10 Apocalyptic Theories and Beliefs
Suggested by SMSTheories abound about the end of the world and the end of the human race. And whether from a religious, scientific, or cultural perspective, these ideas all have one thing in common: life as we know it won’t last forever. The following list is a compilation of 10 of the most common doomsday theories out there. Some end in mass destruction. Some end in the revelation of paradise. But all insist that big changes are coming.
10. World War III
World War III could be the end of the world through nuclear apocalypse.
Nuclear apocalypse is one of the most common theories about how mankind will meet its doom. The World War III scenario predicts that if another global war were to occur, human beings would self destruct through the use of nuclear weapons. The weapons themselves might not blow up all of earth, but the long-term radiation effects and the atmospheric changes could eventually obliterate all life.
Many people think that the threat of World War III has diminished greatly since the end of the Cold War, when the potential for nuclear battle was at its highest. Some scholars even go as far as to call the Cold War World War III because most of the world was in some way involved. Regardless, the threat of nuclear fallout still exists, even if it has become less likely.
9. Big Crunch
The Big Crunch hypothesis is like the opposite of the Big Bang; it predicts that, eventually, the universe will stop expanding and begin retracting, ultimately becoming a black hole. The idea is that all the matter in the universe would be attracted together due to gravity. Eventually, the gravitational pull would form clumps of dense matter, which would lead to black holes. Over time, all the black holes would converge to form the Big Crunch singularity. If this were to happen, it wouldn’t be anytime soon. Scientists estimate that a Big Crunch event wouldn’t be likely until more than 100 billion years in the future.
Recent experimental evidence has made the Big Crunch theory seem unlikely. Now, most scientists speculate that the rate of the universe’s expansion isn’t slowing down, as would be anticipated with the Big Crunch. Instead, it appears that the universe is growing more quickly! But we’ll never know for sure what will be the fate of our universe. All of these ideas are highly theoretical, and the Big Crunch, like all theories, is purely speculative.
8. Ragnarok
“The Battle of the Doomed God,” a painting by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine.
In ancient Norse mythology, the Ragnarok is equivalent to the end of the world as we know it. This doomsday event was predicted in multiple Norse poems and prose writings, and it literally translates to “doom of the powers” or “twilight of the gods.” In the Norse poems, a volva, or priestess, prophesies about the final battle between the gods and evil forces. During the war, Odin and Thor, two major gods, are killed. Several other minor deities die too. After the battle, the sun becomes black, the stars vanish, and people flee their homes as the earth sinks into the sea.
Norse mythology doesn’t consider the Ragnarok to be the end of all things, however. In the poems, the earth eventually resurfaces. A few gods survive the catastrophe, and they meet to begin re-cultivating the land. Two human beings survive the Ragnarok as well, and they repopulate the earth with their descendents. A new sun lights up the sky, the next generation of gods is in power, and people live in peace.
7. Death of the Sun
This isn’t so much a theory as it is a guarantee. Like all other stars, our sun will eventually die. And when that happens, earth will either be destroyed altogether or rendered lifeless from extreme heat or frigid cold. But don’t worry. We’ve got about billions of years before that starts to happen.
Stellar evolution predicts five billion years from now to be the time when the sun will exhaust its fuel supply and become a red giant. When this happens, the sun will expand and become more luminous. If the red giant sun doesn’t envelop and destroy the earth with its outer reaches, then its increased heat will cause the oceans to boil and most all living things to die. After the red giant phase, the sun will become a white dwarf. If the earth still exists at that point, it will become frigidly cold. Any remaining life will surely perish. It’s a no-win situation.
6. Zombie Apocalypse
The zombie apocalypse scenario began with Night of the Living Dead, a 1968 film directed by George Romero. Since then, it has been a popular end-of-the-world plot in science fiction and horror novels and films. The basic premise is that zombies, or reanimated corpses, unexplainably show up and begin attacking people all over the world. Authorities are slow to react to the crisis, so the zombies eventually destroy human society. A few survivors may remain in small pockets on earth, but most people either perish or turn into zombies themselves.
