Movies | November 04, 2009 | 54 comments

10 Failed Doomsday Predictions

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DeliaTheArtist
"With the upcoming disaster film "2012" and the current hype about Mayan calendars and doomsday predictions, it seems like a good time to put such notions in context.

Most prophets of doom come from a religious perspective, though the secular crowd has caused its share of scares as well. One thing the prognostications tend to share in common: They don't come to pass.

Here are 10 that didn't pan out, so far:

The Prophet Hen of Leeds, 1806

History has countless examples of people who have proclaimed that the return of Jesus Christ is imminent, but perhaps there has never been a stranger messenger than a hen in the English town of Leeds in 1806. It seems that a hen began laying eggs on which the phrase "Christ is coming" was written. As news of this miracle spread, many people became convinced that doomsday was at hand — until a curious local actually watched the hen laying one of the prophetic eggs and discovered someone had hatched a hoax.

The Millerites, April 23, 1843

A New England farmer named William Miller, after several years of very careful study of his Bible, concluded that God's chosen time to destroy the world could be divined from a strict literal interpretation of scripture. As he explained to anyone who would listen, the world would end some time between March 21, 1843 and March 21, 1844. He preached and published enough to eventually lead thousands of followers (known as Millerites) who decided that the actual date was April 23, 1843. Many sold or gave away their possessions, assuming they would not be needed; though when April 23 arrived (but Jesus didn't) the group eventually disbanded—some of them forming what is now the Seventh Day Adventists.

Mormon Armageddon, 1891 or earlier

Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon church, called a meeting of his church leaders in February 1835 to tell them that he had spoken to God recently, and during their conversation he learned that Jesus would return within the next 56 years, after which the End Times would begin promptly.

Halley's Comet, 1910

In 1881, an astronomer discovered through spectral analysis that comet tails include a deadly gas called cyanogen (related, as the name imples, to cyanide). This was of only passing interest until someone realized that Earth would pass through the tail of Halley's comet in 1910. Would everyone on the planet be bathed in deadly toxic gas? That was the speculation reprinted on the front pages of "The New York Times" and other newspapers, resulting in a widespread panic across the United States and abroad. Finally even-headed scientists explained that there was nothing to fear.

Pat Robertson, 1982

In May 1980, televangelist and Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson startled and alarmed many when — contrary to Matthew 24:36 ("No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven...") he informed his "700 Club" TV show audience around the world that he knew when the world would end. "I guarantee you by the end of 1982 there is going to be a judgment on the world," Robertson said.

Heaven's Gate, 1997

When comet Hale-Bopp appeared in 1997, rumors surfaced that an alien spacecraft was following the comet — covered up, of course, by NASA and the astronomical community. Though the claim was refuted by astronomers (and could be refuted by anyone with a good telescope), the rumors were publicized on Art Bell's paranormal radio talk show "Coast to Coast AM." These claims inspired a San Diego UFO cult named Heaven's Gate to conclude that the world would end soon. The world did indeed end for 39 of the cult members, who committed suicide on March 26, 1997.

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54 comments // 10 Failed Doomsday Predictions

  • Minus5scenePoints
    • 0
      Minus5scenePoints  

    • Delia, you put up some of the most interesting post/story's. You'd be fun to pick your mind! Cheers for doing so!
      Anyway,
      People breed fear and paranoia. We are naturally a scared grouping of people. With Religion, it's built up on a lot of an impending doom to come to us for "sinning". It's utter bullshit.
      Im VERY bummed about this stupid damned 2012 movie, due to that my favorite actor's in it! Ugh, John Cusack, whats wrong with you? Are you pulling a Nick Cage on us?

