Maya 2012 End of the World - Essay Example

Maya End of the World 2012 Abstract In accordance with the Mayan calendar, the world is virtually coming to an end, more specifically in December 2012. A lot of debate has materialised as to whether these predictions hold some truth or they simply hold no grounds. It is worth noting that the Maya are a knowledgeable lot whose predictions cannot simply be overlooked. Incidentally, the fact that the Maya are known to be accurate with respect to anthropology adds spark to the debate on whether their 2012 end of the world prediction are true or otherwise. Though the Bible is not clear on whether it is actually true that the world will end come 2012 some, scriptures are interpreted to support the same whilst others speak on the contrary. Scientific evidence on the other hand is clear on the subject, that is, come 2012 some significant change will occur. Based on the scientific facts alignment of the Milky Way and the solstice sun will be the major cause behind the changes Introduction The beginning of the Mayan civilisation took place at around 2000 B.C. It was during its classic period which lasted from 250 to 900 AD that the Mayan civilisation hit its peak specifically with respect to writing, architecture, art, and astronomy. Maya were a religious lot, they believed that humans were given blood by gods during creation and as such, reciprocation of the same was necessary in order to nourish the gods. According to them, lack of blood sacrifices would have serious implications as the gods would die, and in effect every life on earth would follow hence the need for human sacrifice. There were certain dates on the Mayan calendar that they deemed fit for making sacrifices, to them such dates were sacred and were influenced by stars and planets movement. They measured, observed, and recorded the sun, moon and planet Venus movement in an effort to ascertain days most auspicious for their sacrifice ceremonies (Hundley, 2010, p.10; Sharer and Traxler, 2006, p. 178). Consequently, the Maya designed a special calendar to assist them track those days they considered special for making sacrifices to gods, as a result, they became popular for their expertise in astronomy. They made extremely sophisticated and meticulous calculations on orbits of the sun, planet Venus, and other stars. Incidentally incorporated in these calculations were seasonal changes together with eclipses of both the moon and the sun. The Maya people could calculate the number of days in a year with accuracy without employing the use of a microscope. With assistance of the lunar calendar system, the Maya calculated time in units of twenty, that is, twenty days constituted a month, 18 months constituted a year, and 20 years made 400 years - referred to by the Mayans as baktun. According to the Mayan calendar, the end of the present world is predicted at 13 baktuns, that is, after dating each year from the commencement of time, the calendar ends abruptly at the close of the 13th baktun. If the Mayan calendar were interpreted in terms of the Gregorian calendar used today, then the close of the 13th baktun falls on December 21, 2012 (Aveni, 2000, p 203; Eltringham, 2001, p. 265; Rice, 2007, p 31). Therefore, according to the Mayan calendar, the end date of the present date falls in December 2012. Since this revelation, there has been a lot of debate on whether predictions according to the Mayan calendar on the end of the world are to be taken seriously or to be simply overlooked. The aim of this paper is to discuss whether the predictions according to the Maya are true or false based on biblical and scientific facts. Different perspectives about the Mayan prediction The Maya people are venerated by most people today for their amazing predictions of future events in the history of human. Virtually everyone who learns of their astronomical capabilities is astound, more so their ability to track minute movements of the stars, eclipses and orbits without using modernised tools designed for the same (Foster, 2002, p. 261;Sitler, 2010, p. 5). This could therefore imply that their predictions on the world ending in 2012 could bear some truth to a significant degree if not in entirety. Some people hold a strong belief that the Mayan prophesy will come to pass and that the world will certainly end come 2012 while others hold divergent views. A Mayan expert Coe, a professor of anthropology at the Yale University carried out a comprehensive research on the Mayan culture and writings, which earned him an award. Coe is of the opinion that the world will end in 2012 and even went ahead to endorse the same. Coe’s endorsement with respect to the Mayan 2012 end of the world prophesy gave credibility to the movement’s interpretations and those behind it (Braden, 2009, p. 65; Hundley, 2010, p. 8). However, there are those who partially disagree with Coe’s