December 21st 2012?

[hndog609]

Originally Posted by KB5252

I don't know how seriously it is taken but there are universities across the Americas that study this subject. They are legitimate scholars and hardly quacks. That being said I don't necessarily buy into it, I just enjoy reading about these particular cultures.

I'm not trying to be contentious to your point but having something studied in universities doesn't necessarily carry much intellectual credibility with me. Consider:

Brown offers a course called "Black Lavender: A study of black gay and lesbian plays and dramatic construction in American theatre"

UVA can give you "Marxism: What is to be learned from it?" Described as declaring Marxism the "standard against which all subsequent social thought must be judged".

Indiana Bloomington- Star Trek & Religion

I'm sure there are numerous other examples. Anyway, I just don't want to give any subject any real degree of gravitas because somebody is studying it in a class somewhere. Finding Mayan culture interesting enough to study is one thing. Having people convince themselves that the Mayans (or whoever) figured out some date X in the future is the end/beginning/whatever is another thing entirely.

[KB5252]

Originally Posted by hndog609

I'm not trying to be contentious to your point but having something studied in universities doesn't necessarily carry much intellectual credibility with me. Consider:

Brown offers a course called "Black Lavender: A study of black gay and lesbian plays and dramatic construction in American theatre"

UVA can give you "Marxism: What is to be learned from it?" Described as declaring Marxism the "standard against which all subsequent social thought must be judged".

Indiana Bloomington- Star Trek & Religion

I'm sure there are numerous other examples. Anyway, I just don't want to give any subject any real degree of gravitas because somebody is studying it in a class somewhere. Finding Mayan culture interesting enough to study is one thing. Having people convince themselves that the Mayans (or whoever) figured out some date X in the future is the end/beginning/whatever is another thing entirely.

You are correct to an extent. None of these classes mentioned above are legit IMO. I did not insinuate that one should take this prophecy as fact. As stated by a previous poster the Mayan understood the cosmos better than any other civilization before and arguably since. They were great mathematicians and their skill lends enough credence to at least study and contemplate their observations. I advocate no more or less. I would just suggest people study it and decide for themselves. (They never stated it was the END of existence, just this period of time and did not indicate what, if anything would happen.)

[emainvol]

Originally Posted by MontereyVol

Its an interesting topic that I thought of posting here before. The Mayans are considered by some to have been more advanced in astrology than modern day civilizations. The Long count calender and the two others all end on Dec 21, 2012. What is told about this date is they said it would be the time when the solar system would be directly placed in the center of the eye of the milky way. Nasa confirmed this several years ago. When that happens it is believed our axis or polarity may shift, not the end of the earth but violent weather will probably occur. The Mayans believed this end of the calender which they have recorded before, will end in a great flood.

Which could be what we call global warming

yep, that is pretty much the gist of it, except the polar shift was supposed to begin last year and take 5 years to complete if memory serves correct.

Another interpretation (there are as many as there are new age whack jobs) and perhaps the most conceivable is that the date in question is the beginning of the Age of Aquarius. We are currently in the latter part of the Age of Pisces.

[KB5252]

Originally Posted by emainvol

yep, that is pretty much the gist of it, except the polar shift was supposed to begin last year and take 5 years to complete if memory serves correct.

Another interpretation (there are as many as there are new age whack jobs) and perhaps the most conceivable is that the date in question is the beginning of the Age of Aquarius. We are currently in the latter part of the Age of Pisces.

As you stated above there are many theories as to what this all means.

[hndog609]

Originally Posted by KB5252

You are correct to an extent. None of these classes mentioned above are legit IMO. I did not insinuate that one should take this prophecy as fact. As stated by a previous poster the Mayan understood the cosmos better than any other civilization before and arguably since. They were great mathematicians and their skill lends enough credence to at least study and contemplate their observations. I advocate no more or less. I would just suggest people study it and decide for themselves. (They never stated it was the END of existence, just this period of time and did not indicate what, if anything would happen.)

