2012 - Any projections on cult and kool-aid

[Doubting Thomas]

A couple weeks ago, a friend & I were talking about the supposed May 21 rapture/earthquake prediction by Harold Camping, and he said he was more likely to believe in the Dec. 21, 2012 doomsday scenario because the Mayans predicted it. I tried explaining to him that scholars on Mayan culture are saying that the Mayan calendar just starts over again, much like how our calendar ends on Dec. 31 and then starts over again. He didn't seem convinced, but I can't help him if he wants to give any credence to a doomsday scenario.

Again, I'm fascinated by the idea of ancient cultures somehow having all this supernatural ability to predict the end of the world or having superior technology, when there's no archaeological evidence that they did.

[Minimalist]

We have a "Christian" neighbor who is 100% convinced that the world is going to end in 2012.

You have a 'christian' neighbor who believes in a Mayan prophecy which isn't even a prophecy? She isn't even a good idiot!

[Doubting Thomas]

Just goes to prove my belief that religious people tend to be more superstitious than those who aren't religious. I guess if you believe in one kind of magic, you'll believe in just about any kind of magic.

[Cinjin]

This is what experts at the History Channel think Jesus looked like. (Based on the Shroud of Turin)

Go Figure ... Well at least he looks middle eastern this time.

"Experts" on the History Channel? The Shroud of Turin has long since been debunked as a medieval
forgery. http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=32322 or
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/doubleissue...shroud.htm

At best, it can show us what someone in the 14th century thought he might have looked like. The
Moors were in Europe then, so at least some Europeans would have an idea what a Middle Eastern
man would generally look like.

First. You're preaching to the choir. I think if Jesus even existed he was probably more likely a con man than a messiah.
Second. I have my substantial doubts about the History Channel as well, but in this case the men who performed the actual scientific forensics on the shroud to reclaim a 3D image were indeed "experts" in their field.
Lastly, the Shroud of Turin is just a dirty old sheet to me. I don't give a shit who's image is on it. However, your statement of it being debunked as a medieval forgery is not entirely accurate. It has never been proven beyond doubt to be a forgery. In all scientific information I've seen - it is indeed an authentic burial shroud, the date of which is either vague or indeterminable. That being said, it definitely has never been proven to be worthy of it's ties to jesus christ.

[downbeatplumb]

Again, I'm fascinated by the idea of ancient cultures somehow having all this supernatural ability to predict the end of the world or having superior technology, when there's no archaeological evidence that they did.

I think is a sort of 'ancestor worship'.

My mother in law thinks that the native americans were the nearest thing to a perfect culture, shes got the drums and plays that infernal chanting all the time.

The truth is he native americans were no better or worse than any other culture.

Her partner believed pyramids had power but lets not go there.

[BethK]

We have a "Christian" neighbor who is 100% convinced that the world is going to end in 2012.

You have a 'christian' neighbor who believes in a Mayan prophecy which isn't even a prophecy? She isn't even a good idiot!

Yep. And she believes that it's "everyone" (including all scientists and world religions), who "agree"
that the world is ending December 21, 2012

I'm not sure if she's plain stupid or playin' stupid. Quite gullible, so it seems.

I have a proposal, directly stolen from Penn & Teller.

If she is sure that the world is going to end on December 21, 2012, I've got a deal.

I'll give her a sum of money - say $2012, right now, to spend on whatever she wants or needs. She
signs a paper or set of papers. In those papers, she transfers ownership of her house, contents, cars, etc.
I don't get possession until December 22, 2012.

That should be a good deal. If the world is SURE to end on December 21, 2012, she gets the money
and I get nothing. If the world doesn't end.... well... I'll have all her stuff and she's on the street. I might
even sell or rent it back to her at market price.

Penn & Teller offer this to anyone on their show for just their home.

The caveat is, that if they're unwilling to go for this, that means they don't really believe it. It's all
make-believe. Okay, I enjoy a good story too, but just call it what it is - FICTION. I just don't consider
the 2012 nonsense to be "good" fiction.... unless you want a good laugh at the whole thing or that
some people actually believe it.

Sure I believe in 2012. It'll come right after midnight December 31, 2011, and just before midnight
January 1, 2013. I might even plan a new years party for 2013.