    • 2 years ago
  • PressCore
    • 0
      PressCore  

    • @ Delia. If you have access to watch the Sy Fy channel they have (2) 2 hour
      documentaries you should check out. One deals with the Mysteries of the Crystal
      Skulls, and the other 2012-Startling New Revelations.I've watched the National Geographic channel and the History channel to find out all the basis for the natural disasters that have been developing for quite some time already. And the 6 psychics from ancient Rome, Greece, England, Native Americans in addition to
      Nostradamus who've made predictions.related to the 2012 ideas. Though humans
      predicting the future is only speculation at best since, like the weather, humans can't know what's going to happen until it does, which is why it's a time conundrum,
      those 2 sources of information will give you an open ended frame of reference that
      are interesting to learn about. The skulls have crystal info storage tech similar
      to modern computer technology, yet are 12,000 years old, and have been proven not to be of earthly origin.They also show massive landing sites in Peru that can only be seen from orbital space et al.which date back 6 Earth Ages ago. I can't dismiss their speculations because the Sphynx is also 12,000 years old, and predates any Egyptian civilization whose Pharos built the pyramids long, long after it.

    • 2 years ago
  • sleevey
    • 0
      sleevey  
    • Image

    • The 2012 theories are a complete hoax. There are no alignments, no unusual solar activity, no unusual weakening of the earth's magnetic field. It is all untrue. Most of it was invented by a man called Jose Arguelles who you can google. The only part that is real is that an unused calendar will reach a point where it needs another order of magnitude to keep functioning.
      http://www.2012hoax.org/

    • 2 years ago
  • RojoGatto
  • NuclearLullaby
    • 0
      NuclearLullaby  

    • At this point I don't think the end of the world is too far away, simply going off of the way the human race is these days! But 2012??? We'll just have to see I guess! I would just hope people don't do what so many did for 2000!!! BUT then again...Maybe that's a good way to react! After all if the world doesn't end & people panic & buy a bunch of stuff,our economy would get better! Hmmm...Suddenly I am starting to think it's all a set up!!!

    • 2 years ago
  • zmike
  • amvas
  • ethansamual
  • Mark701
    • 0
      Mark701  

    • Predicting the end of the world is nothing more than a death wish or fear mongering. Its primary purpose is to encourage the flock to give the leader lots of money or let him have sex with their underage daughters.

    • 2 years ago
  • colalover25
  • colalover25
    • 0
      colalover25  

    • LOL! i remember y2k it was hillarious everyone was like whatever and than there were those people who were like freaking out and buying survival stuff for it ahhh the millennium hehe

    • 2 years ago
  • montesooma
  • kitteneater
    • 0
      kitteneater  
    • Image

    • The Mayan calender doesn't indicate the end of the world, nor does it indicate "a conscious shift." It is simply the end of their year( AKA Baktuns), which ends every 394 Gregorian years . They'd sacrifice some virgins, and get really drunk on that day. End of story. So many Mayan priests/translators have come out and said, "These bitches be misrepresentin', yo!" But that doesn't sell, does it?

      As for the astrological alignment of the sun to the middle of the milky way galaxy, it is purely coincidental to the Mayan prediction. It also happens every 25,800 years. The Earth, being billion of years old, has survived this many times.

      Nice try, Hollywood. But I aint buying it.

    • 2 years ago
  • iamfree
    • 0
      iamfree  
    • kitteneater:

      the mayans actually did speak of a shift in consciousness...I have studied this metaphysical stuff for about 3 years now and have spent countless weeks unraveling the mayan calenndar and their purposes for star tracking...you are correct in not buying hollywoods crap either..but i can tell you from direct experience that a shift is occurring..just because you dont feel it nor understand doesn't change the fact..wake up.

    • 2 years ago
  • montesooma
    • 0
      montesooma  
    • kitteneater:

      Nah, the solar system passing thru the center of the milky way is an integral part of their calendar ending dec 12 2012 --- this is what many of their rituals and ceremonies are based on. It's no coincedence.
      The end times are ushered in by a global government according to revelations and other biblical texts. This Is something that our countries are speeding towards --In america, getting rid of our currency and our sovereignty and becoming "global citizens" is something that is the order of the day. We are being conditioned for this kind of collective thought by our own government.
      It is certainly not hard these days to immagine the dollar being replaced with a world currency and international law superceding the laws of countries the world over.
      Yes there have been many doomsday predictions, but there have never in history been times like these.

