Nostradamus 2012

[smokey the elder]

My knock on prophecy is that it's basically useless. You always hear after the fact. We'll know in just under 4 years if this is a potentially "forewarned is forearmed" situation. There does seem to be a disproportionate amount of trouble, which, IMO, has one root cause: "too many people, not enough planet", as the late great Robert Heinlein wrote.

[Edwina's Secretary]

There does seem to be a disproportionate amount of trouble, which, IMO, has one root cause: "too many people, not enough planet", as the late great Robert Heinlein wrote.

Is it the truth! I believe "passing out birth control with the communion wafers" would go a long way to easing the troubles that afflict us!

[JenBKR]

In my opinion, things happen when they want to and us mortals have no power to stop it. Worry only leads to stress...and stress related illnesses! I say sit back, have a beer and live life as you need to live it without worrying if the world will end. If it does, what can you do?

Agreed! I don't bother worrying about prophecies, I just live my life.

[pomtzu]

There's nothing I can do about it, so I'm not going to worry about it.

And as long as the topic is "the end of the world as we know it", you should all watch the movie "On the Beach". Very sobering - and all too possible! (or probable).

[momoffuzzyfaces]

I just think it's interesting how so many different people who lived hundreds of years apart hit the same date. And no, I doubt if they had heard of each other.... no tv or news papers then!

I do believe in the Bible prophecies though. They are coming true at a fast pace now, whether anyone choses to believe in them or not. They never give a date though. Don't want everyone jumping on my head about this; it's what I believe and no one can change my mind on this so don't try, ok?

You all are free to believe in what you want to but so am I!

[Medusa]

IMHO, prophecy and prediction are not synonymous. Prophets, if I recall correctly, warned people about their conduct during the present and the consequences of their actions. It wasn't so much future oriented as it was for the present, ie., the time in which they lived. A prediction, on the other hand, is future oriented and anyone can make predictions. Just listen to Sylvia Brown sometime. She makes predictions for the next hundred years or so, knowing that she won't be around when none (or only some) of it comes true. I think Nostradamus was prophesying for his time and not ours, although I can see some similarities but that probably can be said of any era.

[smokey the elder]

I read On the Beach back in high school, over 30 years ago, along with Alas, Babylon. Both of these were post-nuclear war stories, but had completely different endings, as I recall. Humans have survived (as a species) any number of disasters; civilizations have risen and fallen throughout all of recorded history.

What I found interesting is the possible correlation of Dec. 21, 2012 with a Solar conjunction with the center of the Milky Way galaxy. Many of the cultures who had this type of prophecy were adept astronomers, measuring star motions with eye-popping precision. One way this may be read is the human fear of the unknown, "this has never happened before; must be bad". Eclipses, comets, meteor showers were often considered harbingers of disaster, and often appear to correlate. However, there's a rule (from logic?) correlation does not mean causation.

Even though I'm a skeptic, I find the idea of people (who live in linear time for the most part) which have the ability to "peek" very fascinating.

[JenBKR]

I do believe in the Bible prophecies though. They are coming true at a fast pace now, whether anyone choses to believe in them or not. They never give a date though. Don't want everyone jumping on my head about this; it's what I believe and no one can change my mind on this so don't try, ok?

I do too! Not saying that I sit around worrying about it, it's all going to happen with or without my consent but I do believe that a lot of them are coming true.

IMHO, prophecy and prediction are not synonymous. Prophets, if I recall correctly, warned people about their conduct during the present and the consequences of their actions. It wasn't so much future oriented as it was for the present, ie., the time in which they lived. A prediction, on the other hand, is future oriented and anyone can make predictions. Just listen to Sylvia Brown sometime. She makes predictions for the next hundred years or so, knowing that she won't be around when none (or only some) of it comes true. I think Nostradamus was prophesying for his time and not ours, although I can see some similarities but that probably can be said of any era.

hmm, you make a good point...I can see the differences between the two. I like Sylvia Brown...not sure if I believe what she says, but she's interesting. Plus, I heard her say once that there are lots of books in heaven, and I want that to be true!

[RICHARD]

I read On the Beach back in high school, over 30 years ago, along with Alas, Babylon. Both of these were post-nuclear war stories, but had completely different endings, as I recall. Humans have survived (as a species) any number of disasters; civilizations have risen and fallen throughout all of recorded history.

Please stay out of my bookshelf?


Want to read a rocking good end of world tome?

Lucifer's Hammer.

Or a sci fi twist on same story?

Footfall.


Niven and Pournelle wrote both. I go back to each occasionally.

[Medusa]

I do too! Not saying that I sit around worrying about it, it's all going to happen with or without my consent but I do believe that a lot of them are coming true.



hmm, you make a good point...I can see the differences between the two. I like Sylvia Brown...not sure if I believe what she says, but she's interesting. Plus, I heard her say once that there are lots of books in heaven, and I want that to be true!

I don't dislike her but anyone can make a prediction or a comment and occasionally it'll come true. Even a blind squirrel can find a nut now and then. I'm w/Ellie, though; if I'm powerless to do anything about these predictions, then I'm not going to waste my time w/worrying about it. Interesting reading/viewing, though.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

In case anyone is interested: The history channel is showing a program called: The Next Nostradamus. It will be on Sunday night. From what the on line tv guide says, they compare his predictions to ones of a mondern day scientist who uses mathmatics to come up with his therories. Some are supposed to be similar I hear.


As for Sylvia Brown, she told a couple in Missouri that their son who disppeared was dead. He was found alive 9 years later, being held captive by a guy in the area. They found him when the guy kidnapped another child. Both children were rescued.

[Medusa]

As for Sylvia Brown, she told a couple in Missouri that their son who disppeared was dead. He was found alive 9 years later, being held captive by a guy in the area. They found him when the guy kidnapped another child. Both children were rescued.

I'm not surprised. She's a little too glib and cavalier about such subjects for my taste.

[Marigold2]

Most likely the world will end when we blow it to bits with our petty wars over land or our different God or Gods.

[Marigold2]

Is it the truth! I believe "passing out birth control with the communion wafers" would go a long way to easing the troubles that afflict us!

This is a very shocking comment and I agree 100%.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

The History channel is also showing a program about the Myan prophecies tonight. It will be on before the one about Nostradamus. I just think these things are interesting.