govern point

There is bunch of stuff out there about the Mayan – architects, astronomers, artisans and time keepers.  What do I mean about time keepers?  Well they calculated the duration of a year when most folks couldn’t even fathom what a year was or that the Earth actually revolved around the Sun.  These calculations were more precise than any Greek or philosopher ever contemplated. They could even predict eclipses, which is fairly advanced as well.

Not only were they scientists, they were sorta mystics/astrologist/future tellers who predicted when their civilization would be overrun by foreigners sailing in from other lands. They predicted world wars and other stuff, Nastrodamus of the Mesoamerica, I guess you could say. So What’s up with the 2012 thing?

The facts are they never really predicted ANYTHING about 2012. Of course if the Spaniards would have left some books we might have more to go on, but they were notoriously anti-book people I guess, burning just about everything.  There were some scripture left, but not that many.  If the book left were the only one that existed it would be one heck of a library check out system and waiting list.

In many ways 2012 basically is an open question. So with no real prediction from the Mayans on why the calendar ends on 12/20/2012 other folks are stepping in to give us there opinions.  So what ideas are out there?

• New Age: The day the inner cosmos is connected to the divine outer cosmos
• Cults: Things are going to end, so you might as well join our group and give us your money
• Doom People: This stuff is going to end and end big, apolcolyptic big.

So in the abscense of writings, folks are just making stuff up, but if you think about some of the core Mayan believes of time, mainly that it is circular if might just mean we start over in a different cycle.  There are several great cycles:

• First Cycle Ends with a big Jaguar eating everyone
• The Second ends in Air
• The Third Cycle in Fire – Think big asteroid?
• The Fourth in Flood – Ice age retreats and Covers earth with Water?
• The Fifth in Earthquakes – Where we are arguably now

The earthquake think is speculative, but this is what some scholars think.  What ever you think is your own choice, but this just might not be anything of note, just another day.

The first thing we should center on is the concepts which are evolution from a definition of the word evolution:

ev⋅o⋅lu⋅tion [ev-uh-loo-shuhn or, especially Brit., ee-vuh-] –noun

1. any process of formation or growth; development: the evolution of a language; the evolution of the airplane.
2. a product of such development; something evolved: The exploration of space is the evolution of decades of research.
3. Biology. change in the gene pool of a population from generation to generation by such processes as mutation, natural selection, and genetic drift.
4. a process of gradual, peaceful, progressive change or development, as in social or economic structure or institutions.
5. a motion incomplete in itself, but combining with coordinated motions to produce a single action, as in a machine.
6. a pattern formed by or as if by a series of movements: the evolutions of a figure skater.
7. an evolving or giving off of gas, heat, etc.
8. Mathematics. the extraction of a root from a quantity. Compare involution (def. 8).
9. a movement or one of a series of movements of troops, ships, etc., as for disposition in order of battle or in line on parade.
10. any similar movement, esp. in close order drill.

Origin of the Word:
1615–25; < L ēvolūtiōn- (s. of ēvolūtiō) an unrolling, opening, equiv. to ēvolūt(us) (see evolute ) + -iōn- -ion

So What is Evolution?

Evolution is an odd thing, it is one of the only things which is both a fact and a theory.  Biologists consider evolution to be a fact in much the same way that physicists do so for gravity. However, the mechanisms of evolution are less well understood, and it is these mechanisms that are described by several theories of evolution.

Biological evolution typically refers to the changes that occur in a population over time. These changes are produced at the genetic level as genes mutate different ways during reproduction and are passed on to future generations. Sometimes, individuals inherit new characteristics that give them a survival and reproductive advantage in their local environments; these characteristics tend to increase in frequency in the population, while those that are disadvantageous decrease in frequency. This process of differential survival is known as natural selection.

