Doomsday

Psychology is not something for which I have a particularly high respect. Still, there are often instances where it holds a certain interest. The upcoming 'end' of the Mayan calendar in 2012 is one of them.

It seems that many folks expect the world to end on December 21st of that year. Yet many Mayan scholars say that it is merely the end of a 394 year cycle which they used in their calendars. It is, further, mere coincidence that a few unusual or rare astronomical events take place at or around that time.

Yet people remain fascinated that the end of the world may actually be approaching, based on these 'signs'. Why such a hang up on when the world will end?

Fear, no doubt, plays a huge part, and we're not talking about the simple Christian fear about sins. Few people want to die, because they fear losing their life, or they fear missing out on something if this is the only chance we get at any sort of happiness. Some, perhaps, simply need a disaster on the horizon for whatever odd reason: they get a rush out of it, or can use it to bring attention upon themselves.

Almost everyone likes the spectacular, and that likely hits the nail on the head. For the world to end so soon in front of us is of tremendous, immediate importance to anyone expecting or hoping to lead long and full lives.

Such disappointment. It kind of takes the wind out of saving the whales, doesn't it?