2012: Science of Superstition (175-216)

Summary
The author wrapped up her evidence and explanations in this last section in the book with a chapter dedicated to her conclusion. Bruce stated that the 2012 meme is not really about the Mayan's Long Count Calendar that ended on Dec 21, 2012 but on what we believe personally of the theory. She said that it is all about us. Bruce also talked about Jean Gebser's book named Ever-Present Origin which analyzes the history of human culture and "of the different predominating modes of consciousness of each era" (Bruce 211). According to his book, there are five stuctures of human consciousness: The Archaic structure, The Magical structure, The Mythical structure, The Mental structure, and finally, The Integral structure. He believes that we are currently doing a transition from the Mental structure into the Integral structure. The main difference between the two is that the Mental structure is three-dimensional and "rational thinking has become primary and it is highly skeptical of all the other structures of consciousness" (Bruce 213) whereas the Integral structure is four- dimensional and is described as an "aperspectival world of transparency, where we see through things and perceive their true nature" (Bruce 214). According to both Bruce and Gebser, the 2012 meme presses all button of consciousness at every level.

Quote
"... I do not rule out at all the possibility that all of us are going to be looking at the mystery and meaning of life in a very different way, very soon and that date, 21st of December 2012, sticks in my mind as one that is really worthy of consideration" (Bruce 216).

Reaction
This is the very last quote of the book and I think it was well picked out. I believe that most of the world has already thought about the realism of the 2012 theory, even if they don't believe in it. At some point in this book, I actually had some credibility for the whole 2012 end of the world thing, yet, as I ended the book, that original feeling and thought of it remains. I don't believe anyone can tell when the world will end. Only God knows.