Astrology FAQ
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Probably a quarter of the earth's population believes in astrology to some extent, and a 1997 survey for Life magazine shows that about 48 percent of Americans believe that astrology is valid. Upwards of 30 percent believe it to such an extent that they mold their self-image on their astrological sign (which means that if their sign says that they are "aggressive," they view themselves as aggressive).
At least three-quarters of the newspapers in the United States carry daily horoscope columns. Upwards of 90 percent of people in the United States have described themselves as "open minded" about the veracity and usefulness of astrology.
But what is astrology? Where does it come from? What does it do, and how? Does it even work? All important questions - but rarely are those questions addressed from a skeptical or critical perspective. Most resources on astrology tend to be uncritical, accepting its claims at face vale. Not so here.
History & Basics
What is Astrology?
Astrology is a type of divination based upon the idea that information, usually either about the future or about a person's personality, can be discovered through an examination of "heavenly bodies" - stars, planets, the moon, comets, etc. Read about the different types of astrology and what they are supposed to do.History of Astrology
Astrology is an ancient belief system, with the earliest records of astrology date back to the Babylonian Empire in the 19th century BCE. However, not a great deal has changed over the millennia, with various doctrines and ideas continuing almost unchanged down through today.Who Cares?
Why bother to critique astrology at all? Even if it doesn't "work," isn't it harmless? Aren't skeptical critiques just a waste of time?Astrology and Psychology
Why do people believe in astrology? The answer to the question lies very much in the same realm as why people believe in just about any superstition. Astrology offers a number of things which many people find very desirable: information and assurance about the future, a way to be absolved of their current situation and future decisions, and a way to feel connected to the entire cosmos.
Critiques
Introduction
Introduction to why it is important to subject astrology and the claims made by astrologers to skeptical, scientific and rational critiques.Mechanism for Astrology
Why can't astrologers explain the mechanism by which objects in space influence our lives? Perhaps it is because there is no influence and, hence, no force to carry it.Constellations
Astrology has traditionally placed importance on the placement of constellations in the night sky - but why? Constellations are created by us and do not exist independently, so how can they influence our lives? This shows that astrology is not science, but magic.New Planets
If astrology is valid and scientific, how did it manage to operate for thousands of years without noticing three of our solar system's nine planets? Why did astronomers, using math and science, discover them first? The answer is that astrology is not scientific.Conception vs. Birth
Why does astrology rely upon the birth of a person rather than the conception? What makes the time of birth so important and time of conception so irrelevant?Twins: Identical, Fraternal and Astral
Can astrology predict the fates and character of identical and fraternal twins as well as genetics? No, and that indicates how astrology is not scientific.Mass Tragedies
If astrology can predict a person's fate, can astrology also predict the occurrence of mass tragedies? The answer is 'no', and this suggests that astrology is not credible.Statistical Correlations
Some astrologers claim that there are statistical correlations between celestial groupings and personality traits - but is that true and, if so, does it mean anything?Miscellaneous Questions
Miscellaneous questions about the validity and science of astrology. Is astrology a form of bigotry? What force carries astrological effects? (and more).
Astrology and Science
Astrology vs. Astronomy
Astrology and astronomy grew up together throughout a large portion of human history. The two cannot in fact be distinguished until only the past few hundred years, and because so many people mistakenly think that astrology is some kind of science, it often happens that the two are even today still confused with one another.Astrology: Art or Science?
Is Astrology an art or is it a science? This may seem like an odd question, but the fact of the matter is that astrologers appear to want to have it both ways. On the one hand, they claim that what they do is something like an art, requiring a particular "feel" for the nature of celestial events and human beings. On the other hand, they try to paint their work with the brush of scientific accuracy and validity in the hopes that such an association will help justify what they do.Astrology: Pseudoscience?
If astrology is not really a science, then is it possible to classify it as a form of pseudoscience? Most skeptics will readily agree with that classification, but only by examining astrology in light of some basic characteristics of science can we decide if such a judgment is warranted.
Concepts and Terminology
This is an glossary of various concepts and terminology used in astrology.
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