End of the World in 2012
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Our never ending obsession with the apocalypse
Fears that the world will end on 21 December are rife, despite there being no evidence. So, why are we so fixated with end of the world theories?
It’s only a very recent, very wrong and arguably very wilful misinterpretation of the ancient Mayan calendar to conclude it ends on 21 December 2012. And that even if their “long count” does stop then, there’s no more reason to think it will immediately lead to a planet-wide liquidation sale than if your desk calendar reaches the end of the year before you’ve bought a new one.
Even Nasa – who ought to have plenty on their hands looking for traces of life on Mars – have weighed in to apply logical to the eschatological by publishing Beyond 2012: Why the World Won’t End. There’s no need to recap here on the details of their argument – suffice to say that after reading it only the most hardcore conspiracy nut would still have worries about an upcoming end of everything. The more interesting question – at least for me – is why so many, so often, are drawn to these tales of impending destruction? Why do we seem to want it to be the end of days, and to have the apocalypse, now?
The doom-mongers are only around to – probably – be wrong about the world ending on 21 December this year, because they’d already been wrong about it ending in 2003, when the entirely fictional planet Nibiru was first supposed to collide with us. And wrong about it ending on 31 December 1999 simply because of an arbitrary change of date that wasn’t even the end of the millennium. And wrong about it ending on at least six other dates in the 1990s. And also wrong about it ending at least two or three times every single decade until at least the 1840s, with evidence of scores of other more sporadic global false alarms stretching right back to ancient Rome...
BBC Future: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20121205-our-endless-apocalypse-obsession![](\"http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/wwfuture/624_351/images/live/p0/12/5r/p0125rlc.jpg\")
http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/wwfuture/624_351/images/live/p0/12/5r/p0125rlc.jpg\">
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This is how I feel about the End of the world . Extracted from:
【圣严法师开示精选】就像睡了一觉
面对自己的死亡是很重要的人生课题，每个人都知道自己一定会死，可是当大限来时，却往往不希望真的就这样死掉。
其实死亡是非常自然的事，就好像早上起床、晚上睡觉一样正常，至于睡着以后还有没有明天、有没有明年，全部都不管，只要把它当成一个过程的结束就好。
人之所以恐惧死亡，主要是因为心里放不下——放不下他爱恋的人、放不下他看重的事；愈是这样，就愈有可能死得快一点，因为放不下，造成体能消耗更多、忧虑也增加更多，如此就会影响身心的整体健康。
当自知非死不可时，一切都要放下，别再牵牵挂挂，因为世间一切的事物都只是你临时拥有的，不可能永远占有；身体是这样，更何况是身外之物呢？
怕生死就离不开生死。
Google translated:
Sheng Yen Master Discovery Featured] like sleep
To face his own death is a very important life issues, everyone knows they will die, but when the deadline came, but often do not want to really die this way.
In fact, death is a very natural thing, like get up in the morning, going to sleep at night as normal As to fall asleep after there is no tomorrow, not next year, all regardless of it as the end of a process like.
The reason why people fear death, because the heart cannot let go - cannot let go of his love for the people, cannot let go of the things he values; more so, the more likely to die a little faster, because does not fit, caused by physical exertion more worries add more, so it will affect the overall health of the body and mind.
Put Everything down, When knowing death is near, stop worrying about because the world all the things are just temporary, and can not always occupy; body is so, not to mention the thing apart?
Life and death are unseparated… -
No worries. Just make everyday the best it can be and there will be no regrets.
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Why worry about world ending? If it ends, it ends.
There’s more to worry about if the world does not end.
Which group of workers are going on strike? Is the bus fare going to go up? When will COE come down? What is the new English syllabus like? Tuition or no tuition? IP or ‘O’ Level? Childcare or no childcare? … -
world won't end ... yet
dun let this 21 Dec NOT True stuff upset you
life still goes on, as usual ... After 21 Dec.
continue to worry about 2013 PSLE, about the new change of format to English PSLE paper for P4s next yr, those sitting for 2013 O level, A level, fighting for entry places into competitive university faculty, etc ...
besides bus / MRT/ taxi fare going to rise, what other impt basic necessity industry sector fare costs (besides transport) going to rise in near future ?
many fellow Singaporeans already out of job ... -
phtthp:
Out of job, no money, go back to barter trade...start thinking what you can do that others cannot and start exchanging, like giving tuition to your neighbour's kids while she cooks extra dinner portion for your family....world won't end ... yet
dun let this 21 Dec NOT True stuff upset you
life still goes on, as usual ... After 21 Dec.
continue to worry about 2013 PSLE, about the new change of format to English PSLE paper for P4s next yr, those sitting for 2013 O level, A level, fighting for entry places into competitive university faculty, etc ...
besides bus / MRT/ taxi fare going to rise, what other impt basic necessity industry sector fare costs (besides transport) going to rise in near future ?
many fellow Singaporeans already out of job ... -
phtthp:
Out of job, no money, go back to barter trade...start thinking what you can do that others cannot and start exchanging, like giving tuition to your neighbour's kids while she cooks extra dinner portion for your family....world won't end ... yet
dun let this 21 Dec NOT True stuff upset you
life still goes on, as usual ... After 21 Dec.
continue to worry about 2013 PSLE, about the new change of format to English PSLE paper for P4s next yr, those sitting for 2013 O level, A level, fighting for entry places into competitive university faculty, etc ...
besides bus / MRT/ taxi fare going to rise, what other impt basic necessity industry sector fare costs (besides transport) going to rise in near future ?
many fellow Singaporeans already out of job ... -
some folks in china and malaysia are clearing out their supermarts for candles
and canned food in anticipation. some companies even give doomsday leave to their staff
to spend time with their loved ones… -
Don’t worry, Be happy. If you still worry that you can’t celebrate Christmas this year, then celebrate in advance, on 20th Dec. If the world does not end on 21st Dec 2012, then we have another reason to celebrate on 24th Dec.
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mummy so kiasu:
Don't worry, Be happy. If you still worry that you can't celebrate Christmas this year, then celebrate in advance, on 20th Dec. If the world does not end on 21st Dec 2012, then we have another reason to celebrate on 24th Dec.
LOL. That's a great perspective! Thanks for the inspiration.
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