Why do some people say that they don't "believe" in astrology...?

Question

...even though their personalities fit the personality profiles of their birth signs? Sun signs, moon signs, north nodes, etc.

Why do they think astrology is "evil?" What is the basis of this "belief?" Astrology, particularly spiritual astrology, is not about fortune telling or putting people into boxes, as some have said here in Y/A. For many it is a useful and often accurate system of interpretation and guidance--subject to error, yes, but, in my view, certainly not "evil." What's going on there? What do you think?

There is no division btw. "the stars" and the One who made the stars. If God created all of Creation, why ignore one aspect of Creation? Didn't the three wise men (astrologers) follow the star of Bethlehem to find the infant Jesus? (Btw, I do believe in God, and I know that God guides in many, many ways.)

"Why would I say this?" I think you meant why did I ask this? I posted the question because in my line of work , in my artistic life, and in my social life I am in touch with literally hundreds of people, and every now and then I meet someone, usu. a strict fundamentalist Christian, Muslim, atheist, etc. (many dif. faiths) who absolutely rejects astrology or denounces it. Even though I respect everyone's right to choose what they believe, I am simply asking here what is the basis of believing that astrology is wrong. No one has ever given me an adequate explanation. Astrology is indeed deeply spiritual. What is the basis of believing that it is evil or wrong?

I said nothing about guiding other people. Since astrology is open to interpretation, as is any symbol system in life (inc. scripture or this Y/A post), each person must take responsibility for what they choose to believe or what guidance they discern--and to even let that interpretation evolve in time.

A quote fr. Jan Spiller's Astrology for the Soul:

"Astrology, if explored from a psychological or scientific level, has nothing to do with belief. It's practical. It has to do with gaining knowledge and doing experiments. Are the psychological profiles offered by astrology useful tools of self-knowledge for you? Are the timing predictions astrology can make (when based on your full chart) helpful in using your time more effectively?...it is important to listen to our own inner knowing and past experiences." (p. 2)

DEAR Y/A PEOPLE: PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POST BEFORE YOU ANSWER. NO ONE HERE IS CLAIMING THAT ASTROLOGY IS A "PURE" SCIENCE OR BELIEF SYSTEM. THESE POINTS ARE NOT RELEVANT HERE, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE SOMEWHAT HELPFUL. I AM ONLY INTERESTED IN REASONED ANSWERS. READ AND THINK BEFORE YOU REACT. THANK YOU. PEACE.

Answer 1

This is actually a very good question. It's also nice to see that when you refer to a person fitting their 'sign' you refer to all the planets, not just the sun.

The thing is, understanding of how the science works (for the person just getting started) can sometimes be a hard concept to grasp. They know only the little sun sign horoscope that they read in the paper. They have read snippets of sun sign descriptions, and thought "That's not me!".

What they don't realize is that the energies listed for each sign can run the gambit from black to white with all shades of gray in between. We are not ALL these things, in that human free will allows us to choose how to use these energies.

For Example: The energy of Mercury is communication. At it's best it is the counselor who teaches people to communicate, at it's worst it is the gossip who carries malicious tales from one person to another which causes hurt, anger, and animosity. Same energy, different uses. The Mercury energy is at work in everyone of every sign, although most of us tend to think of the two mercury ruled signs: Gemini and Virgo.

There is an old adage: It's not what you know, but what you don't know that will hurt you.

This seems to be the case in astrology, in that it is so often misunderstood by the neo-novice. It's not a cut and dried set of descriptions. There are too many other influences that come into play. The non believers don't have enough information to make a real decision, and they are not willing to learn what they need to know to make an informed decision. It's a lose/lose situation.

There are some bible quotes that say not to pay any heed to fortune tellers or astrologers. As we all know, times were very different back then. There were many charlatins who claimed to know the future. But most kings had an astrologer to understand the chart of their holdings, just as countries have their own charts today. The bible also says that one can not buy or sell dogs, but the translation has left out the fact that when that verse was written that the Gentiles were referred to as dogs, it did not mean canines.