My last paragraph was trying to separate people who merely find the Mayan culture (or any culture for that matter) interesting from those who will take aspects of that culture and turn it into some freaking prognostication of impending doom and be serious about it. You seem very much part of the former group and I have not the slightest issue with. I mean, History Channel rocks. That latter group of nutcases...well, you know.

[KB5252]

Originally Posted by hndog609

My last paragraph was trying to separate people who merely find the Mayan culture (or any culture for that matter) interesting from those who will take aspects of that culture and turn it into some freaking prognostication of impending doom and be serious about it. You seem very much part of the former group and I have not the slightest issue with. I mean, History Channel rocks. That latter group of nutcases...well, you know.

My wife does not understand why I like the History channel. I agree some people hear something said and take it at truth.

[hndog609]

Originally Posted by KB5252

My wife does not understand why I like the History channel. I agree some people hear something said and take it at truth.

We used to call HC the "Hitler Channel" for all the WWII shows. It's grown much more diverse now.

[SWIL]

Originally Posted by hndog609

We used to call HC the "Hitler Channel" for all the WWII shows. It's grown much more diverse now.

Yes it has... The History Channel has also started airing "questionable" material at a greater frequency; a trend I don't like at all.

I suppose pseudohistorical musings and speculative mini series on future "larger than life" events garner better ratings.

[OrangeEmpire]

Originally Posted by Vol Mania 21

I turn 30 on that day. That is going to be a meltdown day for me

You will be freakin' old!

[KB5252]

Originally Posted by SWIL

Yes it has... The History Channel has also started airing "questionable" material at a greater frequency; a trend I don't like at all.

I suppose pseudohistorical musings and speculative mini series on future "larger than life" events garner better ratings.

I watch History Channel for amusement. If there is a topic discussed there that I like I do some research on it. I have found that many of the explanations and theories put forth are founded on no science at all. All in all I do like the diversity. All in all it is just like anything else, you have to do your own reading on the subject to form an objective opinion.

[OrangeEmpire]

[JZVOL]

I love the history channel.

[MontereyVol]

I'll jump back in....

The reason a lot of well educated people study the Mayan Calender is so far it is extremely accurate. It doesnt use inuendos like Nostradamus or others. The Mayan calender is actually more accurate than the Roman Calender we use today. They did predict astrology and tie it into how it would effect earth better than anyone so far.

The big question is how did they do this without hubble or others to help them? Was the old man from the sea who they depict as a huminoid or did they actually record the history throughout their span. The latter is hard to believe since it spans thousands of years further back than their own origins the former is for believers in aliens. Whats not really in dispute is that the calender has been correct and used by agencies such as NASA for research.

And I love the History channel, but they left a lot out on this story. Granted they were probably gearing it to the audience but I wish they wouldve gone more scientific with it.

All I know is, on Dec 21, 2008 I will be vacationing at my moms house in Knoxville. I have done some flood charts for global water heights and K-town should be safe if not for more lakes

[hndog609]

Originally Posted by MontereyVol

I'll jump back in....

The reason a lot of well educated people study the Mayan Calender is so far it is extremely accurate. It doesnt use inuendos like Nostradamus or others. The Mayan calender is actually more accurate than the Roman Calender we use today. They did predict astrology and tie it into how it would effect earth better than anyone so far.

The big question is how did they do this without hubble or others to help them? Was the old man from the sea who they depict as a huminoid or did they actually record the history throughout their span. The latter is hard to believe since it spans thousands of years further back than their own origins the former is for believers in aliens. Whats not really in dispute is that the calender has been correct and used by agencies such as NASA for research.

And I love the History channel, but they left a lot out on this story. Granted they were probably gearing it to the audience but I wish they wouldve gone more scientific with it.

All I know is, on Dec 21, 2008 I will be vacationing at my moms house in Knoxville. I have done some flood charts for global water heights and K-town should be safe if not for more lakes

Did you mean astronomy?

[milohimself]

So, is this gonna be some sort of Mad Max type situation? If so, I'm all for that. It would be badass.