views. Another Mayan expert Jose Arguelles published an influential text in 1987 referred to as the Mayan Factor. In his book, Jose integrates Mayan documentary evidence with mystical spirituality with an aim to assert the date signifying the end of the world, that is, 2012. According to Jose, the end of the world prophesy attributed to Maya does not imply that the world will end in the literal sense of the word; it simply signifies a new world order (Hundley, 2010, p. 10). Significance of the Mayan calendar Looked at from the biblical point of view, the significance of the Mayan calendar is to aid in showing the length of the time between the 69th and the 70th week of Daniel. First, it is imperative to ascertain what the symbolic period of a week is. In the book of Genesis chapter 29, 1 week is equivalent to 7 years. The significance of the period between the 69th and the 70th weeklong period depicts the length of time from 26 AD when Jesus was anointed the Messiah to 2012 AD, which culminates to around 1,986 years. Therefore, the Mayan 2012 prophesy is evidenced by the 2000 year gap between the biblical 69th and 70th week (Mc Ternan, 2004, p. 75; Frank, 2004, p. 38; Day, 2010, p. 109; Wohlberg, 2005, p. 45). Other scriptures that can be said to be in support of the Mayan prediction are Hosea and Exodus. In Hosea 6:2, it is revealed that Jesus will return after 2000 years, ushering in the end of the world. In Exodus 19, it is revealed that Jesus showed up on the third day after the Israelites had sanctified themselves. December 21st 2012, according to the bible is a year of major catastrophes; earthquakes, volcanoes, and so on, this is evidenced by the book of Daniel chapter 12:1-2. To this end, based on the biblical scriptures highlighted above it can be concluded that the Mayan prophesy is somewhat true as the biblical facts affirm the same. However, some would like to look at it differently, that is, still from a biblical aspect. According to Brock (2009, p.139), Mathew 13:39 Jesus speaks of the harvest as the end of the world indicating that in fact there is an end to the world. Brock then points out that the word “world” when looked at from the interlinear bible one gets 169 above it, from the Greek’s concordance the word implies eternity, age or a world without end. This verse therefore should have read the end of age as opposed to the end of the world. In essence therefore the world will not end in the literal sense of the world as the prophesies put it. Rather, the end of the world signifies a new age, that is, the world will move from one age to another. That the world will end according to Mayan prophesies is true, however, this should not be interpreted from a practical sense. Basically, what it actually means is that some radical change is bound to happen to a significant degree. Just like Jose Arguelles puts it, it is more of a new world order than the world shutting down completely in the literal sense of the word The notion that the world will move to a new order is also embedded from a scientific school of thought. John Jenkins known for his extensive research on the ancient Mayan civilisation acknowledges several potential transformational opportunities offered by the fact of end of the 13th baktun cycle at this point in time of the human history. Jenkins’ approach on the Mayan 2012 ideology is evangelical though there is a scientific aspect to it. He emphasizes that this is a transformational period, which in his view humanity should grab with both hands and use the opportunity to rectify their ways and take responsible actions for the sake of the future. It is the end of the apocalypse as Jenkins puts it (Clow and Calleman, 2007, pp. 14-21). From a scientific approach, John Jenkins, in his book referred to as “The Mayan Cosmogenesis 2012” has put a lot of weight on the idea that a rare astronomical alignment attributed to the solstice meridian with the galactic equator would take place on December 21 2012.. Subsequently in another book, he asserts that the window of alignment and the galaxy’s vast centre has been open since 1980 and might be closed either in 2017 or 2018 (Heley, 2009, p. 118). His change of standpoint lost him credibility as what he said in his initial book slightly differs from the subsequent one. However, though Jenkins has lost credibility with regards to his slightly varied opinion in two of his books, his scientific argument on alignment of the solstice meridian and the galactic equator holds water as opposed to a mythical approach. In fact, the scientific approach is more or less in tandem with the new world order debate. Further evidence that the Mayan 2012 doomsday prophecy signifies a new world order as opposed to the world literally ending can be derived from the Mayan cosmopolitan calendar. Based on this calendar, the world renewal is due at around 2012 AD (Houston, et al, 2006, p. 