Shelbyville Times-Gazette

Mass Hysteria in the Media

Posted Monday, June 30, 2008, at 10:45 PM
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Remember 1999? Y2K! Computers would cease to function, the whole world would enter uproar, and the end of the world had begun. Well, the new millennium came and went without any glitches or Armageddon. And now, 8 years later we've began our new spin on "The End"- 2012.

Since the beginning of time there has been the speculation about the end. In every quarter century through out history there has been some speculation about the end of the world-and obviously we're still here. The biggest proving factor behind the 2012 theory is the end of the Mayan calendar. Here is the big mistake: the Mayans use a different notation than we do. The Mayans' was more similar to the odometer of a car. 12-21-2012 in our notation is actually 13.0.0.0.0 to the Mayans-noting the end of the "Great Cycle." All that this means is that December 13, 2012, will be the first day of the new "Great Cycle" or 0.0.0.0.0, just like when your odometer rolls back over to 0. Here is the truth- when people want to believe a lie, they will believe almost any lie.

Martin Luther in the 16th century believed that Christ would return within 40 years. Some have theorized that the papacy came to power in 538AD, and applying the year-day method to Revelations 13 (1260 days), concluded that the end of the world would be in 1798. Michael John Rood, a messianic rabbi, was teaching dogmatically that the "Day of the Lord," based on his interpretations of Revelations would commence on September 11, 1999. There was even a whole religion formed over this theory. The Millerites believed that the world would end in October of 1843-they were disappointed. These are just a few of the enormous number of theories that have surfaced over the years about the end of times. The conclusion is- we're still here.

As for the theorist who believe in the alignment of the planets and the sun and the polar forces- in May of 2000 the Sun and Earth came into alignment with Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. This alignment of the Sun with the planets could shift the Earth's poles triggering earthquakes, tidal waves, volcanoes, and inevitably the crash of the stock market. Mistake me if I'm wrong but I don't remember this happening. These planets also came into alignment in 1962, 1982, and about every twenty years before that.

Today's media is poking at the subject more than ever with movies like Ronald Emmerich's "2012" (to be released in 2009), and "I Am Legend" and the countless number of websites seemingly glorifying the event. Even movies like "The Happening" seem to cast a foreboding shadow over society.

The reality is we try so hard to justify what we don't understand. Setting a date for our ultimate death makes us feel better about the waiting as we live and never knowing when our entire world might just stop. The Bible states that not even the Angels in Heaven will know the date, but we (the arrogant) human race think that we can take our miniscule cask of knowledge and spread our theories as the cold blooded truth. Perhaps our fear comes from the way we live as a society. Our decreasing morals and our quickness to look for answers within ourselves is a road to our own destruction. It is time that we stop predicting the future, straighten our lives out, and just live.

Comments
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Ashley,

You have a very good head on your shoulders and have a very mature outlook on life. I love your last line, it is very, very true.

-- Posted by Sharon22 on Mon, Jun 30, 2008, at 11:14 PM

I thought that "I am Legend" was about a botched cure for cancer with a side-effect that caused humans to basically evolve to some sort of super-athletic zombie -- that is of course if they didn't die in the process.

I've seen the hour-long show in The History Channel about 2012, which also touches on what the Chinese believe and "The Box" that scans the Internet to prove theories. It's kind of scary if you buy into it but I for one quit fearing death long ago.

-- Posted by Parker on Tue, Jul 1, 2008, at 12:03 AM

Yes "I Am Legend" is about the virus, however, it takes place in the year 2012 in the movie.

-- Posted by reed_ashley on Tue, Jul 1, 2008, at 12:08 AM

Nice read, Wish someone else on the blog would get it through their thick skull; He seems to pontificate on it. Thanks for your insight and how alot of people really step back and think it through.

-- Posted by Evil Monkey on Tue, Jul 1, 2008, at 7:00 AM

I dislike the "endtimes" or "Prepare to Meet Thy Doom" mindset because it goes against that last line.

("It is time that we stop predicting the future, straighten our lives out, and just live.")

We can wind up doing the right thing for the wrong reasons and cheating ourselves of a lot of good in the process.

That kind of thinking prompts us to study for tests instead of the joy of learning.

We keep our homes tidy and our larders full for "company" rather than ourselves.

We can even run on platforms that will get votes rather than serve the constituents.

There is a golden mean between living in the now with no thought for the future and obsessing so much about tomorrow that we lose sight of today.

One way of constructing a good future is creating a present that works and gets better over time.

When we improve ourselves for our own benefit,we don't have to check to see if others have witnessed our behavior.

We don't have to wonder how to act in a scenario where selfishness would be rewarded and righteousness condemned.

When we keep ourselves spiritually,physically,mentally,financially and ecologically fit,we minimize potential problems,we are better prepared for the ones we can't elude and we have a higher standard of living as we go.

We don't have to worry about our efforts going to waste if the best or worst don't occur on schedule.

We have all the rewards of anticipating what comes next without dread or thinking we're entitled to compensation because we missed out on being stupid.

People can choose to put off rational living until the last minute because it seems bland and constrictive or they can embrace it at the first opportunity because any time they waste is that much contentment they're denied.

-- Posted by quantumcat on Tue, Jul 1, 2008, at 7:47 AM

That was wonderful!!!! I enjoyed that so much...You did not say that if you love someone that I believe is wrong, then you are going to hell, or if you do not go to chruch you do not believe and you are going to hell...etc....etc...etc....You just said that you need to straighten out your lives and live it...Wonderful...Thank You for putting it that way and not putting other people down....I must say this is the best one yet....I sat here with my cup of coffee and really enjoyed this one..I believe you will help people without judging them...That is a wonderful way to live your life....Keep up the good work....

