2012 - Science or Superstition

As the author points out, a great deal has been written about 2012, and it is sometimes hard to sort the wheat from the chaff. This book, along with the film of the same name, aims to do just this. The underlying agenda is a continuation of the apocalyptic tradition in Western thought, whereby death gives way to rebirth, a new beginning comes out of an end. The Mayan calendar has formed a focus for this movement and conversation about how we relate to each other and the earth. The author steers a middle course in assessing various viewpoints and histories associated with them. In doing so, she draws on a wide variety of sources, explaining the background to the calendar, the idea of world ages in different cultures, scientific indications of past catastrophes and signs of future potential disasters, and a history of what she calls the 2012 meme. The conclusion returns to the idea of human beings discovering their profound inner connection to each other and to the Earth, and refers to Jean Gebser's work on stages of consciousness. There is also an extensive glossary and resources section, which makes the book essential reading for those who would like to get to grips with the phenomenon.