From: hudek@polaris.llnl.gov (David Hudek)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.newage
Subject: Another "coming changes" story
Date: 9 Jan 93 01:26:43 GMT
Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Labs, Livermore CA
Originator: hudek@roxanne.llnl.gov

<||>

The recent articles about the supposed "coming changes" sparked me to
offer up for discussion yet another... "speculative story", variations of
which I've read in several different places over the years. 

At one level, it basically claims that the Earth tends to physically
evolve in a rather catastrophic manner... when mountains are formed,
for instance, it is a sudden, wrenching event, rather than a slow gradual
buildup. This story claims that the Earth's crust is only loosely connected
to the underlying core of the planet and basically slides around over it
(seems consistent with plate tectonics theory; OK so far). Supposedly, 
for some reason these plates periodically shift and radically rearrange
position with great violence, causing massive damage and loss of life. Before
covering the possible cause of such a violent shift, the "tellers of the tale"
usually then bring out cases intended to support the case that such an event
has occured in the past. Unfortunately, they are only loosely connected,
circumstantial, and/or almost impossible for an average person to
independently verify.

They range from hearsay items such as numerous religions' common tales of an
ancient catastrophe where most of the world's population was wiped out,
but a few ocean-going folk survived (a la Noah's Ark) and other rumors
of ancient civilizations being lost when their continent's tectonic plate
lost out in the pushing battle with the other plates and became submerged
(e.g., Atlantis and Lemuria). Well, there are such stories, but that
doesn't make them true. It is interesting to note that they are supposedly
widespread among various religions and geographically separate cultures.

Some then display maps of the Western US and Pacific Rim and highlight the
"Ring of Fire" (earthquake and volcanic activity that roughly outlines the
borders of the Pacific Ocean)...  and suggest that there once was an exposed
continent (Mu) where the Pacific Ocean now lies, the continent supported by
the plate now submerged, and the Ring of Fire evidence of such a plate.
I'm not a geologist...  but it seems reasonable to assume that there could be 
such a plate. Its mere existence, however, offers no evidence that it ever
was above sea-level and/or that a civilization, advanced or otherwise,
once thrived there. Interesting if there was such evidence discovered by
underwater archeology... but I don't know of any.

Getting more concrete, they then mention cases of frozen animals discovered
in glaciers... animals normally associated with tropical climates,
apparently quick-frozen with supposedly tropical plants still partially
undigested in their stomachs. This one is interesting, but I haven't heard
of it being reported in the mainstream press. Couldn't say if it was
true or not. If true, it could suggest such a violent shifting of the
crust... with a radical shift in location.

They also mention cases of mysterious artificially constructed metallic
objects being discovered at various places around the world during mining
operations and suggest that these are evidence of former civilizations
destroyed during such an earth shift catastrophe 
("ancient walkman" perhaps? :-) ) The objects are supposedly made of
metallic alloys not normally found in nature. This one is very difficult
to believe unless one buys into a conspiracy theory (like the UFO fans),
as again there has been no mainstream press coverage. Such an event would
certainly be newsworthy. I would expect archaeologists to have a dig at
at least one of the sites in an attempt to uncover any further artifacts
and/or evidence of a former advanced civilization. Nothing on CNN. :-)

Another interesting but difficult to prove case is the claim of the existence
of an ancient map detailing the coast of Antartica, today not visible since
it's buried deep under ice. Supposedly, this map had detail only later
discovered and confirmed via sonar-like soundings on the continent, done
in an effort to map the earth surface beneath the ice.

I've never heard of the people who supposedly had the map and don't know
if anyone actually used sonar mappings to trace the continent below the ice.
If the claims are true, it's quite interesting... could suggest that that
part of the earth was located somewhere else at one time in a more temperate
zone, and that a civilization at least advanced enough to construct maps
existed then. It might alternatively suggest that the coast of Antartica,
still in its present location, was not always covered with such large ice
deposits... years and years ago, the coast might have been visible to
explorers and over time the ice built up to its present depth. Such a
buildup of ice is claimed later on...  Of course, it could all just be a hoax.

Let's see... then there's the claim that there is geological evidence in
surface material that the Earth's magnetic poles have shifted position
dramatically in the past, consistent with a sudden and large shifting of
the crust. I don't know if this is correct or not... for fun I sent a note
to sci.geo.geology to see what the 'experts' think.

Finally, the supposed mechanism causing the claimed periodic shifting...
The major theme centers around a weight imbalance caused by the buildup
of ice at one of the poles. Some of the stories seem to consider
the South Pole to be the likely culprit in the next shifting. Supposedly,
this imbalance will eventually cause the plates to once again violently
shift position and reach a new equilibrium, with rather devastating effects.
It would be interesting to see if there is any data on the estimated size
and mass of the polar caps over the last X years. As a counter-argument,
the greenhouse effect proponents have been claiming that the icecaps were
starting to recede/melt.  Don't know where they got their data, either.

Anyway, that's the physical side of yet another "coming changes" story
that's been floating around. There's a metaphysical side to the story as
well, dealing with "behind the scenes" organizations, the founding of the 
United States, the FreeMasons (by now degenerate public arm of one of the
behind-the-scenes "brotherhoods"), the architects of the Great Pyramid, 
extradimensional reality, May 5, 2000, Jesus, other prophets/Adepts,
Melchezidek, Hermetic philosophy, Quantum Physics, and reincarnation.
But if the physical side of the story is hard to prove, the metaphysical
side is nearly impossible!  :-)

Still, it's fun to speculate. If some of the stories are true, we'll
know soon enough. :-)

For some interesting reading, I've enjoyed:
"Polar Shift"		by Tom Valentine?
"5/5/2000" 		by "Richard Noone"
"The Ultimate Frontier" by "Eklal Kueshana" (pen-name for Richard Kieninger)
"Holographic Universe"	by Michael Talbot
"Beyond the Quantum"    by Michael Talbot
"The Tao of Physics"	by ??don't recall
"Life After Life"	by ??don't recall


dave hudek
< std. disclaimer: These are most definitely *personal* *opinions* only >
< I speak for no organization >

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