them associated with the doomsday theory, planed to happen on the 21st of December of 2012

But where did this name came from?
Nibiru first appeared in Babylonian astrology associated with the god Marduk. It also appears in the Babylonian creation poem Enuma Elish. The claims that Nibiru is a planet and was known to the Sumerians are contradicted by many Astronomers that claim that although Sumer was a great civilization, important for the development of things such agriculture, water management or writing, their skill was poor in astronomy. In fact, they did not had understanding about the planets that the Sun. This knowledge was only developed in ancient Greece two millennia after the end of Sumer.

I’m sure you will be inundated with doomsday prophecies. You can see it with your sense. Where is the evidence? There is none. There is no credible and fact evidence for any of the assertions made about events taking place in December 2012. In fact, you can see here how these prophecies have started.

How do we know the world is ending? Here are the main indicators of a failing planet:

Natural Disasters: In 2011, there were numerous natural disasters that shook the world, some more literally than others. The first thing that comes to mind is the Japanese earthquake of March 11, the biggest earthquake ever recorded in Japan (which contributes to about 20% of the world’s earthquakes greater than magnitude 6). The utter destruction of this disaster was mind blowing. The ensuing tsunami swept away entire towns and accounted for about 20,000 deaths. As well as this, earthquakes continue in the region. The nuclear disaster that followed at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant shows the increasing conflict between our planet and ourselves. The second largest earthquake of the year was in Christchurch, New Zealand. It destroyed the city and killed over 200 people in a country with a population of only four million. Large earthquakes also occurred in Turkey, Pakistan, Fiji, Chile, Alaska and numerous other places.
Aside from earthquakes, there were deadly and destructive floods in Australia, the Phillipines, Southern Africa, and South America. There were the cyclones, Yasi, Wilma and Vania, blizzards in North America, strong tornadoes in New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Australia and across North America, and volcano eruptions in Chile, Iceland and Mexico. In addition to this, there were droughts in China and Texas. Overall, the year 2011 was pretty destructive and the continuation of such disasters is leading many people to believe the Mayan prophecy of doom. We can only wait and see what 2012 will bring.

Social Unrest: The social unrest that has been unfolding across the world is a sign of worse times to come. Our society is destroying itself. Last year, there were revolutions all across the Arab world. These revolutions were viewed by the Western world as highly progressive as they overthrew unfair and corrupt regimes with the hope of democracy. However, some were more successful than others. In Libya, for example, the government didn’t back down, leading to extended conflict in the nation. In some countries the revolutions lead to martial law which, ultimately, is undemocratic and not what anyone set out to achieve. Other places are now suffering from conflict and social unrest caused by uprisings. How will these societies hold up in the coming year?
Another example of social unrest is the wide spread riots which occurred in August 2011 across England. These were not protesters with a cause, like those in the Arab countries. These rioters were nothing more than thugs and criminals inciting mass violence, destruction and civil unrest. In a developed Western country, this is surely a sign of a weakening society that may serve as a warning for everyone across the globe.
Then there was the Occupy movement. This movement spread all across the world from protests in New York that were the first of the movement to receive widespread media coverage. These protests are trying to highlight economic and social inequality in our society, mainly the fact that a majority of the wealth in developed countries is held by a small percentage of top earners. These protests do not have a clear cut goal or demand however, yet they have continued into the new year. Not only do these protests point out an important flaw in our society (another indicator of a failing world) but they show that the citizens of the world are not willing to sit quietly. This surely heralds more social unrest to come…  

War: 
The above image shows the locations of current ongoing conflicts. Those marked in dark blue are major wars which cause 1000+ violent deaths per year. Those in light blue are minor wars but still cause 10 – 1000 violent deaths per year. These figures do not include all those injured in the conflicts. These are also only the locations of the wars — it does not include all the countries that are fighting them. If they were to be included, nearly every nation on the planet would be involved in some kind of warfare. This shows that peace on our planet is disintegrating. How long can this keep up before we are all dead?
Nuclear Arms: The idea of a nuclear holocaust goes back over half a century. Even though it is far from most people’s minds at present, it is still just as much of a threat as it was 50 years ago.The above image shows all the countries that are known to have nuclear weapons, or are suspected of having them or a nuclear program. Those in green formerly possessed nuclear weapons but no longer have them. The sheer amount of countries that possess these weapons of mass destruction is quite scary. Those highlighted in red, are countries that posses nuclear weapons and are not part of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. That means that they have never said they won’t use their weapons for an aggressive attack. These countries, India, Pakistan and North Korea, pose a threat to the whole world. If they were to attack, would the other countries possessing WMD use them as well?
Politics: Recently, the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Il, passed away leaving the whole world on alert to see how the most isolated country in the world would react. North Korea has conducted nuclear tests in the past and is currently still in ongoing conflict with their rival neighbour, South Korea. Who knows what kind of conflict could arise with such a politically tense situation.Another unfolding situation is the US sanctions on Iran. Iran has threatened the US Navy after sanctions on the country have begun to take effect. This could easily lead to another conflict in a region already riddled with war and destruction.
As you can see, the world appears to be in the midst of it’s destruction. This does not even go into the issues of global warming, over population, pollution, loss of biodiversity and the numerous other problems that are beginning to plague our planet. This all seems to point to one thing — the end of the world in 2012. Maybe the Mayans were wrong about the date, however. There are a lot of bad things going on; it wouldn’t be surprising we were all gone before December 21.