Fear, misunderstanding, and mistrust make people afraid of what they do not know or do not understand.

However, I am seeing more and more serious students, who are interested in far more than 'who's the cutest, smartest, blah, blah, blah.' So I always try to answer questions that are thoughtful in nature.

Appreciate the thought you put into your question, and thank you for posting it.

Answer 2

Everyone is writing long answers to this question so I believe I should also have my say. I am one of the 'non-believers' you mentioned. Here are my points:

1) First of all, stars are huge masses of burning hydrogen and planets are composed of heavier elements formed due to gravity. There is no way, whatsoever, for a few billion tonnes (or more) of burning gas to determine, or in any way influence the life or personality of a human being. Prove me wrong. If you give me an example of the extraordinary accuracy of a certain prediction I'll give you a thousand examples where the prediction was off by a long margin despite the fact that these predictions are usually vague enough to mean a million different things. If a system can neither be proved nor be used to provide consistently accurate results, why should someone believe in it? The few correct guesses it makes can be attributed to simple probability.

2) If you choose to pursue the topic from a religious perspective, please refer me to a religious text which clearly mentions that stars and planets have an influence over people. If you find one (you probably will due to the abundance of religions practiced all over the world) read all of the text and you will no doubt find countless other things in it that have been proved wrong by modern science. Ask yourself a question: 'The Incans believed that the Sun was a god, why don't we?' The answer is simple: 'We know what the sun actually is, the Incans didn't.' Similarly, people of ancient times didn't actually know what stars were and thus attributed mystical qualities to these heavenly bodies. Now-a-days, stars are defined using equations, mass, emission spectra, etc. We know exactly what stars are and from what we know, they do not and cannot influence the lives of people here on Earth. A few centuries ago, Europeans used to believe that Indian rope tricks were 'black magic'. Now that they know the technical secrets, it has become a common stage act.

As far as I believe (and I am still to be proven wrong) astrology is not 'evil' but is baseless, unpractical and something that should not be encouraged.

P.S. - I tried to be entirely factual and logical in my answer and I'm sorry if anyone is offended by it.

Answer 3

People who work throughout their lives in astrology never say any foolish thing. These pundits or learned people can tell exactly at what time a solar eclipse starts and ends. They can predict by calculations that after 40/50 years the earth will be hit by a meteorite or when there will be a great earthquake and it generally happens. They can make horoscopes that are generally successful in guiding people.

Currently we are under the sway of the modern materialistic world view, which sees each effect as having an antecedent material cause. Let us analyze this world view more closely. First, it assumes that the material world is all that exists. Energy, whether in kinetic form or appearing as the electromagnetic spectrum, is merely another form of matter and vice versa: E=mc2.
All effects come from an antecedent material or energetic cause and no effect can take place without some contact, be it physical or energetic, between the mover and the moved. Second, this world view assumes that the cause precedes the effect and that the mechanism that transmits the cause to the effect takes some, though possibly a very small, amount of time.
If this world view is accepted, then astrology is indeed irrational and unscientific because it depends, at least partially, on non-material and non-energetic connections and causality. Yet how accurate is the mechanistic model when it rejects this type of connection and causality?


Recent discoveries in the area of quantum physics have shown that the mechanical world view does not always appear to operate on the sub-atomic level. The physicist Fritjof Capra notes,

"In subatomic physics local variables are represented by connections between spatially separated events through signals-particles and networks of particles-that respect the usual laws of spatial separation. For example, no signal can be transmitted faster than the speed of light. But beyond these local connections other, nonlocal connections have recently emerged; connections that are instantaneous and cannot be predicted, at present, in a precise mathematical way...Whereas in classical physics the properties and behavior of the parts determine those of the whole, the situation is reversed in quantum physics: it is the whole that determines the behavior of the parts."







people declare this phrase with such conviction, "I don't believe in astrology." that's good.that's a healthy attitude because astrology is not a religion, nor will it ever be. Belief systems have nothing to do with astrology. Astrology isn't something that you can pray to, it won't save your soul, and it won't speak comforting words to you in times of despair. In fact, worship based on astrology is,as absurd as worshiping your compass, computer, or automobile. The reason is simple, astrology is fundamentally a tool that serves a purpose, it is not a deity and it has no supernatural powers that I know of.