Natural Selection is the core theory which drives evolution. It is often referred to as “survival of the fittest,” though that is not a accurate description. It basically means species which are best suited to their environments  have a better chance to reproduce than those that are not. For example, in a artic environment, an animal with lots of fur, like a polar bear, is more likely to reproduce than say a mouse, since mouse have a higher chance of dying in really cold weather where there are no buildings to hide for warmth and protection.
Evolution is often seen as a conflict to religions which believe life happened solely due to a supreme being.  Charles Darwin is thought to have started the theory via his book The Origin of Species.  Here is a brief except to set context in Darwin’s own words:

In considering the Origin of Species, it is quite conceivable that a naturalist, reflecting on the mutual affinities of organic beings, on their embryological relations, their geographical distribution, geological succession, and other such facts, might come to the conclusion that each species had not been independently created, but had descended, like varieties, from other species. Nevertheless, such a conclusion, even if well founded, would be unsatisfactory, until it could be shown how the innumerable species inhabiting this world have been modified so as to acquire that perfection of structure and co-adaptation which most justly excites our admiration. Naturalists continually refer to external conditions, such as climate, food, &c., as the only possible cause of variation. In one very limited sense, as we shall hereafter see, this may be true; but it is preposterous to attribute to mere external conditions, the structure, for instance, of the woodpecker, with its feet, tail, beak, and tongue, so admirably adapted to catch insects under the bark of trees. In the case of the misseltoe, which draws its nourishment from certain trees, which has seeds that must be transported by certain birds, and which has flowers with separate sexes absolutely requiring the agency of certain insects to bring pollen from one flower to the other, it is equally preposterous to account for the structure of this parasite, with its relations to several distinct organic beings, by the effects of external conditions, or of habit, or of the volition of the plant itself.

The details of Santeria are known by few, but this will attempt to provide a reasonable overview on What is Santeria.  Santeria or La Regla Lucumi originates from Africa in what is now Nigeria & Benin. It is an Afro-Caribbean religion that combines animism, pantheism, ancestor worship, and Roman Catholicism. It is a syncretistic religion that combines its belief in the Orishas – the gods of the Yoruba and Bantu pantheons of southwest Nigerian. Santeria has one god known as Olorun or Olodumare. Olorun is the source of  the spiritual energy that makes up the universe, all life and all things.

Olorun interacts with the world and humankind through emissaries. These emissaries/gods are called orishas. The orishas rule over every force of nature and every aspect of human life. Because the Yoruba people were baptized by the Catholic Church some componants of Catholocism exist through the rituals and symbolism. To that end, Santerians equate each of their Orisha with a Catholic saint.

Followers of Santeria are largely secretive about their religious practices. Some of their beliefs and rituals involve: Worship of Deities, Ritualistic animal sacrifices, Possessions and the Veneration of the dead. Because of some of their beliefs and rituals Santeria is often thought to be another from of Voodoo. Santeria is not Vodoo, it is a meshing of spirituality, ritual and Catholocism in context of Orisha.

Similar things happened in other parts of the Caribbean and other Catholic countries where the new religions was blended with the old traditions. For example in Haiti, various African religious traditions merged with one another, adopted some Catholic symbols, and formed the religion called Voudun or Voodoo. Other islands have their own variants like on the island of Jamaica where Shango exists. Santeria, Vudun and Shango are sometimes collectively called Afro-Caribbean religions, since they originated in Africa and developed their unique traits in the Caribbean based on slavery movement/migrations.

Other variants of Afro-Caribbean religions exist like Candomble and Umbanda from Brazil. While these could be called the “sister religions” of Santeria, since they all blend African beliefs with Catholic symbols and rituals.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are described in the Book of Revelation. They will ride when the seven seals are opened, resulting death and destruction on a vast scale. The four horsemen who will ride are Death, War, Famine and Pestilence The 4 horsemen of the apocalypse are described in Revelation chapter 6, verses 1-8. The four horsemen are symbolic descriptions of different events which will take place in the end times. They are essentially a sign of things to come.

The first horseman of the apocalypse is cited in Revelation 6:2, “I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.” This first horseman likely refers to the antichrist, who will be given authority and will conquer all who oppose him. The antichrist is the false imitator of the true Christ, as He will return on a white horse (Revelation 19:11-16).

The second horseman of the apocalypse from Revelation 6:4, “Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.” The second horseman refers to terrible wars.

The 3rd horseman as referenced in Revelation 6:5-6, “…and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!’” The third horseman of the apocalypse refers to a great famine.

The fourth horseman from Revelation 6:8, “I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.” The fourth horseman of the apocalypse is symbolic of death and devastation. It seems to be a combination of the previous horsemen. The fourth horseman of the apocalypse will bring further warfare and terrible famines along with awful plagues and diseases.

Fairly scary stuff.