89). Current breakthroughs in comprehending astronomical underpinnings attributed to the Maya reveal that the Maya believed that a rare alignment of the Milky Way and the solstice sun would be the cause behind an era of a major transformation on earth. The key words here are a major transformation of the earth and not the end of the world or life for that matter. This process referred to as galactic alignment is an astronomical fact. Furthermore scientific evidence reveals that the solstice meridian through precession of the solstice equinoxes will be precessing through the galactic equator (Harper et al, 2009, p. 197). There is more evidence in the traditions of the key ancient civilisations that this alignment was deemed an important transformative event. The 2012 galactic alignment era served the Maya as some sort of temporal marker, which revolves around sociological effects commonly referred to as millennial fever. In the Western world history is deemed from a linear progression point of a view, that is, events are seen to have a start point, the middle, and the end. The Maya on the other hand view history from a cyclical perspective, that is, there is a start point, the middle and no end. To them, the end is merely a repetition of the previous beginning coming around. According to Gerald Benedict, a Mayan expert, to the Maya, the future is just but a repetition and variation of what took place in the past (Taylor, 1998, pp. 330-331; Joseph, 2010, pp. 91-92). Therefore, to many Mayan scholars 2012 is not the end of the world per se but a fresh beginning of the human society. Conclusion As highlighted in the paragraphs above the Mayan predictions with regards to the end of the world cannot be overlooked as they hold some aspects of truth. The relevant biblical scriptures corresponding to the Mayan prophecy with respect to the world ending are evidence enough. It is only that the biblical prophesies imply that the world will shut down completely as opposed to a new world order which is the actual case. Some significance change will take place at the date predicted by the Maya. This is supported by Mayan expertise and knowledge in various areas but more importantly in anthropology. Also of significance is whether the Mayan prediction of whether the world will end should be taken in the practical sense of the word or whether the prediction merely signifies a new world order. In essence, the latter holds credibility as the evidences available are more practical as they are tangible. Therefore, the 13th baktun signifies the world ending from the Mayan perspective, that is, from a cyclical perspective, and ushers in a new beginning, a new world order. References Aveni, A. 2000, Empires of time: calendars, clocks, and cultures, Tauris Parke Paperbacks, London. Braden, G. 2009, Fractal Time: The Secret of 2012 and a New World Age. Hay House, Inc. Brock, R.G., 2009, Rapture and Revelation, Tate Publishing Mustang, Oklahoma. Clow, B. H. & Calleman, C.J. 2007, The Mayan Code: Time Acceleration and Awakening the World Mind, Inner Traditions / Bear & Company, London. Day, A. 2010, Exploring Daniel: A Devotional Commentary, Bloomington Publishers, London. Eltringham, P. 2001, The rough guide to Belize (2nd edition), London, Rough Guide Publishers. Foster, L. 2002, Handbook to life in the ancient Maya world, InfoBase Publishing, New York. Frank, O. 2004, The Watchmen's Cry, Xulon Press, New York. Harper, J., Lipton.B., and Krill, O. 2009, Tranceformers: Shamans of the 21st Century - Second Edition Revised and Updated for 2012 (2nd edition), Reality Press, California. Heley, M. 2009, The Everything Guide to 2012: All You Need to Know about the Theories, Beliefs, and History Surrounding the Ancient Mayan Prophecies, Adams Media Publishing, London. Houston, S., Stuart, D., and Taube, K., 2006, The memory of bones: body, being, and experience among the classic Maya, University of Texas Press, Texas. Joseph, F. 2010, Atlantis and 2012: The Science of the Lost Civilization and the Prophecies of the Maya, Inner Traditions / Bear & Company, New York. Rice, P. 2007, Maya calendar origins: monuments, mythistory, and the materialization of time, University of Texas Press, Texas. Sharer, R. and Traxler, L. 2006, The Ancient Maya (6th edition), Stanford University Press, New York. Sitler, R. 2010, The Living Maya: Ancient Wisdom in the Era of 2012, Atlantic Books Berkeley California. Taylor, M.C. 1998, Critical Terms for Religious Studies, University of Chicago Press, Chicago. Ternan, P. 2004, Only Jesus of Nazareth Can Be Israel's King Messiah, Xulon Press, New York. Hundley, R. 2010, Will the World End in 2012: A Christian Guide to the Question Everyone's Asking, Thomas Nelson Inc Nashville, Tennessee. Wohlberg, S. 2005, End Time Delusions: The Rapture, the Antichrist, Israel, and the End of the World, Destiny Image Publishers, London. Read More

