One in seven people think the end of the world is coming

[UpstateKate]

I thought this was interesting. I wonder if any of the people polled were Witnesses?

http://caffertyfile.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/03/what-does-it-mean-when-one-in-seven-people-think-the-end-of-the-world-is-coming/?hpt=hp_t3

It's the end of the world as we know it - at least for one in seven people worldwide.

A new poll conducted for Reuters shows nearly 15% of people believe the world will end during their lifetime.

And 10% think the end could come as soon as this year - that's based on the end of the 5,100-year-old Mayan calendar that arrives on December 21, 2012.

Pollsters questioned more than 16,000 people in more than 20 countries. It turns out predictions of doom and gloom vary widely depending on where you live.

Only 6% of the French and 8% of the British fear Armageddon in their lifetime compared to 22% in Turkey and right here in the United States.

The Russians and the Poles were most likely to fear the end of the world as coming this year.

Experts say people under 35 and those with lower education or income are more likely to believe in an Apocalypse. Perhaps it’s because those over 35 have lived long enough not to worry about it.

Meanwhile, there have been many End of Days predictions over the years coming from the Chinese, the Egyptians, Native Americans, the Irish, etc.

But for some reason this Mayan Doomsday prediction has attracted millions, maybe even billions, of believers. Hundreds of thousands of websites have popped up devoted to the end-of-the-world fears.

However, experts - including NASA - say there's nothing to it and compare it to the Y2K scare which turned out to be much ado about nothing.

Here’s my question to you: What does it mean when one in seven people think the end of the world is coming?

[trottigy]

You know it is interesting I was looking at this same article, but it is VERY lacking in a scholarly way.

They should post the poll. What were the questions? How were they worded?

There is a big difference between "ending coming in ones lifetime" and "end in 1 year". Also, how do they know they fear the end - some may be looking forward to it - I am. Was the word "Fear" used in the poll?

How was the question about the Mayans framed? Did they ask "Do you think it will end this year?" and if someone answered yes - there was an assumption they believe the Mayan theory. I think it could happen this year, but I don't believe in the Mayan theory.

Anyway just some thoughts on this BADLY written piece of "journalism"??? Is that the right word?

If anyone can find the ACTUAL poll. Please post it in this thread it would be interesting to see what was actually asked and answered.

note: people say, "liars figure and figures lie." That is not true - figures are what they are - good or bad - it is the analysis of the figures (numbers is a better term) where the problems creep in. See this article as a good example.

[UpstateKate]

Good points. I agree that it is lacking information. I found this Reuters article that contains a little more info...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/tribu/sns-rt-us-mayancalendar-pollbre8400xh-20120501,0,4343650.story

NEW YORK (Reuters) - - Nearly 15 percent of people worldwide believe the world will end during their lifetime and 10 percent think the Mayan calendar could signify it will happen in 2012, according to a new poll.

The end of the Mayan calendar, which spans about 5,125 years, on December 21, 2012 has sparked interpretations and suggestions that it marks the end of the world.

"Whether they think it will come to an end through the hands of God, or a natural disaster or a political event, whatever the reason, one in seven thinks the end of the world is coming," said Keren Gottfried, research manager at Ipsos Global Public Affairs which conducted the poll for Reuters.

"Perhaps it is because of the media attention coming from one interpretation of the Mayan prophecy that states the world 'ends' in our calendar year 2012," Gottfried said, adding that some Mayan scholars have disputed the interpretation.

Responses to the international poll of 16,262 people in more than 20 countries varied widely with only six percent of French residents believing in an impending Armageddon in their lifetime, compared to 22 percent in Turkey and the United States and slightly less in South Africa and Argentina.

But only seven percent in Belgium and eight percent in Great Britain feared an end to the world during their lives.

About one in 10 people globally also said they were experiencing fear or anxiety about the impending end of the world in 2012. The greatest numbers were in Russia and Poland, the fewest in Great Britain.

Gottfried also said that people with lower education or household income levels, as well as those under 35 years old, were more likely to believe in an apocalypse during their lifetime or in 2012, or have anxiety over the prospect.

"Perhaps those who are older have lived long enough to not be as concerned with what happens to their future," she explained.

Ipsos questioned people in China, Turkey, Russia, Mexico, South Korea, Japan, the United States, Argentina, Hungary, Poland, Sweden, France, Spain, Belgium, Canada, Australia, Italy, South Africa, Great Britain, Indonesia, Germany.