-- Posted by rebelrose on Tue, Jul 1, 2008, at 8:02 AM

AMEN!

-- Posted by quantumcat on Tue, Jul 1, 2008, at 8:31 AM

I like your blog. And I totally believe that God is the only one that knows if and when this world is going to end. You seem to be very level headed about this topic and very understanding! And you make some interesting points! I for one hope that this world ends long after I have lived to be an old woman with at least 50 years of happy marriage and a few grandkids! I don't want it to end any time soon!!

-- Posted by candasons07 on Tue, Jul 1, 2008, at 8:33 AM

I agree with alot that you have said. I find it hard to understand, as a christian and student of the Bible, why 2012 should even matter at all. Like you said, not even the angels will know. I believe we should live our lives like there is no tommorow, because tommorow is not promised to us.

-- Posted by greasemonkey on Tue, Jul 1, 2008, at 9:21 AM

Ashley I loved the blog entry! :)

-- Posted by Raven Shonski on Tue, Jul 1, 2008, at 9:42 AM

Thank you guys for the input! I was really excited about writing this one!

-- Posted by reed_ashley on Tue, Jul 1, 2008, at 10:17 AM

Amazing, a blog on this topic would usually bring 'em out of the woodwork. Well written.

I hope your career includes the written word. Might I also say that your are a credit to your teachers and mentors.

-- Posted by stevemills on Tue, Jul 1, 2008, at 10:25 AM

reed_ashley, I also enjoyed your post. I especially liked the references to the nature of people needing to know more than we ever could be in the position of knowing throughout our history. If you dont mind, I would like to push you a little further on that point. Not to be offensive as I do not disagree, but just to get an idea of your deeper meaning.

Why do you think we need to know. I do agree that it is evident that we do have the need, I am just curious as to what you believe could be the motivation for that basic desire to explain what cannot be explained by us.

Also your comment about our "miniscule cask of knowledge and spread our theories as the cold blooded truth" really sticks out in my mind and makes me want to ask you: Which theories are you referring to specifically? Are you only addressing the doomsday theories, or are you taking it to the point of knowledge in general? How do we know what we know, if in reality we do know anything at all? Thanks for another great subject.

-- Posted by memyselfi on Tue, Jul 1, 2008, at 12:32 PM

Memyselfi,

Here's the catch, I think we need to not know. To stop trying to understand and just accept and believe. And not only concerning doomsdays thoeries but just knowlege in general. The Bible states that he who thinks he knows everything knows nothing-and that we gain knowledge thru the spirit of truth. My person beliefs, as I am a Chrisitan, rest on those words. A verse that I find very powerful in situations like this is John 16:12- "I have yet many things to tell you, but you cannot bear them yet." One day, we will know every answer, and we can rejoice in that knowledge granted to us by the Spirit of Truth, but until then we must accept that it is not our place to find the answers for ourselves. The closest thing to our fulfillment of knowledge that we can find in the world would be by studying to Word of God.

-- Posted by reed_ashley on Tue, Jul 1, 2008, at 12:52 PM

Even if we were told everything,we might not "get" it.

(I'm still working on the 3 R's.)

We're probably given knowledge and responsibility in proportion to our ability to use them wisely.

-- Posted by quantumcat on Tue, Jul 1, 2008, at 1:29 PM

Outstanding article. Ashley, give yourself numerous kudos, and lots of pats on the back. Well thought out and well written. You do us proud.

-- Posted by cherokee2 on Tue, Jul 1, 2008, at 2:37 PM

Excellent, Ashley. Astute post on a topic that has induced much hand-wringing.

My theory: The end will come in the 2112! That's when a race of "gifted mans" will arise from another planet with "hungry hearts and open minds" to reclaim Earth for their own. I heard this from some guy who found a guitar in a cave.

-- Posted by nmonajjem on Tue, Jul 1, 2008, at 3:05 PM

Good thinking Ashley. You seem to understand one poignant principle better than many of your seniors. Man has never been good at understanding prophecies. Our contemporaries are no better than our predecessors.

If a person is dedicated to living an acceptable live in God's eyes, then knowing when the end will be is insignificant. Some folks get bogged down in minutia while missing the real point of existence.

You go girl, you rock!

-- Posted by dmcg on Tue, Jul 1, 2008, at 7:27 PM

I wonder why Michael, Jesse, and Parkerbrothers aren't ripping this blog apart??? Hmm, and Michael has his version of 2012 in at least 6 of his own blogs... LOL.

Ashley, great blog!

-- Posted by nascarfanatic on Tue, Jul 1, 2008, at 7:47 PM

An excellent blog Ashley. Many times, we(Americans) are so busy trying to get more, do more, have more, that we lose sight on the real important things in life.

-- Posted by Chef Boy R.D. on Wed, Jul 2, 2008, at 7:12 PM

Wow that is really deep for such a young lady! Keep up the goos work!

-- Posted by MSK on Thu, Jul 3, 2008, at 1:36 PM

I have no reason to rip it apart , it his her point of view.

We all have our own , we all reach people a different way.

Some you can use sugar and spice and they will follow and some take a knock on the head.

-- Posted by michaelbell on Thu, Jul 3, 2008, at 5:47 PM

Nice blog... :)

-- Posted by darrick_04 on Fri, Jul 4, 2008, at 10:32 AM