The term Earth Changes describes a belief that the world will soon enter on a series of catastrophic changes that will begin a major alteration in human life on the planet, including for example, major earthquakes, melting of the polar ice caps, shifting of the planetary axis, and other major events.[1] 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.[citation needed] 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 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 spiritual development and world peace.[6][8]
The term 'Earth Changes' to describe this apocalyptic sequence of events was used by the American psychic Edgar Cayce who made many prophesies of cataclysms involving the whole planet.[8][9] He claimed the polar axis would shift and that many areas now land would 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.[citation needed]
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.
External links
- Earth Changes Weekly - Tracks and reports on Earth Changes predictions and purported Earth Changes events
- "I Am America" Earth Change Map by Lori Toye
- Dr Chet Snow's Earth Change Map
- The New Heaven New Earth Earth Changes Composite Map
- Watson's Earth Changes/Earthquake Blog
- http://www.crawford2000.co.uk Hundreds of pages on Earth Changes and prophecy
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