Credit: Bearman2007 (via Flickr)

With the latest big screen offering, “2012” a $200m production, based on myths that have their origin in the Mayan calendar, talking about the end of the world, there is no better time than this to write about such predictions.

Here are the top ten doomsday predictions that did not happen, based on a column by Benjamin Radford, in Live Science.

The Hen of Leeds (1806)

Throughout the centuries, there have been several people who claimed that Jesus Christ would return, but what happened in Leeds, England is the strangest proclamation ever. It is said that a hen started laying eggs on which “Christ is coming” was written.  This was huge news in those days and people were totally convinced that doomsday is nearing.  But one fine day, it was discovered by a local that it was all nothing but a hoax. The eggs were taken out, written on with corrosive ink and put back.

Millerites Mania (1843)

William Miller, a New England farmer, after going through the bible carefully told people that God’s chosen time to end the world is going to be on April 23, 1843.  He managed to convince people to an extent that it gave birth to Millerites, his followers. Many people believed his predictions to be true, so much so that they even went to the extent of giving away or selling their possessions.  But April 23 came and went with no sign of Jesus.  The Seventh Day Adventists are people from this group who have divided after the prophecy failed.

Mormon Armageddon (1891)

Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon church, held a meeting in February 1835 to tell church leaders that he had spoken to God and during the conversation he was told that Jesus would return within the next 56 years.

Televised Threat (1982)

In May 1980, televangelist and Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson shocked and alarmed his audience around the world by saying that he knew when the world would come to an end.  He said, “I guarantee you by the end of 1982 there is going to be a judgment on the world.”

Comet Catastrophe (1910)

In 1881, an astronomer found that comet tails contain cyanogens, which is a deadly gas related to cyanide.  This was just another bit of news until it was discovered that that Earth would pass through the tail of Halley’s comet in 1910. There was a lot of speculation that the Earth might be bathed in the toxic gas when it passes through the tail of the comet and it caused panic, until scientists intervened to tell people to calm down and that no such thing is going to happen.

Credit: Bostankorkulugu (via Flickr)

Alien Tailenders (1997)

In 1997, with the appearance of comet Hale-Bopp, there were rumors that an alien aircraft was following this comet. Heaven’s Gate, a UFO cult, based on these rumors, concluded that the world would end soon.  However, the world ended only for 39 of the cult members on March 26, 1997, when they committed suicide.

Nostradamus Revisited (1999)

For hundreds of years, people have found the metaphorical writings of Michel de Nostrdame intriguing. One of his most famous predictions read as, “The year 1999, seventh month/From the sky will come great king of terror.” Devotees were concerned that this was the vision of Armageddon.

Y2K Bug (2000)

Towards the end of the last century, with the coming of the computers, people began speculating that computers will trigger doomsday. They believed that PCs will not be able to tell the difference between 2000 and 1900 dates, and suggested problems leading to N-holocaust.

Ice Age (2000)

“5/5/2000 Ice: the Ultimate Disaster” written by Richard Noone says that by the year 2000, there would a three-mile thick mass of Antarctic Ice.  It was said that on this day, the planets would also be aligned in the heavens, and would somehow lead to a global icy death.

God’s Church Ministry (2008)

God’s Church minister Ronald Weinland predicted in 2006 that there will be death of millions of people by the end of 2006, and the world will face the worst times in human history within two years after that.  One of his predictions also said that the United States would no longer be the world’s most powerful nation.

Many people now say that these prophecies may not really happen.  However, when a new prediction is made, we can be sure that speculations will begin all over again.

You might also enjoy Worst Manmade Ecological Disasters and The War on Terrorism vs. Mother Nature: Death Tolls.

Who does a child need more, mother or father? The unanimous answer would be “both,” since the mother and the father have different influences on the child and both are essential to the overall emotional growth.

However, there are single women who do not wish to have a husband but wish to have children and are confident they can raise a child all by themselves. One of the popular methods of achieving this is the IVF or in vitro fertilization; wherein the ova (egg cells) are removed from the woman’s ovary and then fertilized with sperm, in a fluid. Once they are fertilized, the zygote (fertilized egg) is transferred to the woman’s uterus, and this establishes a pregnancy.

There are several sperm banks, where the sperm from volunteers is frozen and stored. There is no length of time that the sperm can be stored and people have even conceived from sperm frozen for more than 20 years.

This sperm supplied by the sperm banks is being increasingly used by women without a male partner and even by single or coupled lesbians. Until now, sperm banks had to abide by supportive parenting, before giving out the sperm, which means the sperm was not made available to most single women or lesbians.

The law makers were of the opinion that children without fathers are more likely to have behavioral problems, problems at school with drugs and drink.

However, in a recent landmark voting, MPs in UK voted that single women and lesbian couples be allowed to raise kids without dads. This vote was aimed at removing the requirement that fertility clinics need to consider a child’s need for a father. Although, the government was prepared for a defeat, it won the two votes with wide margins of 75 and 68.

This win is music to the ears of single women and lesbians who will be granted the right to raise kids by themselves. Sperm banks will no longer have to impose any restrictions on providing sperm to them, just because their children will not have a father or a male role model.

In case of lesbian couples, the new law will allow both partners to be recognized as parents when they conceive with the donor sperm or even when gay men use surrogacy. Currently, only the natural mother or father is considered a parent automatically when gay couples have fertility treatment.