Zombie theories are usually confined to the world of fiction, but some people do take these apocalyptic ideas seriously, sort of. Fans of zombie literature have been known to try to prepare for the potential apocalypse by creating web site detailing escape plans and warning about zombie sightings. And pamphlets about how to survive zombie attacks are popular as well. Some fans have even created anti-zombie weapons to use when the time comes (or to just show off to their friends). So while a zombie apocalypse is unlikely, this theory does get its fair share of attention.
5. End of the Kali Yuga
The demon Kali, wielding a sword.
In Hindu mythology, time is broken into four ages, or Yugas, that occur in cycles. The Kali Yuga is the era of moral and spiritual collapse, when humans lose touch with religion and give in to sin. Most interpretations of Hindu scriptures believe that mankind is currently in the Kali Yuga, which is sometimes called the age of darkness. According to these views, the Kali Yuga began with the death of Krishna, an incarnation of the god Vishnu, in about 3101 B.C. Traditionally, the Kali Yuga is thought to last for 432,000 years.
The Kali Yuga is marked by an apocalyptic series of events, ending with a fantastic battle between good and evil. Kali, the demon of discord who rules over the age, will wreak havoc throughout the Kali Yuga. When he has tormented mankind to the point of moral failure, the god Vishnu will be reincarnated as Kalki. He will fight and kill the demon, bringing in a new age of peace, known as the Satya Yuga.
4. Buddhist Eschatology
The Buddha Maitreya, who will bring new peace when the world is lost.
In Buddhist eschatology, or belief about the end of the world, moral denigration is the ultimate apocalyptic event. The belief derives from Gautama Buddha’s prediction that his teaching would be lost in 500 years. Since his time, this estimated time period has been extended to 5,000 years. When Buddha’s teachings are lost, the world will become amoral. Eventually, all memory of Buddha himself will be lost. The tradition believes that after this happens, a new Buddha named Maitreya will come to the earth to renew the religion’s teachings. It is believed that Maitreya is now in heaven waiting to be reborn into the world.
After Maitreya’s time, the world will again worsen. Wars will be common. Eventually, beings cease to be born. Then, great destruction will destroy much of the earth, including the realms of humans. Buddhists believe in many “worlds,” which are inhabited by varying levels of moral beings. The upper worlds will survive, but the lower ones will be wiped out. After a period of emptiness, the worlds will begin to be rebuilt, humans will reappear in a holier state, and the cycle will be renewed.
3. End Times
Michelangelo’s fresco of the Last Judgment.
In most Abrahamic religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, the end of the world is marked by a series of events that are collectively known as the end times or the end of days. The details of these last days vary between religions and sects, but all share a common sequence: there will be period of tribulation, then a great battle between good and evil. The battle will be followed by the return or appearance of the Messiah, who will judge the living and the dead and bring the Kingdom of God to the earth.
There are many arguments within these religions about when the end times will come. Some scholars maintain that the tribulations of the end times are an ongoing process, but others think they will happen sometime in the future. It’s also not known if life will continue on earth after the apocalypse, or if humans will only live spiritually in heaven. Regardless, belief in some kind of apocalypse that ends with a divine appearance is crucial to the three great monotheistic religions of the world.
2. Doomsday Argument
Human population through modern times.
The Doomsday argument, or DA, is a mathematical argument that postulates the fate of the human race based on an estimate of the total number of humans born so far. It was first proposed by physicist Brandon Carter in 1983. Based on the evidence used, the argument predicts we are currently about halfway through human history. Ultimately, the DA states that there is a 95 percent chance that humans will be extinct within 9120 years.
The argument uses simple logic to state that we can be 95 percent certain that we are within the last 95 percent of humans to ever live. Based on this principle, the DA states that there is a 95 percent chance that the total number of humans will be less than 20n, with n standing for our position in the lineup of human lives over history. If we use 60 billion as an estimate for the total humans born so far, we can get that the total number of humans ever to live will be about 1.2 trillion. Assuming a the population of the world stabilizes at 10 billion, and that human life expectancy is about 80 years, the DA estimates that all the remaining humans will be born in about 9120 years.
The Doomsday argument takes a lot for granted, so it has sparked many rebuttals. But it remains a topic of consideration. And the fact that it puts human existence into numerical terms makes it one of the most intriguing end-of-humankind theories out there.
1. 2012 Doomsday Prediction
A stone with carvings referring to a date on the Mayan calendar.
