Are you ready for the end?

Lately with all of the birds falling out of the sky, fish dying and with 2012 on our heels people have been talking about the end of the world. I've been reading a lot about what some people have to say about the so-called Mayan 2012 end of world predictions and the one thing I've seen the most is proselytizing. People are trying to convert sinners to a "righteous path" by instilling the fear of the end of the world coming soon. As devious as that is, it is something that has been going on for centuries. But it did get me thinking. If everyone is so fearful and convinced that the end of the world is coming December 21, 2012, are you ready?

Christianity is the largest religious group world wide with an estimated 2.1 billion members, or 33% of the world's population with Islam and Hinduism coming in second and third with 21 and 14% respectively(www.adherents.com). It is fair to say that most religions follow dogma that requires its followers to live a good life and be kind to others in order to pass on to a "heaven" lest they go to "hell." So with all of this worrying about the end of the world, shouldn't we start seeing a kinder gentler world in preparation for the end of the world as we know it?

I personally have not witnessed more caring, loving, repenting going on. I can only conclude that this fear is of the actual end, and not what comes after. It makes me suspect of religion. Christianity alone holds great power in the world. It has at least 2.1 billion people, and a million other non Christians spending billions of dollars a year on Christmas gifts and trees, and decorations. How is it that it can't bring comfort and security to all of those people awaiting the end of the world? There's an old saying in the south, "If you're scared, go to church," I guess they were wrong about that.

I see sons mistreating their mothers, co-workers backstabbing co-workers, businesses and government agencies taking advantage of the poor. People are behaving as badly as ever. I even read that people have been calling NASA to inquire about the so-called Mayan predictions and one woman said she considered killing her children and herself so they wouldn't have to endure the end of the world. I guess she was agnostic. This goes back to faith. What is religion really doing for people if there is so much fear and distress in the world. What is it doing for people if there is still so much oppression, greed, violence, lying, thievery, and sexual deviance in the world?

Studies I've read say that the Maya Long Count calendar is merely going back to zero after December 21, 2012 and starting a new cycle, that there are no predictions of any sort in any Mayan documents found. The keeping of time, after all, is a man made thing. As reprehensible as it is for religious groups to promote fear in order to get people to repent in preparation for the "end of the world," I can kind of see why they would do it. But why not just promote living righteously and being good to each other because it is the right way to live? Isn't that what "religion" is supposed to do? Love is my religion, maybe everyone should join me.