[trottigy]

December 21, 2012 I need to go out and buy me one of those count down clocks. Anyone see one cheap???

http://www.2012supplies.com/countdown3.swf

[nikviz]

December 21' date=' 2012 I need to go out and buy me one of those count down clocks. Anyone see one cheap???

http://www.2012supplies.com/countdown3.swf[/quote'] I am very busy, have so many to do. Can be delay a bit?

[Hallett 82]

As with the many previous 'predictions' about the worlds destruction, there is no point using a countdown clock.

As 'the hour' arrived for The End last time, we here in Australia got there 20 hours before USA and 12 hours before Europe so claiming a clock is ticking down by hour and second is very self serving.

I will be ' going down the gurgler' ahead of most of you so think of me as you hear me scream. .

[rbrown1205]

One thing that is interesting -

About two out of the seven billion people on earth presently are nominal Christians. One half of that number are Roman Catholics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_by_country

http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html

So, according to Reuters' statistic, about half of the nominal Christians are believers in Jesus' statement about the last days and apply it to today.

This really sounds like a wide sweeping brush stroke rather than statistics. I doubt if it will hold up to scrutiny.

Off topic, but an interesting page within adherents.com is the one about Jehovah's Witnesses. We apparently have set a number of precedents --

http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_jw.html

[retroHelen]

Latest reports from the archaeologists in Guatemala about the Mayan Calendar is that it was never predicting the end of the World in December 2012, this was all miscontrued media hype.

The calendar was merely counting off the end of a Mayan 'era' or cycle of years to then go on to start another one. They have unearthed more heiroglpyhic stones that they say explains this further and add that the ending of one cycle going into another also predicted the continuity of their Royal Dynasties, which has not come true as there is no Mayan dynasty ruling in the region Mexico/Honduras/Guatamala today. Therefore, if these predictions did not come to pass, how much store can we put to other prophecies in these stones - literally just wishful thinking of the Mayan peoples for themselves that has been added to by false media rumours.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-18505636

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-16000331

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-18644636

[Musky]

With this evidence, my cartoon really fits the situation!

[normadenardo]

I love the cartoon that Musky posted. I have seen it before and it makes me smile.

[retroHelen]

At least tourism is booming for the folks in the Yucatan Mexico and there are End of World (or not) parties going on around the World:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-20753292

http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/416944/20121220/2012-mayan-calendar-end-world-parties-continents.htm

Get your End of World Certificate Here:

http://www.fsunews.com/videonetwork10079204/2046971838001/Cancun-Sees-Tourism-Increase-Ahead-of-End-of-Mayan-Calendar

[trottigy]

Have fun posting - only a few more hours to go

Maybe our Australian friends can tell us what the end of the world looks like as it hits there first -

[Myree]

Friday morning Dec 21 2012 10.20 am. All good so far. I'll keep you posted

[Musky]

Excellent Fiona! I love it

[Dave]

New Zealand's the first country in the world to see the sun each day.

Half the day's already gone and no sign of the world ending yet. It's a beautiful day outside.

I hear 'the world ending' was a great topic for discussion in the ministry today, although apparently, some people weren't even aware of this.

[jackmbd]

One thing all this hoopla has done, is dull people's senses even more, since many make light of the predictions and those who make them. I noticed a couple of days ago MSNBC even referenced an apostate site regarding the Witnesses. Now when we speak of Armageddon and the Kingdom coming, more will remember the failed predictions and dismiss our message. Satan is clever, but doomed, and he can't do anything about it.

[trottigy]

Thinking of making light ....

WHAT! !! You guys are all still here??? How is that possible! !!!

Well, it seems only God's Word is true and we will have to wait on Him.

[UpstateKate]

Bryan, I agree, another one of Satan's attempts to cause people to discredit the message we bring. I feel the same way about the popularity of zombies lately. I think it's Satan's way of distorting the resurrection hope. It makes people coming back from death a scary thing to be feared instead of a loving provision from our creator.

[Charlyx]

We spoke about this attempt from Satan to discredit the message we bring to people. But in another part, we can take advantage from the situation. In fact world's end is a subject people are about to consider, and here we are to show them not what we think, but what the Bible really teaches. The meek ones will recognize the sound of the truth and we will only have to pray Jehovah to gather them.

[Qapla]

I thought today's text was apropos to this thread ... and think, it was decided and printed more than a year ago.

Well, good to have the truth! ><

Off to the SAD today. )'>