All around the world, there are pockets of people convinced that 2012 will bring about the end of time, or at least a huge change in life as we know it. The theory is based on the Mesoamerican Long Calendar, a timekeeping device developed by the Mayans, which will end its current 5,125-year cycle on December 21, 2012.
Proponents of the prediction claim that the Mayans knew about a catastrophic event that would take place at the end of the 12th baktun, or 400-year cycle, on the calendar. December 12, 2012 corresponds to the end of this 12th cycle, when the calendar will read 12.12.12.12.12. Since the Mayans counted in 12s, supporters claim that there can be nothing beyond this setting. Believers think that some kind of geological event will occur on that day, which may bring total destruction to life on earth. Pole shifts and planet collisions are two common theories about what will happen. Some new age predictions claim that humans will not die, but will reach a higher level of consciousness. Critics of the theory think that the calendar will just continue to the 13th baktin, reading 13.0.0.0.0.
Only one Mayan artifact that has been found so far mentions anything about the end of the calendar cycle. This tablet is in poor condition, but it appears to state that the end of the 12th baktin will correspond to the return of Quetzelcoatl, the principle Mayan god. Some proponents of the theory have taken this to mean that 2012 could correspond to the Second Coming of Christ, Armageddon or other apocalyptic events. The theory has become more popular due to recent specials about it that aired on the History Channel.
What will happen on 12/12/12? No one knows. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Achei a materia interessante. Desperta a curiosidade, a vontade de procurar saber mais, aprofundar neste assunto.
I think that 2012 is the most likely apocalypse. All the signs are pointing to it. All the earthquakes all over the world including the Christchurch one here in New Zealand. I'm not in Christchurch but in Wellington.
I think the 2012 theory is bullshit regardless of the facts hell for all we know planet Earth might be just shifting plates and getting ready to rise up hidden landscapes we don’t know about.
Yeah but they FOUND the rest of the Mayan calendar… No need to worry and HAHA I TOLD U SO
I think that 2012 is the most likely apocalypse. All the signs are pointing to it. All the earthquakes all over the world including the Christchurch one here in New Zealand. I’m not in Christchurch but in Wellington.
I honestly think that it will just be another day. Daniel Kemp, you say that you think that is likely because all of the Earthquakes that have been occurring. Well the earthquakes are simply due to techtonic plate movement. Once one of these plates move they all tend to move, creating more earthquakes then one typically happen in a short period of time. This movement occurs every ten to twenty years. My solution to that is, don't live near a fault line.
Kemp
I agree with you man, but all the earthquakes you see now are not the reasons 2012 is possible. The reason you see so many now is because there is more media, there were the same amount 300 years ago, just no one knew about them.
Dear,stupid people of the internet,I have a couple of points to make. One, if the world does end in 2012 it will be 12/21/12 NOT 12/12/12, get the facts right. Two, the best way the world could end would be the Zombie Apocalyps u know it so dont deny it. And three,the stupidest way the world could end is Buddhist Eschatology just think about it for a second.
P.S.send to all ur friends if u like and dont forget to ROFL every once and a while.
sincerly, X
@x
dude, zombie apoclpyse would be my favorite way to have the world end.
and im a girl, and so what that im a nerd?? i am get over it before you even say anything about it.. and one thing i have to say, i dont think the rapture, etc will even happen because according to you christians out there the world is only ten thousand years old. we have found fossils that are over 6 billion years old!! and no its not just the evolutionists who say that. so yeah. eat it! and thank you x, for giving me something to talk about. email me if you like what you hear.
Why do you think being a nerd female is making you different in any way?? Also. The earth hasn’t even reached its 6th billionth birthday yet and Christians only think the world is 6 thousand years old. I’m atheist and level headed so don’t contradict please
Christians say human life began 10,000 years ago, which is scientifically true, loser. Get your facts straight before trying to make an argument and insult millions of people.
I agree with you april and I too am a nerd but i am also slightly plump and i can almost promise i will be one of the last alive.
I find it funny that you all think that the 2012 theory is plausible. Quite frankly, I'm not going to listen to a calender from people who WANTED to get killed as a sacrifice to "gods" (the Mayans). I believe the Christian theory (Rapture, Tribulation, and the Glorious Appearing), and normally I accept other's opinions, but quite frankly, the Zombie Apocalypse theory was based off of a retarded movie, and I find it stupid that you think it would be the best way for us all to go.
