Monday, May 23, 2011

Some Post-Rapture Ponderings

While I was out and about on Saturday with the lovely and our friends, we had a good hearty chuckle about this end of the world business. We eagerly awaited the raptor after the beer festival, while lounging by a pool. Unfortunately, even with their cleverness and apparent ability to use door handles, the poor dinosaur would have needed a key card to get in. It's a good thing he didn't waste his time showing up.

Now, this isn't to say we were mocking the people who woke up Sunday and realized they would need to rebuild their lives, more or less from scratch because this wasn't the case. We laughed about ourselves and joked about how we were planning on being left behind anyway. When the hour came and went, none of us were really surprised or relieved. However, during our day we did discuss the unfaltering belief some people have in doomsday/rapture/end of the world prophecies and the big one, you know the one, Winter Solstice 2012, came up.

This is one that in my younger days, I was incredibly scared of. I had no idea what significance the Mayan calendar had nor an understanding of what a period of great change could mean. Add to that some folks spouting that it's going to be the time of Armageddon, the return of Christ, the (next) date of Rapture and what's a teenager to do but worry? And continue that worry into their early 20's when friends of theirs are saying they just know it's true and that's when the world will end. But, here I am in my late 20's, with different friends, some research of my own and a husband who lived in Honduras for over 2 years and studied Mayan culture, religion, etc while there and afterward and I'm not worried about the world ending. If I'm wrong and it does, well then I was wrong. There's no sense to me in worrying about it and living the remainder of my days in fear.

I said as much while we were snacking away on pizza and having a laugh and one of our friends got deadly quiet. For a moment I was worried I had offended him somehow, but I hadn't. He said he's not worried that the world will end either, but he's worried about the panic and paranoia of others who do think that date will be the end. He's worried people who think the world will cease to exist on December 21nd will go on a spree of crime, looting and violence since there will be no one left to hold them accountable afterward. He's planning on taking time off work and holing up in his house with his wife, food, water and weapons just to be on the safe side.

I was completely shocked and a bit baffled. More so when my own husband said he had been considering the effects such a widespread and well known prophecy might have on people, and was thinking about defenses as well. People believed strongly that Y2K would happen and the world would end, it was well known and widespread and I don't recall any looting or pillaging happening. I was unarmed, at a party when it was supposed to happen and I made it safely into the new year. I don't see how this is different, but they think that it will be. Now, a few days later, I'm wondering if they have a point.

So my friends, I ask you. What are your thoughts on Doomsday prophecies in general? What about this big one in 2012? Are you concerned about people running rampant, about defending your home? I'm curious to see what others think, especially after that conversation.

P.S. I'll be back with photos from the weekend and some more cheery stuff either later today or tomorrow.

20 comments:

  1. Danni, this 2012 apocalypse had not concerned me either.....until just reading your post. The actions of others, fueled by media hype, extremists, movies, books, billboards...yikes, had not considered the possibilities. Food for thought and discussion with my husband.

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  2. I never thought about that either. But, wow, you're right. Never underestimate the power of a large group of stupid people. Maybe I need to get my butt in gear with a food stockpile and reconsider that rain barrel??

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  3. I have to agree with your friend and husband. Even if the whole thing was much ado about nothing, there are plenty of folks who will not react in a good way to the whole thing. A few winters ago we had a 3-5 day power outage due to a bad ice storm that coated much of the state. In a small town not far from me, after the second and third day of no electricity there were some people breaking into other peoples homes to steal food and anything else they could get their hands on. That was only THREE days. So yeah, I say be prepared for the kooks.

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  4. Good grief, whatever happened to neighborly good will and maybe *asking* for food rather then breaking in to people's homes? I guess growing up quite literally in the middle of a wildlife preserve, with very few neighbors I'm sort of naive to this sort of thing. My family and I just kind of got used to long power outages after storms and it was no big deal, we always made sure we had at least 72 hours worth of provisions on hand for ourselves and our pets. We also never had to worry about the kooks, since we were so far removed from the nearest town with anything in it. 13 miles may have been a bit too far off the beaten path for them.

    The more I think about it, the more I think those two are on to something, especially now that we all live in one of the busiest suburbs down here. I really miss living in the woods.

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  5. Well, my beliefs about 2012 go pretty much like this.

    I believe it will in fact be a time of radical change. That change being the energy of the current world of Patriarchy turning back to Matriarchy. The unbalanced masculine Yang energy will transition into a Yin energy.

    Again, I'm not starting my own Church of the Dark Mother and asking for a bunch of assholes to give me money.

    Just my humble opinion.

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  6. The thing to be afraid of is all those maniacs running around and convicing people that the judgement day is coming. Personally, I don't believe the end of world is coming in 2012. This is the most realistic reason:
    http://www.alpheus.org/images/Mayan-Calendar.jpg

    :D

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  7. Maluszeq, that is EXACTLY what my husband has been saying for YEARS! Love it!

