Eschatology (from the Greek eschatos meaning "last" and -logy meaning "the study of", first used in English around 1550. is a part of theology, philosophy, and futurology concerned with what are believed to be the final events in history, or the ultimate destiny of humanity, commonly referred to as the end of the world. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as "concerned with ‘the four last things: death, judgement, heaven, and hell’".
While in mysticism the phrase refers metaphorically to the end of ordinary reality and reunion with the Divine, in many traditional religions it is taught as an actual future event prophesied in sacred texts or folklore. More broadly, eschatology may encompass related concepts such as the Messiah or Messianic Age, the end time, and the end of days.
History is often seen as being divided into "ages", an age being a period of time when certain realities are present. An age may come to an end and be replaced by a new age where different realities are present. This transition from one age to another is often the subject of eschatological discussion. So, instead of "the end of the world" we may speak of "the end of the age" and be referring to the end of "life as we know it" and the beginning of a new reality. Indeed, most apocalyptic literature (and movies) do not deal with the "end of time" but rather with the end of a certain period of time, the end of life as it is now, and the beginning of a new period of time. It is usually a crisis that brings an end to current reality and ushers in a new way of living / thinking / being. This crisis may take the form of the intervention of a deity in history, a war, a change in the environment or the reaching of a new level of consciousness. If a better world results, we say it is "utopian". If a worse, it is "dystopian."
Eschatologies vary as to their degree of optimism or pessimism about the future (indeed, the same future may be utopian for some and dystopic for others - "heaven and hell" for example).
Most modern eschatology and apocalypticism, both religious and secular, involves the violent disruption or destruction of the world, whereas Christian and Jewish eschatologies view the end times as the consummation or perfection of God's creation of the world. For example, according to ancient Hebrew belief, life takes a linear (and not cyclical) path; the world began with God and is constantly headed toward God’s final goal for creation.
Empirical and Rationalist based
More recently, many involved in futures studies and transhumanism have noted the accelerating rate of scientific progress and anticipate a technological singularity in the 21st century that would profoundly and unpredictably change the course of human history, and resulting in Homo sapiens no longer being the dominant life form on earth, if the species survives at all. The time estimate for the occurrence of the technological singularity has been approximated to be about the year 2030.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eschatology
Bahá'í eschatology In Bahá'í belief, creation does not have a beginning nor end. Instead the eschatology of other religions is viewed as symbolic. In Bahá'í belief, human time is marked by a series of progressive revelations in which successive messengers or prophets come from God.
Brahma Kumari eschatology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahma_Kumaris_Beliefs
Buddhist eschatology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_eschatology
Christian eschatology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_eschatological_views
Hindu eschatology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_eschatology
Islamic eschatology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_eschatology
Jewish eschatology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_eschatology
Zoroastrian eschatology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrian_eschatology
In other words 2012 belongs under the realm of New Age which is influenced by Theosophy, spiritualism, occult, tarot, astrology etc. External influences. "Eye of Horus", Christ grids, Spirals, planetary alignments, Ancient Prophecies and Hopi Prophecies etc. are sensationalistic in nature and New Age in context.
New Thought, on the other hand, teaches that we draw strength and wisdom from God by looking within ourselves. The Christ within, father within.
2011 and 2012 are looking better and better.
“Few cross the river of time and are able to reach non-being. Most of them run up and down only on this side of the river. But those who when they know the law follow the path of the law, they shall reach the other shore and go beyond the realm of death. "
~Horace
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