It is worrying to think that life on Earth may not exist as we know it, beyond December 21st 2012. Most people will challenge this theory, yet there are many who are willing to believe in at least one of the various prophecies which show some connection with 2012 and a catastrophic occurrence which will forever alter the course of humanity.
Prophecies from Nostradamus, the Hopi Indians of North America, and the Maya of Central America are believed to be linked with this date. And these prophecies are being interpreted in such a way that it might be wise to find somewhere deep underground to hole up for on that very day!
Doomsday theories abound in historical literature. Indeed, in fringe religious cults, the notion of a doomsday event seems to be a cornerstone of the belief systems. Even in mainstream faiths, an end to the current system of things, or humanity’s continued progression on the planet, is seen as inevitable.
In fact, most world religions, when thoroughly researched, show some form of acknowledgment of a previous reset to life on Earth: the Great Flood, or something like it. The idea that the elements were used to selectively start again on the planet is one which, if we think about it, is not completely unreasonable.
Most scientists would agree that the dinosaurs were wiped out in some sort of (comparatively fast) fashion. Was this an impact from a celestial body, such as a comet or meteorite of vast size? Or perhaps extreme volcanic activity, or a flood of some measure?
Theories about an end to life on the planet, or a substantial wiping out of most of the Earth’s population, will include these plus other doomsday scenarios. Of note, too should be man-made disasters, such as the eventualities of global warming, thermonuclear war, or overpopulation, starvation, and a breakdown of public law and order.
But what about the possibility (however remote), of alien lifeforms deciding to invade the planet, or at least show up on the lawn of the White House, as it were? Scientists this week have managed to discover tens of planets orbiting neighboring star systems which, they concede, could support life in ideal ways like our own planetary home. And this, they say, is merely the start to what they will find. To think that we are alone in the universe now, is seemingly less likely than the opposite.
Were aliens of some intelligence to make themselves known to us, without any doubt whatsoever would certainly be a life-altering effect. Religious belief systems without the capacity to cater for life other than our own might be thrown into turmoil. And given the inevitable abandonment of hope in organised faiths, would this lead to a time of disorder and anarchy on Earth?
All of these possibilities, and in fact many others, could be responsible for ratifying the prophetic words of the Maya, the Hopi, and Nostradamus.
Is it so unreasonable to think that life will end at some point on this planet? Whether that is in the next 2.5 years or so, or several millenia, is an outcome of such importance that we can no longer choose to ignore its potential.