    • 2 years ago
  • kitteneater
    • 0
      kitteneater  
    • kitteneater:

      Why is a regular occurrence a sign of shift? Humans were already living at when the sun was in the center of the milky way. Nothing happened then, did it?

      Global government is a sign of end times only in biblical traditions and, I'm sorry, I don't consider the Bible a valid text of information.

      iamfree, what have you experienced? I don't fear what I cannot understand, but I use experiences to draw conclusions. Enlightenment, please. Wake up to what, and how? A shift? I'll wake up when it happens, won't I? But what have you personally experience right now that indicates a shift directly related to 2012? I seriously, really really, want to know!!

    • 2 years ago
  • iamfree
    • 0
      iamfree  
    • kitteneater:

      my experience is related directly to my own growth and understanding...but "my" experience has been shared by many people of all walks of life thru out time.My experience was about experiencing the nature of reality.Not just this physical world which up until i had my obe i didnt even think existed.So of course you won't believe me but you dont have to because you can go experience it yourself..i can assist you in experiencing what i did and you need no drugs...right now you perceive this world as the only place real...that simply isnt true and you can find out easily for yourself.People Awakening to that Truth will free or shift consciousness out of this state of rigid living.

    • 2 years ago
  • LadybugLady
  • PajamaDan
    • 0
      PajamaDan  

    • We do nothing but debunk doomsday claims as nonsense. But how far-fetched is it to predict that humans or their surroundings could end in disaster?!?! We seem to be inching that way. Just look at the state of our species and environs. Extinction here we come. And don't think we're not powerful enough to severely damage the Earth on our way down. And technically,... neither humans nor the planet will last forever.
      When you focus on the details,... these predictions may sound crazy. But potential mega-disaster by human hands is not so inconceivable. Maybe we should look at weirdo doomsday theories as opportunities to change the present to avoid a gloomy future.

    • 2 years ago
  • plusaf
  • Ares
  • chmk
    • 0
      chmk  

    • Anyone want to hype up another random date and publish a book on it? We'll look like nutcases but guaranteed we'll make some good money.

    • 2 years ago
  • Ares
  • chmk
  • Nephwrack
    • 0
      Nephwrack  

    • this seems to be evidence of man's arrogance, when in reality we are not so important as to warrant the end of the planet herself. we as a species might die out eventually (i'm putting my money on zombies lol) even possibly take large sections of the ecosystem itself, yet i hardly think we'll be the last life on earth. the view that somehow all life will be taken with us is arrogant.

    • 2 years ago
  • Vb86Vic
  • becktionary83
    • 0
      becktionary83  
    • Nephwrack:

      I think it's kind of arrogant for mankind to presume that we know when doomsday will occur. If there is such a thing it would be outside our realm of comprehension in the first place.

      Good job pointing out that it is potentially more likely that a portion of the ecosystem is whipped out and not all life as we know it.

    • 2 years ago
  • Ares
    • 0
      Ares  

    • Thank you for posting this, I can't understand for the life of me why the same idiots get swept up in this nonsense. That list could easily be 1000 points long, because EVERY doomsday theory has been wrong. ALL OF THEM.

      Oh and while we're at it, let's just go ahead and silence the 2029/2036 meteor theories, because it's been proven that it's going to miss Earth.

    • 2 years ago
  • LowShred
  • CalPal
  • brianwilson
  • loupetho
    • 0
      loupetho  

    • Yer, but what a neat way to control a population ... less expensive and simpler than starting a war somewhere to divert attention elsewhere.

    • 2 years ago
  • zphoenixdownz
  • retro_Syl
  • zphoenixdownz
    • 0
      zphoenixdownz  
    • zphoenixdownz:

      no doubt a question for the ages. some might say the answer is worth killing and dying for...

      i'd rather try to find the answer by living. or concede that perhaps the answer is beyond human understanding.

