Tag Archives: Mayan Calendar

Warning about 2012 end-of-world scare

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Okay, I finally received a call from someone trying to scam people out of their money because of the impending end-of-the-world in 2012 as “predicted” by the Mayans. The man called himself Derek and asked if I was ready for the world to end. I said, “Yes,” and out of curiosity let him talk. I listened silently, so he kept asking if I was still there. I guess he had been hung up on a lot. Derek was surprised that I was not fearful and was ready for the end-of-the-world. He eventually got to the scam portion of his pitch and asked me to meet him downtown, presumably to give him some money.

Do not – I repeat – do NOT fall for these scams. These people are playing on everyone’s fears about something that will not happen. How do I know it will not happen? It has not happened so many times before. This list of end-of-world predictions from Wikipedia shows they are truly just “predictions”. These predictions are not truth even though sometimes they lead people into panic or into doing things to harm themselves or others. The Jim Jones massacre in 1978 where 909 people “drank the Kool-Aid” laced with cyanide shows how far this can go.

There is no need to fear. There is no need to panic. Even if by some remote chance, as depicted in the movies 2012 and The Day After Tomorrow, something does happen, you will end up in heaven in the loving arms of God along with all of your family, so why worry?

Do not put your faith in Mayan Indians from thousands of years ago or media that likes to sensationalize stories that increase fear and anxiety, put your faith in the one God who loves you and you will be fine no matter what happens in your life.

Peace be with you!

Love,
Whittle Thinker

Mayans never predicted end of the world

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According to Mayan experts 12/12/2012 is just the end of a 5,126 year cycle of their calendar, not the end of the world. See full Mayans never predicted world to end in 2012: experts story at Reuters.

Do not be afraid. Fear is the most harmful condition on the planet. False rumors like the end of the world only incite anxiety and panic and may even cause bad things to happen. Terrorist and the evening news thrive on fear. The next time you watch the news, listen closely to *where* the incident happened. Most of the time it occurred somewhere else in the state or even across the country, but they make you feel like it happened next door. If you are afraid, take a 30-day “media break”, no watching or reading the news. Use the time to help your neighbors or a local shelter. You will be surprised how your outlook will change.

Note: I try to post only positive news on Whittle Love.

Noah and the Flood (Gen 6-9)

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Best Known Bedtime Story: Noah and the Flood was probably based on a true story about a tsunami that devastated the Mediterranean around 8,000 years ago (see story), but got better after each telling.  It probably went something like this:

DAD: So, that’s how the great flood covered the earth.
KIDS: Wow!  That was a lot of water.  How did the people survive?
DAD: Uh, this man named Noah was saved with his wife, sons, and their wives.
KIDS: How about all the animals?  Wouldn’t they have all died in the flood?
DAD: Uh, Noah saved them too.
KIDS: How did he do that?
DAD: Let see, he put them on a boat.
KIDS: That boat must have been huge to fit all the animals.
DAD: Yes, it was very large, but it didn’t fit ALL the animals just two of each kind.
KIDS: It must have taken a long time to build.  How did Noah know the flood was coming?
DAD: Well, God told him of course.
KIDS: Why did God do such a bad thing and send the flood?
DAD: He was very angry at the bad people.
KIDS: I’m afraid.  Will God wipe out the world again?
DAD: Don’t be afraid. God said He’d never wipe out the earth again. Okay, it’s time for bed.

Additional:

End Days?: Noah and the Flood brings to mind the two tsunamis in Indonesia (2004) and Japan (2011), hurricanes like Katrina (2005) and Ike (2008), Tornadoes like the ones in Alabama and Joplin, Missouri (2011) and earthquakes like in Haiti (2010).

These events make us wonder if these are the end days?  The answer is “NO”. Earthquakes happen somewhere on the planet every day, hurricanes and tornadoes follow regular season patterns, and tsunamis happen periodically as well (see List of Tsunamis).

The earth has not changed, but we have:

  • Over-population makes all these disasters worse.  With larger population centers in harms way of natural disasters, we will continue to see more damage and loss of lives in the near future, but that does not mean the earth is coming to an end.
  • Sensationalized media coverage is probably the biggest reason we feel like these are the end times.  Fifty years ago, most people never knew when a disaster struck Southeast Asia.  Now it feels like it is happening right next door.  Movies like The Day After Tomorrow and 2012 flash the end of the world right before our eyes.
  • Mayan Calendar 2012: The media’s latest fear device is the Mayan calendar that ends in December 2012.  Now many people believe the end of the world will happen on 12/21/12.  My calendar ends December 31st every year and we’re still around each New Year’s Day.  Of course, I’m not as all-knowing as the Mayans who practiced human sacrifices as offerings to their gods thousands of years ago.

Personally, I think this is irresponsible journalism that is bound to get many people killed. Watch, I am sure the number of suicides will increase as we approach December next year.  I just hope nothing worse … manmade … happens.

There is Always Hope: the best message from Noah and the Flood is that there is always hope.  The story tells us not to give up.  Noah, his family, and the animals were stuck on the ark for 150 days.  I can only imagine how they felt when the first dove returned empty-handed (or beaked) as they looked at their dwindling food.  But, with hope they sent out the second dove that returned with the olive branch.  We must always have hope and continue to try in our daily endeavors.