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  8. Remember at the end of this comment that you asked....okay?
    I believe that that what is believed will be. In other words if you think and project negative bullshit then that's exactly what is going to happen. The news media for this last "doomsday" spread the word, we spread the word by blogging, the world is a very tiny, everyone knows what's going on kinda place. And I must interject here that my husband has for years said that "nice" people are few and far between, and that the idiots and assholes rule the earth. If the media (like an idiot I say if) takes up the 21st of December as the next dooms day based on historial (hysterical) data then yeah.....baseball bats for all.
    GK has learned to bring it home (concern) and lay it on the altar and let the Gods take care of the worry....that would be my suggestion for any and all. Worry does not bring you one days happiness and wastes your time. Preparation makes you able to leave it where it needs to be.
    I woudn't be surprised to have social unrest but I doubt it will be of epoch proportions. And if I'm wrong and we all go over the bridge together....then there is always do overs.
    Okay, now go back to your regularly scheduled program and I'll go back in my cage for safe keeping.

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  9. I think those 2 have a point. The world we live in is a vastly different place than the one that existed in 2000 with Y2K. People are more paranoid now, more extreme. People are willing to do and allow things in the name of safety that they would have taken up arms against in 2000. Plan for the worst and hope for the best I always say.

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  10. I believe that the earth will be destroyed...wait for it...in several billion years or so when our sun turns into a red dwarf (I think it's a red dwarf?) and gobbles up the earth. But that's not happening any time soon so we don't need to worry about it.

    As for the Mayan calendar "ending" in 2012...anyone who understands it know that it's not ending, it's just restarting. As I'm sure you know. It drives me crazy when people talk about the Mayan calendar "ending".

    And I hadn't really thought about looting being a problem on 12/21/12. It hadn't even occurred to me. I doubt it will be widespread, but I will be keeping an eye out to see what the general attitude seems to be around my home.

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  11. I think any sort of end-world prophecy is absolute rubbish but in our house we do talk about and prepare for natural disasters and such (mostly zombies). Those types of things do not in any way shape or form indicate the end of the world. So I suppose we would be at least a little prepared if people decided to go bat shit before 12/21/12. But I doubt that will be an issue on a widespread scale.

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  12. I have no concern about the prophecies. It's hard NOT to because of my ridiculous upbringing but I'm a logical person more than anything else, and I don't think we will ever know when the world will really end. I feel like I have a long future ahead of me, so I try not to focus too much on the what ifs. Great post btw!

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  13. Interesting topic...and I have enjoyed reading the comments. I tend to agree with Linda in New Mexico & Maluszeq. As the date approaches we will probably see more reports and shows about 2012 being the end of the world. But if the media is smart (oxymoron?) they will not feed this monster (2012=Doomsday).
    While there will be many people who will believe it is truth, I feel that there will be even more who won't buy into the 2012/Doomsday theory.

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  14. I do not believe that the end of the world is coming in 2012. I will probably stay in that night because that is a holiday and ritual night, but I'm not hiding. I think most people don't take the end of the world stuff seriously. And most are aware that when it doesn't end you will be punished for the things you did thinking it would.

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  15. I completely agree with you that the self-fulfilling prophecy based on fear will do much more damage than we've expected. I was at first too scared because of the Mayan calendar until I realized it's the time of Kali waking everybody up. Some people can only see her with fear and are determined to self-destruct while others have a healthy fear that if we don't change internally than our external world will die at a faster rate.

    Were you aware that you wrote "raptor" in your first paragraph? What a perfect Freudian slip ;) I kept imagining you were all waiting for a vulture to sweep down and pick up the dead debris. Raptors and Raptures are a lot alike aren't they?

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  16. Hi Danni,
    Having grown up with the "Doomsayers" type of religion, I immediately thought for all the man's claim to being a minister of god he hasn't read or doesn't understand his bible, because it says, NO man knows when the Lord will come period!
    To me it's just using Fear to get people to think about god.
    I want nothing to do with a religion that uses negative energy to get people to comply.
    Paulette

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  17. When I was in Mexico, we talked to many different people about the calendar. They all said the same thing - it was an indication of change; then end of a cycle and the beginning of another one - not the world ending. I definitely believe that.

    I imagine myself and my family will have plenty of supplies, being that the date is only three days before our huge Xmas Eve feast!

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  18. I'm very curious about what the Mayans thought will happen in 2012, but as far as worrying...No. If the world is meant to end one day, it will. If you think about it, this world ends for some one everyday. The only thing you can do is try to live life as regret free as possible, and if you're very lucky you will know that you are/were well and truely loved.
    As far as being prepared for trouble, my husband and I try to live by the "Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst" rule. No one has insurance because they hope to use it one day.

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  19. Wendy, totally meant the raptor spelling. If you check my previous post you'll see why. ;) The rapture as a giant vulture is a pretty clever thought though too!

    Rue, that's how it's been explained to me as well. It's not an ending of the world, but the end of a cycle and the beginning of a new one.

    Thank you everyone for sharing your thoughts and opinions on the subject. It's been interesting to see how similarly a lot of us seem to feel. Keep the discussion up and feel free to keep sharing. :)

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  20. It really bothers me that one person who holds a position of "authority" can lead others into such chaotic thought and behavior. Why isn't he out there spreading more positive light upon the people promoting trust and humanity?

    I do not believe it will be the end of the world and I refuse to waste what precious life I have left worrying about how others behave as I have no control over it. However, as we near the 2012 solstice I will keep my ears, eyes and inner communication wide open for signs of trouble and take action if needed. I have total faith in my spirit guides and never doubt they would let me down. And how am I to know when my time has come anyway? As long as I go out with my pointed toe boots on, I'll be okay with it.

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