The 2012 Theory

Many of the questions we received at our recent God and science forum don’t have much to do with science so they aren’t on the docket to be answered. Although this next question fits the “non-science” criteria, I thought it deserved some attention anyway because it can be seen as remotely scientific in nature.

How should Christians regard things such as the Mayan calendar? What are your thoughts on the 2012 theory?

To be honest, although this theory based largely on the Mayan calendar has many scientific elements to it, this is more a question about religion than science. Because the final cycle of the Mesoamerican long count calendar ends in December of the year 2012, and because of some strange things set to happen in our solar system around the same time, many believe that the year 2012 will either bring the end of the world, or will do the opposite, and bring some massive level of advancement to the human race.

The reality is this. Most of the thoughts brought forth in the various 2012 theories are more metaphysical than scientific – having their roots in the New Age movement, and scientists are downplaying the events causing change in the solar system of that year as fairly normal and harmless occurrences (normal except for the extreme rarity in which they occur, every 225 million years or so). If you’re looking for extensive info on this theory and all it entails simply Google “2012”. But as far as how we as Christians should regard this theory, I say not at all.