This new law is not favored by all and many people believe it changes the whole concept of a traditional family setting. They say that it is like hammering a nail into the coffin of the traditional family and specifically the role of the father. Archbishop of York, John Sentamu said, “Is it not self-evident that the welfare and needs of a child are enhanced and met when there is a father present?”

The people who spoke on behalf of this law, said that this is not an issue in a country which, according to statistics, has almost three million children in single-parent heterosexual families and 91.2% of these families are headed by the mother. They also said that in reality, almost every lesbian couple who have children, work assiduously to ensure that there are male role models for their children, among the family members or good friends.

A poll was conducted last month, which revealed that while 32 percent of people were in favor of this proposal, 40 percent were against it. It is also interesting to note that this poll also shows that people aged 55 and over were strongly opposed while people in the age groups 18 to 34 were strongly in favor of reform. This should sum up the sentiments of people.

“The hour is coming, in fact has come, when the vocation of women is being acknowledged in its fullness, the hour in which women acquire in the world an influence, an effect and a power never hitherto achieved. That is why, at his moment when the human race is undergoing so deep a transformation, women imbued with a spirit of the Gospel can do so much to aid humanity in not falling.”

This message was from the Second Vatican Council many years ago.

However, this regard for women does not extend to allowing them to serve God as priests. Priesthood is considered to be the domain of men and women are not given entry, and women who force entry are not forgiven either.

The Vatican City made an announcement that women who try to ordain themselves or bishops who ordain women as priests will be automatically excommunicated from the church. People who are excommunicated from the Catholic Church cannot share in acts of public worship.

This decree, which was published in the Vatican daily, is said to absolute, universal and effective immediately. According to a Vatican spokesman, this decree reiterates in no uncertain terms, the ban that already exists in the form of Canon law of 1378, preventing women from being ordained as priests.

The Canon law states, “Both he who has attempted to confer holy orders on a woman, and the woman who has attempted to receive the said sacrament incurs in latae sententiae excommunication, reserved to the Apostolic See.”

This decree has been passed because of the many women trying to be ordained as Catholic priests. The most recent ordination attempt was by a woman named Kathy Redig from Winona, Minnesota, who participated in an ordination ceremony. The Bishop of Winona expressed his sadness that she has excommunicated herself by her actions. Vatican stands by the rule that only men can be priests.

There are said to be more than 20 ordained women priests throughout the world; however they are not recognized by the Vatican.

Archbishop Burke, who is considered to be an expert on Canon law, explained that even in 2002, two women were excommunicated due to participation in an invalid ordination ceremony.

According to Rev. Tom Reese, this new decree is meant to be a warning to the number of Catholics who are allowing women into priesthood. He thinks this is being done because the support for ordination of women is growing among Catholics and the Vatican wishes to make it clear in no uncertain terms that this is not acceptable.

The church says that they are just following the rules made by Christ and it is not in their hands to change them. Since Christ only chose men as his apostles, the church law clearly states that only males that are baptized can be ordained as priests.

However, supporters of women’s ordination say that Christ only acted based on the social norms that were prevalent at that time and that even in Christ’s teachings, there is nothing that reflects discrimination against women; on the contrary, all his words expressed honor and respect to women.

There is a big movie coming out in December that already has much of the Christian community in an uproar. The Golden Compass, based on the award-winning novel by the same name, has been much touted and stars some A-list Hollywood celebrities including Nicole Kidman. It has drawn much enthusiasm, and even more discord.

Promoting Atheism
The author of The Golden Compass, Phillip Pullman, is well publicized as atheist. There is a rumor that is based on aspects of truth that the Golden Compass was written to foil the Narnia series which is very pro religion. This would mean that they are anti-religion. In fact, The Golden Compass is actually part of a trilogy called His Dark Materials.

Pullman’s lack of faith coupled with the title of the series makes many religious groups, especially Catholics, very suspicious. And of course, one of the main themes throughout the book is overcoming the church’s influence. Even Snopes.com reports that the film is in fact a message against organized religion.

But is it?
The author stated on November 2 that he doesn’t care what religion people are and that the book and corresponding movie are about the way people treat each other and not about overthrowing the church.

In the book, the church has become extremely powerful and has becoming the governing body over the main character’s society. The church as governing body causes problems throughout the story, and eventually is overthrown. This is where the meat of the anti-church argument comes into play. Pullman, however, claims to have another message.

He feels that church does its best work far removed from the government. He is not anti-religion, but rather anti-religion as government. And even then he is not actually trying to sell that message through the books, despite what some groups claim.

Watering Down the Controversy
New Line Cinema, who created the film version of the movie, actually toned down any religious references quite a bit for the film. But even that isn’t enough to placate concerned parties. The feel unsuspecting parents will take their children to see the movie and then buy the series of books for their children to read. So even a watered down version of the movie will still prove dangerous if there are, in fact, antichristian views portrayed in the books.

Play it Safe
Perhaps the best way for parents to handle the issue is to skip the movie. But if you would rather not skip what looks to be an excellent film, simply discuss the issue with your child beforehand. When or if your children ask to read the book, encourage them to read and discuss the stories with you.

Read the material along with your child so that you can point out things that are just opinions or that differ from your own beliefs. Finally, understand the intended audience of the books are middle school and high school students rather than elementary. They are officially termed “young adult” which means younger children should be reading them alone anyway.