It’s interesting to think that there are multiple theories floating around about the end times. The current thought is that the earth will end May 21, 2011 and God will bring his faithful followers home in the Rapture. This contradicts the assumption that the Mayan calendar predicts the world will end on December 21, 2012.

While Harold Camping has arrived at his date through his version of mathematical calculations based on the bible. Those believing the Mayan calendar may have a bit more weight behind their predictions. The Mayan date is arrived at based on their long count calendar which tracked 5,000 years and then resets to year zero. It will reset on December 21, 2012 after 5,126 years.

It is also the day the Sun finds itself aligned with the center of the Milky Way for the first time in 26,000 years. It is anticipated that any energy the Earth may derive from the center of the galaxy will be disrupted on 12/21/12 at 11:11p.m. Universal Time. Some believe we will be cut off from energy emanating from a black hole thought to be the galaxy's beating heart. This, they say, will cause an upheaval with devasting results. Either Earth will be wiped out completely or it will cause positive physical or spiritual transformations among its inhabitants.

“It was a huge celebration to make it to the end of a cycle” says Sandra Noble, executive director of the Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies.  To consider the reset date to be apocalyptic she says “is a complete fabrication and a chance for people to cash in.”  

She is not alone in believing that those perpetuating this theory are operating from some pseudoscience. Astronomers have debunked the prophecy based on simple astronomical observations. 

What if they are wrong?