    • 2 years ago
  • tommic
    • 0
      tommic  

    • Get grip people the date 12/21/2012 is the day we as a solar system enters the age of Aquarius, we are now in the age of Picies. Thats all there is to it. On that date all of the planets will align with the sun towards the center of the milky way system.
      The only possibilities are that there could be a gravitational pull unlike any in 22,000 years. Only time will tell.

      tommic

    • 2 years ago
  • CreditFigaro
  • sleevey
  • iamfree
    • 0
      iamfree  

    • Theres' no ends, just new beginnings and long cycles:-)....

      There is a significant change on the way though...don't discount our mayan elders, for in matters concerning the stars and time they were perfectionist.In this age we do not know of such discipline.

      12-21-12 marks a date when which the majority of humans will no longer PERCEIVE time in a linear fashion..no more 1-2-3..we can go 2-1-3 or 3-1-2 or 2
      3
      1
      The physical plane is not the only realm of reality.I have personally experienced non-physical reality.No not some lsd induced trance type crap either...My complete consciousness floated out of my forehead and there I was...Like a baby being born into this world(it was more like a near death experience..experience without nearly dying;-).Anyways people wake up and find out who you really are..We can do more than what we are taught to do. We are pure, limitless, non-separated consciousness.Embodied,We are multidimensional in our source,not just physical beings subjected to a physical world.We are much more in a very real way.In fact..your energy body is much more REAL that your physical one.i'd be glad to help anyone looking for information.Also it would be fun to note that the mayans did not make any "predictions".. it is only in a limited light does their understanding become distorted in such way.To them Prophecy was about a way of being.The way a horoscope can't predict the dynamic aspects of one's experience but can still produce an accurate overview of general experiences stricken directly from the cyclic nature of human behavior.2012 is the same.The mayans of course could not possibly predict the dynamic aspects of our future from a linear standpoint in time.However they could produce an accurate overview of experiences, which came from an understanding of the grand cycles of time andinterconnectedness of nature and human behavior.

      might edit later to add more.

    • 2 years ago
  • hell0everything
    • 0
      hell0everything  
    • iamfree:

      I'm intrigued by your statement that "12-21-12 marks a date when which the majority of humans will no longer PERCEIVE time in a linear fashion..no more 1-2-3..we can go 2-1-3 or 3-1-2".

    • 2 years ago
  • iamfree
    • 0
      iamfree  
    • iamfree:

      I'm honored that my comment has sparked your interest.I would be more than willing to assist you in experiencing yourself as your true self if that is what you desire.2012 is just a linear date.The shift has already begun...

    • 2 years ago
  • JulianCommongold
    • 0
      JulianCommongold  
    • iamfree:

      I always understood the Mayan's to mean that the Human Race would undergo a shift in consciousness.
      Your statement of no longer perceiving time in a linear fashion intrigues me also.
      I wonder if it will be a true biological shift or something more along the lines of information/technological shift.

    • 2 years ago
  • iamfree
    • 0
      iamfree  
    • iamfree:

      I wonder if it will be a true biological shift or something more along the lines of information/technological shift.

      The shift the mayans speak of is a physical shift.Therefore to answer your question,yes this is a biological evolution.The way we perceive information/time is what is bringing about the actual shift.There is another realm of existance that we exist in.The same way we exist here.The varying properties of the physical and non physical world are staggering to say the least.I do not claim to know how this whole mass shifting of consciousness will occur but only that individually it is already happening.Technology as it is today (all of it) will be rendered useless once the shift occurs.If you can see consciousness as a living program then you can understand that all knowledge created in linear time/space exist in 1 place and time outside of linearity.The way we go about "getting stuff"and traveling also shift to the new paradigm(Our Being will be our ultimate tool).happy to answer anything so dig deeper or keep dishin'em out:-)

      The shift is a journey through one's self from limited polarized consciousness to Complete limitless consciousness...it us remembering that we exist in multiple realms of existence (the way you exist here and also in your mind)and taking "what we gained here" and merging with all that we each completely are in the non-physical realms...

      Out of all that i've said..nothing is more true than this.