They made extremely sophisticated and meticulous calculations on orbits of the sun, planet Venus, and other stars. Incidentally incorporated in these calculations were seasonal changes together with eclipses of both the moon and the sun. The Maya people could calculate the number of days in a year with accuracy without employing the use of a microscope. With assistance of the lunar calendar system, the Maya calculated time in units of twenty, that is, twenty days constituted a month, 18 months constituted a year, and 20 years made 400 years - referred to by the Mayans as baktun.

According to the Mayan calendar, the end of the present world is predicted at 13 baktuns, that is, after dating each year from the commencement of time, the calendar ends abruptly at the close of the 13th baktun. If the Mayan calendar were interpreted in terms of the Gregorian calendar used today, then the close of the 13th baktun falls on December 21, 2012 (Aveni, 2000, p 203; Eltringham, 2001, p. 265; Rice, 2007, p 31). Therefore, according to the Mayan calendar, the end date of the present date falls in December 2012.

Since this revelation, there has been a lot of debate on whether predictions according to the Mayan calendar on the end of the world are to be taken seriously or to be simply overlooked. The aim of this paper is to discuss whether the predictions according to the Maya are true or false based on biblical and scientific facts. Different perspectives about the Mayan prediction The Maya people are venerated by most people today for their amazing predictions of future events in the history of human.

Virtually everyone who learns of their astronomical capabilities is astound, more so their ability to track minute movements of the stars, eclipses and orbits without using modernised tools designed for the same (Foster, 2002, p. 261;Sitler, 2010, p. 5). This could therefore imply that their predictions on the world ending in 2012 could bear some truth to a significant degree if not in entirety. Some people hold a strong belief that the Mayan prophesy will come to pass and that the world will certainly end come 2012 while others hold divergent views.

A Mayan expert Coe, a professor of anthropology at the Yale University carried out a comprehensive research on the Mayan culture and writings, which earned him an award. Coe is of the opinion that the world will end in 2012 and even went ahead to endorse the same. Coe’s endorsement with respect to the Mayan 2012 end of the world prophesy gave credibility to the movement’s interpretations and those behind it (Braden, 2009, p. 65; Hundley, 2010, p. 8). However, there are those who partially disagree with Coe’s views.

Another Mayan expert Jose Arguelles published an influential text in 1987 referred to as the Mayan Factor. In his book, Jose integrates Mayan documentary evidence with mystical spirituality with an aim to assert the date signifying the end of the world, that is, 2012. According to Jose, the end of the world prophesy attributed to Maya does not imply that the world will end in the literal sense of the word; it simply signifies a new world order (Hundley, 2010, p. 10). Significance of the Mayan calendar Looked at from the biblical point of view, the significance of the Mayan calendar is to aid in showing the length of the time between the 69th and the 70th week of Daniel.

First, it is imperative to ascertain what the symbolic period of a week is. In the book of Genesis chapter 29, 1 week is equivalent to 7 years. The significance of the period between the 69th and the 70th weeklong period depicts the length of time from 26 AD when Jesus was anointed the Messiah to 2012 AD, which culminates to around 1,986 years. Therefore, the Mayan 2012 prophesy is evidenced by the 2000 year gap between the biblical 69th and 70th week (Mc Ternan, 2004, p. 75; Frank, 2004, p. 38; Day, 2010, p.

109; Wohlberg, 2005, p. 45). Other scriptures that can be said to be in support of the Mayan prediction are Hosea and Exodus.

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