First we thought the world was going to end in 2000 with a computer vrise. Then we thought it was going to end on 6/6/06 cause the date was the same as the number of the beast. And now we think it's going to end 12/12/12 or December the 12th of 2012 thanks to the Mayan calender. I agree with the Mayans that something big will happen on that day but I doubt the world will truthfully end. I do belive how ever that the rapture is coming and it is close but I won't push it down anyone's throwts.
Oops! I almost forgot to say this. The Mayans were not the only people to predict the world to end in 2012 there were 4 other civilizations (or tribes) that also predicted that the world would end in 2012. The only thing was that the other 4 civilizations (or tribes) didn't have anything to really make their name known (for example the Mayans had that big calander thing with the I think it was 3 or 4 wheels in it and they were expert astronomers) while the other civilizations (or tribes) were just normal little communities.
I can prove the Mayan calander 2012 prediction false. That was the last thing that they wrote down as a prediction or what ever. Well maybe they all died the next day so they couldn't have made anymore predictions. Or they all just moved to a better location.
I think the Mayans ended the calender either because they didnt feel like it or they died out. Think about it. You'd have to stop somewhere, and people die so y'know.
Something about a planetary alignment? Don't see how that will end the earth. :P
go to the link posted on page one, it explains how the earth lines up exactly with the center of the milky way galaxy and that it could (hypothetically) cause the poles of the earth to change rapidly, causing earthquakes and volcanoes and tsunamis
That's also a very possible theory. People also think that the Mayans ended it because of some stupid aliens who hid crystal skulls all over the earth.
If you are interested in this subject, a small part of The Lost Symbol (Dan Brown) brings up interesting points and a interesting theory about this subject.