As we approach into 2012, the doomsday myths come out. You might have heard many stories about how the world will end on December 21, 2012. You might have heard for example, the world might end with the moon crashing into the Earth, Nibiru, maybe even an asteroid hitting Earth, polar shift, and even the aligning of the planets in our solar system causing untold consequences. Well it doesn’t really matter in any of these situations, because in any of those given, we are still screwed. But the question is, which one of these theories is correct?

The truth is people, the world DOESN’T end on December 21, 2012. Why is that, you ask? Why should it end anyway? Wasn’t it supposed to end in 1994? 2000? 2003? What ever happened to Harold Camping’s failed October 2011/ prediction of the end? 

As of record, there have ben 63 previous failed predictions of the apocalypse. What’s different this year? Really, there is nothing to worry about. 

But particularly, December 21, 2012 is a famous date because this is the date the Mayan calendar ends. The Mayans ( a large group of natives who emerged around 250 AD in Mexico) actually predicted their own downfall and other tribes in Mexico, predicting the arrival of the Spanish, who conquered Mexico, leading to the downfall of the Mayans and the Aztecs in Mexico. That’s why many people believe that the world ends in 2012 since the Mayans could predict their own future, it is believed that the end of the Mayan calendar is the end of the world (because most people think that the Mayans predicted the end of the world) but actually it’s not.

If the Mayans wanted to make a prediction that the world will end, I think they would just say it would end, and give an exact date and NOT go through all that trouble to build a groovy pie calendar just to predict that one moment. Besides, The Mayan’s didn’t say the end of the Mayan calendar was the end of the world, it is just the end of the Mayan calendar. 

So there you have it. Actually, someone starts these hoaxes usually for profit,for example, Harold Camping said that the world was going to end in October 2011, then someone who actually believes him takes out his life savings of $149,000 and spends all of it to advertise the end of the world. Of course, he gives credit to Camping for the prediction and Camping gets more famous, aside from the fact that he is all over the news , getting more known, and letting more people know of his radio show. But then again, we are still here, and whoever used up his life savings to advertise the apocalypse ran out of luck.

All the other 2012 predictions are also false. They are simply silly. When you watch a video or read an article that makes doomsday seem real and start explaining how the world ends in words you can’t understand , take it with a grain of salt , and search for the actual scientific proof of it because it’s most likely they can make the information up, also search for articles and video that contradict doomsday, because the anti-2012 articles/videos usually make more sense.

Actually I have heard they are now changing the doomsday to somewhere in 2013. And well, you guessed it. Someday they will change it to 2014, 2015, and so on….

So sleep well people. It’s just a scam.

I certainly can’t change fate if the world ends this year, so I might as well just have fun this year and live as if it could be my last day on earth. For those who believe that this year will bring the end of the world, I would say that you should live each day to the fullest and as if it were your last day! We will simply celebrate the beginning of 2012, the same as I have most other years with my family at home. I plan to have some snack foods and enjoy the evening playing cards or something with the husband and kids.

I am not making resolutions for the new year other than to continue to trust God in my life and allow Him to guide me as He sees fit. Where He leads, I will follow! I plan to begin our school year back early in January and since we have studied early cultures, I might add the theory that the earth may end this year, but I am sure that my daughter would not believe me anyway and that she would think that it was just another one of my crazy ideas so there is no way that I will convince her that we need to finish her schooling before the world ends so that she will at least be a high school graduate by the time it ends.

Many exciting and odd things have happened in 2011 and I say that 2012 should come in with a bang and hopefully, this time next year, I will be writing about what we have to look forward to in 2013, but if case I do not, let just say for one last time to all of my fans out there- Happy New Year! May 2012 be the best year ever!!

There are a few 2012 theories on how the world will end : 

Nibiru/planet X , pole shift , the reason of the mayan calendar,  and of course, Mr. Harold Camping the Evangelist. ( who in case you do not know, tried to predict the end of the world at least 3 or 4 times, but failed.)

I can gladly say that NONE of these 2012 hoaxes are true. There have been 60 failed predictions of the apocalypse in the past. Nibiru – thats something you should search. Unfortunately – its not real! Based on Nibiru, the things should be so close to Earth that you should see it in the sky in the night and day and all the way through. Harold Camping had a believer who spent his life savings of $140,000 + on advertising the apocalypse prediction by Harold Camping (October 11, 2011). The Mayan Calendar ends on 2012 – not because the world ends on 2012 but because the calendar ends on 2012 ( Gee, they must have run out of stone! ) They are all hoaxes. The only things that is going to happen in 2012 is Christmas and another New Year. Huzzah.

Now I are hearing they are changing the end of the world date from 2012 to 2013. And so, we shall laugh in 2014, but they might make that end of the world too.