Discovering our destiny
by Simon Jones

Are we becoming obsessed with finding hidden answers to our destiny?

With the words "WWWIII"; "biological warfare" and "nuclear war" filling the pages of the daily chronicles, the horrific terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon have created an uncertain, frightening future. The world's leaders give nothing away. So, as with many major events, some have sought to find hidden answers, conspiracies - anything to make the uncertain - certain.

Up pops the name Nostradamus and a series of mysterious predictions that apparently foresee the events of that fateful day.

1) "In the year of the new century and nine months, From the sky will come a great King of Terror. The sky will burn at forty-five degrees. Fire approaches the great new city."

2) "In the city of York there will be a great collapse, two twin brothers torn apart by chaos while the fortress falls; the great leader will succumb; third world war will begin when the big city is burning."

3) "In the city of God there will be a great thunder, Two brothers torn apart from chaos, while the fortress endures,
the great leader will succumb. The third big war will begin when the big city is burning." Michel Nostradamus, 1654.

The first and second quotes turned out to be fake. In fact, elaborate misinterpretations of the third quote, another fake.

To perhaps illustrate how gullible people can be, Neil Marshall, a student from Brock University, Canada constructed the prophecy in the 1990s in a website about Nostradamus. He kept the quote suitably vague in a "one quote fits all" approach that could be attributed to any future world catastrophe. Despite the quote being allegedly penned by Nostradamus some 88 years after his death, it didn't stop many to question its authenticity.

In an age of miraculous scientific discoveries, it is ironic that we are getting more reliant on New Age beliefs that cannot be scientifically proven. A future where genetic engineering and global warming play a major part is undeniably scary for most people. To seek solace we are putting our faith in alternative sciences that offer a perceived direct influence on our own personal lives.

Feng Shui, crystal therapy and astrology attract those who believe that intangible forces are at work that are yet to be discovered. Forces that are so complex that even science cannot rationalise. Astrology is used to map out our destiny and by arranging our furniture according to the principles of Feng Shui we are guaranteed good luck. Sciences that are irrational, superstitious, even, in nature and could have no correlation between the random events that take place in our personal lives.

Astrology and psychic readings are often used (intentionally or otherwise) to provide a direction in life for people who are stuck in a rut, need inspiration or are disillusioned. If any events predicted come about they could be as result of conscious decision making rather than being coincidental.

With scientific discoveries continually being made that disprove or contradict others before them, the public perception of science is less credible than it used to be. Science seems to have a lot to learn, so it is not surprising that New Age beliefs have received a lot of interest and have become all the more believable.