Or Shawn of the Dead
It becomes even dumber when you consider that the Mayan Calendar doesn’t actually say the world will end on 2012.
you CLEARLY didn’t see zombie land
I got only one simple principle to kick those 2012, Zombie, Rapture or whatever you may call to the so-called terrifying world end known as "Doomsday" prediction off. That is… when someone died, that's it… that's the end of the world for that fellow. Remember Y2K?… that another stupid prediction that have just been off a decade ago?…the thing that somehow scared the hell out of the whole world? I guess we should all learn a lesson not to focus much of our attention to such kind of an imaginary fear of doomsday. There are so many of it that has been predicted and failed even before the time when the website was never an internet domain but a no more than the dwelling place of the spiders in the attic of your grandpa's old house. Live a healthy and a safe life, do good to others, help the needy and don't bother about the freakin' doomsday, it's not gonna happen. Have a good faith to whoever you have faith with that you'll be safe and sound. And you'll see that the predicted doomsday is gonna be just another fine blessed day.
The doomsday is clearly the most aplausable it simply means that with the amount of humans that will be living on the earth we will exaust our resources and cause probably massive wars, starvation, and inevitably death. Also "Zombie apocalypse" ?????? What are you 5? The closest thing to a zombie apocalypse is going to be a massive disease that KILLS all human beings, not turning them into a bunch of cannabalistic monsters, how that theory is even considered is beyond me, thats like me saying the sky will fall down and well all be crushed.. As for the religious theories that is debateable but religion is a free lance believe what you want type thing and i am personally not religious so im not going to say anything on that. the universe imploding even if it does happen i can't see it affecting our generation anytime soon and the sun seems as though it will be around for a while showing that the first to come will most likely be doomsday. As for 2012 there may be major economic problems among the US and other leading countries by that tie from the looks of things that COULD POSSIBLY lead to WW3 but again it is highly unlikely.
Right well, I reckon I could debunk every single theory on this list but I won’t because half of you people will just say is a biased view..so I will just say 1 thing. NO WHERE in mayans history, written or said, does it say the world WILL END. It’s all been warped by stupid media and stupid people. Granted it is funny to watch hysteria unfold.
Actually, a second thing, what is the point in wanting to know when the world will end?
It seems to me, it doesn't matter if the World were to end today or when the sun flames out, in about 5 billion years. At this point, our technology is too meagre to change anything. Ergo, why worry about it? End time theories have existed since the age of the Epic of Gilgamesh.
i think it will never happen!!!
A happy doomsday will be I hope soon after enough people got informed about me now Vienna Meher Baba and 32. reincarnation of Jesus after the life of once Jesus soul as Avatar Meher Baba . Now I am for Suffi Islam ,Orthodox Christianity ( I was Rastko Sv. Sava ) and specially for love to god as Krishna by Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. doomsday will be happy for most of people ! Yours Oliver Vienna Meher Baba from Belgrade ,Serbia
I was just trying to find any new theories connecting the Egyptian Pale Horse with the destruction of Christchurch, NZ. Very symbolic don't you think?
Yeah.. Zombie…. Just connects the dots you see in the present world people. I don’t personally think we can do anything about, Don’t think money can take you anywhere either. Enjoy your given life dont be too greedy….
lmfao i love how all you people are stupid enough to waste you’re time on argueing about this in the first place
this is very intereting but its nly bs
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It doesn’t matter what your beliefs are without religion anyway there is still right and a wrong. It’s just a fact of nature so live a healthy and honest life as easily possible and believe that one day all of our souls will be set free, till then just live life.
P.S. Pursue happiness
I really don’t believe in any of the doomsday theories. They don’t make any sense at all. The Mayan calendar did NOT say the world was going to be destroyedthe calendar just ended most likely meaning that the man or woman creating the calendar died or was sacrificed to God for his supposed knowledge. The Bible does not give a date that the world will end, God does not even know the date, and it states that anyone who follows the liars are pretty much damned. I think all of the religious theories are false interpretation of religious scriptures seeing as everyone sees them differently. The death of the sun will one day happen but not for many, many millions of years or whatever they predict. Everyone will die on day, but the civilization will probably not perish this year.