      We are Multi-dimensional beings having a strickly physical experience.The time for us to to awaken/remember/connect back to our true nature is Now.

    • 2 years ago
  • JulianCommongold
    • 0
      JulianCommongold  
    • iamfree:

      Do you know anything of Iatromathematica and it's association with the function of the pineal gland?

      It is a very interesting premise with 2012 being the peak of an unusually active solar period ...sunspots, flares...etc.etc.

    • 2 years ago
  • pukemnukem
  • iamfree
    • 0
      iamfree  
    • iamfree:

      only in the land of duality my friend.A beginning in itself is also an ending.To see it from this perspective one must only understand the cyclic processes of nature.Only in linearity do endings Actually exist.In the totality of it all everything/event is in the process of transformation.So now does it make sense?If you change how you intake information the truth becomes self evident:-)..

      for something to END it must cease to exist.But nothing simply ceases to exist.Everything,event,being is in the process of transformation...that truth does not require your belief.

    • 2 years ago
  • iamfree
    • 0
      iamfree  
    • iamfree:

      Do you know anything of Iatromathematica and it's association with the function of the pineal gland?

      I have heard of the terminology and it having to do with the relationship with our energy bodies and the physical vehicle.All disease comes from the neglect of the energy body.Thru Your own awareness of of your non-physical self you can cleanse your physical being.The pineal gland can produce video and audio from realms of non physicality which i believe is how we will begin to decode information post shift.Its like an antenna that we havent used correctly in ages.

    • 2 years ago
  • thewallisgirl
  • remanns
  • retro_Syl
  • Rusteh_Bull3t
  • DeliaTheArtist
  • blood77
  • tome_erau
    • 0
      tome_erau  
    • Rusteh_Bull3t:

      There is a reason that the Mayan Calender ends though. All the stars move very very slowly and the Mayan, who were suprisingly incredible at astronomy, could predict this shifting of the stars very accurately. More impressively they knew that by 2012 the stars would have moved to much for there predictions to be accurate any more so they stopped. If the Mayans had lived longer the calender would be longer.

    • 2 years ago
  • DeliaTheArtist
    • 0
      DeliaTheArtist  

    • (continued)
      Nostradamus, August 1999

      The heavily obfuscated and metaphorical writings of Michel de Nostrdame have intrigued people for over 400 years. His writings, the accuracy of which relies heavily upon very flexible interpretations, have been translated and re-translated in dozens of different versions. One of the most famous quatrains read, "The year 1999, seventh month / From the sky will come great king of terror." Many Nostradamus devotees grew concerned that this was the famed prognosticator's vision of Armageddon.

      Y2K, Jan. 1, 2000

      As the last century drew to a close, many people grew concerned that computers might bring about doomsday. The problem, first noted in the early 1970s, was that many computers would not be able to tell the difference between 2000 and 1900 dates. No one was really sure what that would do, but many suggested catastrophic problems ranging from vast blackouts to nuclear holocaust. Gun sales jumped and survivalists prepared to live in bunkers, but the new millennium began with only a few glitches.

      May 5, 2000

      In case the Y2K bug didn't do us in, global catastrophe was assured by Richard Noone, author of the 1997 book "5/5/2000 Ice: the Ultimate Disaster." According to Noone, the Antarctic ice mass would be three miles thick by May 5, 2000 — a date in which the planets would be aligned in the heavens, somehow resulting in a global icy death (or at least a lot of book sales). Perhaps global warming kept the ice age at bay.

      God's Church Ministry, Fall 2008

      According to God's Church minister Ronald Weinland, the end times are upon us-- again. His 2006 book "2008: God's Final Witness" states that hundreds of millions of people will die, and by the end of 2006, "there will be a maximum time of two years remaining before the world will be plunged into the worst time of all human history. By the fall of 2008, the United States will have collapsed as a world power, and no longer exist as an independent nation." As the book notes, "Ronald Weinland places his reputation on the line as the end-time prophet of God."

    • 2 years ago
  • pukemnukem
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