WLKY Investigates: Mayan Prophecy
May be the End Of the world Coming?
By Steve Burgin/WLKY
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A rogue world hits Earth, the Yellowstone super volcano erupts or even a catastrophic alignment with the Earth, Sunshine and Milky Way, individuals are only a few with the 2012 doomsday scenarios. Most revolve round the Mayan calendar.
One prophecy even says Friday could be the huge day.
Writer Carl Calleman believes the Mayan calendar ends Friday, however the date heard most is Dec. 21, 2012.
Just what, if anything, will take place on that day remains up for debate.
An earthquake and tsunami claimed a large number of lives in Japan, one of the most damaging floods ever before occurred together the Mississippi River along with the worst outbreak of tornadoes in the U.S. in decades killed far more than 540 individuals this 12 months.
Doomsdayers said these are indicators the conclude is around and they have joined a chorus of other folks who think the Maya predicted the day it will come about. Theirs was a civilization that flourished in between 300 to 900 A.D. and at one particular time numbered inside the millions.
“The Maya lived in many diverse international locations, areas of Mexico, all of Guatemala, Belize, components of El Salvador, parts of Honduras,” mentioned College of Kentucky professor Dr. Scott Hutson.
Hutson is undoubtedly an specialist within the Maya. He mentioned they may be generally known as achieved astronomers and mathematicians.
“A great deal of experts point out the Maya understood the cycles with the Moon and Venus to some better degree of accuracy than any person in Europe at the time to day one,500 several years back,” Hutson.
Important temples and monuments had been aligned based on the actions of celestial bodies. Expertise in the heavens meant electricity.
“Astrology was a technique by which the kings could acquire authority,” Hutson mentioned.
For many the only interest in the Maya is their extended count calendar which, after a more than 5,100 year cycle, ends on Dec. 21, 2012.
“The Egyptians, the Aztecs, the Mayans, Hopi Indians, they have all looked for the sky and observed this prediction coming,” explained Web designer John Kehne.
For that previous six years, Kehne, who lives just exterior Louisville, has maintained what he referred to as the "official site for 2012.” It averages about 5 million web page views a month and includes data on survival.
“Some people will say, ‘He's just in it to create a buck.’ It didn't start off like that. It absolutely was only a pastime,” Kehne stated.
Kehne stated folks send him all kinds of 2012 related products. Hundreds of publications are already created concerning the Maya prophecy, there is a 2012 beer, medallions, seeds packaged for doomsday, along with a bottle of Crystal Head vodka endorsed by actor-comedian Dan Aykroyd.
“I never know if we ought to be scared to loss of life. I believe we must be worried much, just like the weatherman who says conditions are right. Conditions are extremely proper,” Kehne stated.
California-based Vivos is constructing survival communities. Vivos explained 1 will likely be in Indiana, but the firm will not likely say wherever. The cost from the Hoosier shelter is $35,000 per particular person.
Believing In 2012 Prophecy
Why have countless set so much into 2012 prophecy? Dr. Timothy Paul Jones teaches with the Southern Baptist Seminary.
“Truth be informed, we like to live underneath the illusion in all areas of our life, we prefer to know what is going to occur,” Jones explained.
Christian broadcaster Harold Camping stated the world would end on May 21, 2011. When it didn't occur, he recalculated producing the end Oct. 21, 2011.
“There have already been people in every single age, every single era of Christianity specifically, that have noticed the events of their time and mentioned the stop is coming,” Jones explained.
Hutson factors out the Maya's long-count calendar explained absolutely nothing concerning the stop of generation.
“What are the conditions in our up to date culture that will result in a person to believe they must bunker on their own for this particular date that we genuinely don't have any expertise about from your historical Maya,” Hutson stated.
Protected In Kentucky?
Journalist Lawrence Joseph forecasts widespread catastrophe. He advised a central Kentucky community would be the most secure spot to ride out the storm. Joseph suggested Berea embodies Mayan values.
Berea true estate agent Phil Malicote explained he’s received inquiries.
“Some critical, some lighthearted. I have had some nearby men and women get in touch with and lower up about this, but there have been some critical calls as well,” Malicote stated.
Other individuals believe it really is a modest city in France. It is not a shelter, but some imagine a sacred mountain in southwestern France will offer refuge.
The two hundred citizens of Bucharach dread hundreds will descend on their modest city.
Dispelling The Prophecy
But, will be the planet actually in peril?
“The calendar does not predict. The calendar just counts,” said Southwestern College professor Mark Van Stone.
Van Stone is surely an expert on Maya hieroglyphs. He has analyzed their encryptions and created a ebook about them.
“I do know We have looked extremely challenging for evidence they stated a thing about an finish or resetting with the calendar,” Van Stone mentioned.
Dec. 21, 2012 could be the day from the winter season solstice.
“As we go into fall, the sun drops somewhat lower as well as the slot gets a bit more time. Finally the day from the winter season solstice, the slot is out right here,” stated University of Louisville astronomer and physicist John Kielkopf.
Kielkopf served design the Rauch Planetarium within the Belknap Campus. He mentioned there will be improved solar exercise inside the coming months.
“It's very most likely someday in that time frame there'll be considered a solar flare and additional aurora. It is possible to make anything at all you would like out of it, does not have something to perform using the Maya calendar,” Kielkopf said.
Hutson mentioned a large number of texts were inscribed on monuments or painted on ceramic pots.
“Of those 1000s of texts, there is certainly one text that mentions the date 2012. But, we are not confident what it states, almost certainly eroded,” Hutson said.
Doomsdayers contend the Maya prophecy is backed up by ancient oracles and shamans, even tying it for the Bible. Jones is considered a bible myth buster.
“There's not details granted inside the scripture and I feel intentionally so. It really is be prepared in every single age and at each time for once the finish will arrive,” Jones mentioned.
NASA has even gone on report to dispel a number of the doomsday scenarios. The area agency compares the 2012 hysteria to Y2K scare.
