From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The term "Earth Changes" refers to the belief
that the world will soon enter on a series of cataclysmic events
causing major alterations in human life on the planet. This
includes "natural events" (such as major earthquakes, the
melting of the polar ice caps, a pole shift of the
planetary axis, major weather events and so on[1])
as well as huge changes of the local and global social and
political systems. Apocalyptic predictions of this sort have
been common across a variety of religious traditions (see Eschatology) going back
at least as far as the story of Noah. In the 16th century, Earth changes were
among the prophecies of Nostradamus[2][3][4],
who predicted that the apocolyptic Earth changes would be caused by
the Anti-Christ sometime around the year 2000 and would kill 2/3 of
all humanity[5].
In modern times beliefs in Earth changes are prevalent in certain
segments of the New Age
movement[6],
often associated with other predictions by people claiming to have
psychic abilities[4].
Belief in Earth changes is also found among Native Americans,
some of whom refer to the concept as "the Great Purification"[7].
These beliefs have occasionally been associated with Christian
millennialism and beliefs about UFOs[1].
Some New Age adherents believe that Earth changes will preface a
"Golden Age" of spirituality and world peace[6][8].
The term 'Earth Changes' was coined by the American psychic Edgar Cayce, who
himself also made many prophesies of cataclysmic events involving
the whole planet[8][9].
He claimed the polar axis would shift and that many areas that are
now land would again become Ocean floor, and that Atlantis would rise from the
sea[9].
The belief that the California coast would slip into the sea -- a
common feature of Earth Changes predictions -- originated with
Cayce's alleged prophecies. In more recent times, self-proclaimed
psychic Gordon-Michael Scallion has issued a variety of prophecies
centering on the concept of 'Earth Changes' and publishes a monthly
newsletter, The Earth Changes Report.
Prophecies of Earth changes have been described as a form of scientism, in which
terminology and ideas borrowed from science are used to rationalize
non-scriptural apocalyptical thought based on visionary
experiences[4].
David
Spangler, a leader of the Findhorn Foundation spiritual
community, described prophecies of Earth changes as an expression
of collective fear and anger, rather than as foretelling of actual
future events[10].
See also
References
- ^ a
b
Barkun, Michael (2006). A Culture
of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America.
University of California Press. p. 172. ISBN
0520248120.
- ^ Thurston, Mark (1997). Millennium
Prophecies. Kensington Books. pp. 117. ISBN
1575661438.
- ^ Bear, Sun; Wabun Wind (1992). Black Dawn,
Bright Day: Indian Prophecies for the Millennium that Reveal the
Fate of the Earth. Simon and Schuster. pp. 27. ISBN
0671759000.
- ^ a
b
c
Hammer, Olav (2004). Claiming
Knowledge: Strategies of Epistemology from Theosophy to the New
Age. BRILL. pp. 243–244. ISBN
900413638X.
- ^ Laqueur, Walter (1997). Fin de siècle and
other essays on America & Europe. Transaction Publishers.
pp. 40. ISBN
1560002611.
- ^ a
b
Lewis, James R.; J. Gordon Melton
(1992). Perspectives on the New Age. SUNY Press.
p. 12,64,204. ISBN
079141213X.
- ^ Sun Bear; Wabun Wind (1992). Black Dawn,
Bright Day: Indian Prophecies for the Millennium that Reveal the
Fate of the Earth. Simon and Schuster. pp. 67. ISBN
0671759000.
- ^ a
b
Partridge, Christopher Hugh (2003).
UFO Religions. Routledge. p. 118. ISBN
0415263247.
- ^ a
b
Hanegraaff, Wouter J. (1998). New
Age Religion and Western Culture: Esotericism in the Mirror of
Secular Thought. SUNY Press. p. 353. ISBN
0791438546.
- ^ Smoley, Richard; Jay Kinney (2006).
Hidden Wisdom: A Guide to the Western Inner Traditions.
Quest Books. pp. 292–3. ISBN
0835608441.
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