First Post!!!

So I created this blog today... as the subtitle explains, it doesn't actually have anything to do with werewolves, at least not as a central theme. Knowing myself, though, I'm sure that sooner or later I'll end up posting something werewolf-related. 'Til then, you'll have to make do with my random philosophical, religious, and pseudo-scientific speculations about the universe.

So that said, let's talk about 2012. I never actually bought it, and I buy it even less now that I've taken "Collapse of Civilizations" and learned about the Maya's actual beliefs. December 21, 2012 marks the end of a b'aktun, a span of 5,125 years in the Mayan calendar system. A b'aktun had roughly the same significance to the Maya as a millennium does to us, and were the Classic Maya still around, 2012 would be marked by massive sacrifices and rituals. However, there was never any association of this date with the end of the world, and Mayan prophecies actually extend thousands of years into the future. And besides, if the Maya really had such profound insights into the future, why couldn't they avert their own collapse?*

*Admittedly, this might be a flawed question, because if one views prophecy as a form of time travel (e.g., a prophet receiving information as it travels backwards through the past), then successfully averting a foretold event would create a temporal paradox, as it would prevent the original prophecy from ever occurring. See

However, although "Collapse of Civilizations" put the lie to 2012, it ironically made the possibility of imminent apocalypse sound more plausible. The same sociopolitical, economic, and ideological breakdown that has typically preceded collapse in ancient societies, can now be easily seen in our own modern, globalized civilization. Throw in climate change, nuclear proliferation, and resource shortages, and you've got the recipe for some epic sh*t-hitting-fan action.

And 2012 still figures in this in several ways. After watching the movie 2012 - which I definitely recommend for its stunning visuals and heart-racing action - I found myself entertaining the possibility of apocalypse, and what I would do if it came. What major, I asked, would best prepare me to endure a worldwide societal collapse? Film (one of my intended majors) would probably not be terribly useful. Religious Studies might offer more utility in several regards. If, perchance, the collapse started to resemble any existing prophecies, I'd have an advantage in recognizing them and planning accordingly (should I be on the lookout for the Antichrist, Loki, or the demon Kali, for instance?). And, in the event that I survived the fallout, a background in religion could prove useful in creating a new, better world order, and in shaping a system of spirituality that would remain genuinely spiritual (without being twisted into an excuse for violence and bloodshed).

For despite the immense tragedy an apocalypse would entail, and the millions or even billions who would probably perish, it might prove essential to the future of mankind. The Bible* provides a useful example. According to Genesis, the first human civilizations quickly became corrupt and degenerate. The possibility of reform was made impossible by the sheer scale of the problem. But once the Flood came and destroyed civilization, leaving only a few survivors, the prospect of establishing a better society became much easier. In the same way, the sheer size of modern civilization makes it seem extremely unlikely that we can solve its problems before it's too late. In the wake of an apocalypse, however, the lack of an established order would make this task much easier. Assuming the survivors were wise, and capable of learning from society's mistakes, they could build a new civilization insusceptible to such mistakes in the future.

*I don't believe in Biblical infallibility, nor that any other religious text is "perfect" (since all are subject to human error), but they can still provide useful insights.

And yes, I realize I'm a starry-eyed optimist. It probably wouldn't happen that way, but there'd at least be a possibility.

Shifting gears a bit, I've talked to several people about their plans for December 21, 2012. They usually consist of partying. And at first glance, it seems like the perfect excuse for it. If it's the end of the world, there's nothing left to lose, and if not, then partying just makes light of the whole silly scenario, right? This isn't my reasoning. Partying can be fun now and then, but if I actually knew I was going to die soon, I wouldn't want it to be my last activity on Earth. First off, the End of Days would likely be the greatest spectacle of all time; I'd hate to miss it 'cause I was wasted out of my mind. And secondly, I'd rather die in a high state of mind than a low one. "Whatever a man at his end remembers on leaving the body, to that he always goes," says Bhagavad-Gita 8:7, and I tend to believe this. But even if it isn't literally true, to die in the midst of partying seems hardly proper closure to life.

So rather than partying, I intend to make December 21, 2012 a kind of observance. On that day, I will live as though it was my last day on Earth. I will spend time with those whom I love, apologize to all those I have harmed, and confess all feelings I have kept hidden from anyone. I will read my favorite books, watch my favorite movies, and listen to my favorite music. I will soak in the beauty of nature, and contemplate its origins. I will pray and meditate and - when the day is over - I will give thanks for all that life has given me.

That way, when death actually does come, its prospect may seem less terrifying, for I will know how to react. And, in the unlikely event that December 21, 2012 really IS the end of the world, at least I'll die without regrets.