Ever since the beginning, people have been talking about the end.
Every now and then, there is a new apocalypse that faces the Earth. In 2000, groups it was the end of the world. There was also a fear that June 6, 2006 — 06/06/06 — would bring about the rise of Lucifer and an Armageddon would begin. Both those dates went by with relatively little changes.
“Apocalypsism is a common religious theme,” said David Tabb Stewart, a Cal State Long Beach assistant professor of Ancient Near East religious studies. “It’s a compliment to the stories of creation.”
The year 2012 marks the end of the baktun cycle of the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar. This moves the world into the 14th baktun and out of the 13th baktun — the old world ends and a new one begins.
This process is otherwise known as the start of a new (Mayan?) calendar year, but like most calendar-based phenomena, there are doubts to its credibility.
“2012 is supposedly when the Mayan calendar ends along with everything else,” said Diana Reyes, an alumna who graduated with a public policy degree. “I don’t necessarily agree with that.”
The possibility of a doomsday event has caused different people to act in different ways throughout history.
“In the year 1000 there was a prediction of Christ’s return,” Stewart said. “It was kind of a Y1K.”
There was a group that predicted Christ’s return in the 1840s — the people all gathered around and nothing happened. They claimed they got the calendar equations wrong, met up a few months later and, once again, nothing happened, Stewart said.
Despite the hype and a few dozen books on the subject, some still remained unconcerned with the possible apocalypse.
“I don’t really care that much,” said Mike Phe, a freshman aerospace engineering major. “If something happens, fine. If not, whatever.”
While doubters shrug off the hype, others are looking to see what happens.
“I’m not exactly sure if the world’s going to end,” said sophomore graphic design major Jeremy Kanjanapangka, “but I would like something interesting to happen.”
Though the argument continues about the unknown future, some are already making preparations for 2012.
“My friend is having an end-of-the-world party; I’m not excited about the prospect,” undeclared freshman Iavana Burgos said. “There’s a movie coming out about [2012]; I think using the event for commercial gain is wrong.”
As the possible phenomenon grows in the public consciousness, it is also a growing theme in the film industry.
Scheduled for release on Nov. 13, or Friday the 13th, “2012,” directed by Roland Emmerich of “Independence Day,” “Godzilla” and “The Day After Tomorrow,” will center around a global event that will bring about the end of the world. The film, starring John Cusack and Woody Harrelson, focuses on the survivors of the event banding together to survive. So far, only a cryptic movie trailer has been released.
“If the Earth makes it to Y3K, I’m sure we’re going to have a repeat of all this,” Stewart said.
Other events in 2012
- Jan. 31: 433 Eros, the second largest near-Earth object, will pass by Earth
- Feb. 5: Super Bowl XLVI
- May 4: “The Avengers” movie opens in theaters.
- May 20: Solar Eclipse
- May 30: “Puss in Boots: Origin of an Ogre Killer” released in theaters
- July 27: Olympics begin in London
- August 12: Olympics end
- Nov. 6: U.S. presidential elections
- December: Sequel to “The Hobbit” (Part 1 is scheduled for release in December 2011 )
- Dec. 21: Mayan calendar resets
- Dec. 23: Alternate date for resetting of Mayan calendar