There's more than one course mentioning a new world in December of 2012.
One of few is roman pope prophesy for example,it states that there will be 267 popes, Benedict is 265Th.
But who's to say that they're not prophesizing the fall of the catholic church? Or reform in the catholic church?
IMO, prophesy ALWAYS (if it's true or not, your call) has more than one meaning, and people will interpret it as they wish. Man naturally wants to know when it will go extinct, as it's not a matter of if, but when, and our curiosity is perked by that. We want to know how, and if we'll go through it, and if so, when can we expect it?