Astrology is more like a window, a map, or a picture that expresses possibilities and trends that surround and approach you. What you do with these visions of opportunities or challenges is entirely up to you. Free will to exercise your own good judgment is always an option--astrology is not a formal pronouncement on your fate. However, in order to get practical results from astrology, you have to learn how to use it as a tool, or find someone who knows how, so that you can gain an understanding of your opportunities to reap maximum benefits.

In all of Shakespeare's 37 plays there are more than a hundred allusions to astrology, and many of his characters' actions are said to be favored or hindered by the stars. The signs of the zodiac are mentioned in six of Shakespeare's plays,

Think of King Lear, who sinned knowingly and scoffed at the stars. Or Prospero in Shakespeare's The Tempest, who defied the stars and then used them to his benefit. The "star-cross'd" Romeo believed the poison from the apothecary was the only thing that would "shake the yoke of inauspicious stars" from his "world-wearied flesh." And Anthony, in Julius Caesar, attributed his first defeat to the fact that the stars had forsaken him, blaming the moon's eclipse for his ultimate fall.
One of humanity’s greatest poets said it best: “The fault is not in our stars, but in ourselves”. Indeed.

Answer 4

I have also found that some people's religions prohibit the use and study of astrology. And I think, just as there are those who haven't read your question through, many know little of astrology beyond what is said about their Sun sign and aren't willing to explore it further. For instance, I am a Virgo with a Gemini Asc., but it is my Scorpio moon that comes across most strongly. If I hadn't looked more deeply into astrology, I really would have questioned it's accuracy, because some of my Virgonian traits are obscured by the semi-square to my Scorpio moon.

In addition, the proliferation of "phony" psychics, astrologers, and the newspaper-style daily predictions make astrology look foolish and like a con-job. It is difficult for people to find real psychics and astrologers that they can trust; therefore, they mistrust them all.

Answer 5

It is not my nature to believe blindly. Yes, I'm ignorant, but if at all possible I really want to know including the hows and whys. How hard is it?

Also WHICH is the right one? How do you know? After centuries there is no consistency of any kind. If astrology has truth, belief should total non-factor. But belief is crucile, because it is a paranormal money making concept. Not science.

The problem is lack of evidence. Where is testable evidence that can make astrology valid. In history books, is there a number of science events that changed the world for better or worse. Religion has also changed history. These are facts. Where is any event in history history that astrology did the same?

From your statement: "Astrology, if explored from a psychological or scientific level, has nothing to do with belief. It's practical. It has to do with gaining knowledge and doing experiments." Well experiments have been done. In controlled testing astrology fails to do better than chance. There are many here that have studied astrology for years. Can any say that they are even remotely close to providing any evidence that can be validated? Is it possible that astrology is just delusional thinking?

Finally, the thing that is worst in astrology is the bigotry. It excels to stereotype and pigeon-hole based on date of birth. No one has control of what race they are. Or nationality, sex or even hair color. To assume all blond females are stupid is a bigoted view. But there is nothing wrong with astrology's natural bigotry when it applies to relationships.

Answer 6

This world is combined with people from all walks of life there are those that do believe and those that do not.
When one speaks of astrology another presumes this to mean the daily horoscope in some newspaper and this hastens them to discredit it.
But real astrology is something that CANNOT be seen as frivolous. I dont answer many questions on here relating to astrology as I know there are ardent skeptics who get easily upset.
Recently I went through a phase in my life which was supposed to go one way but went in the opposite direction I consulted an astrologer on this and they had said how a few months ago there was some kind of comet or a remnant of a comet or something planetary that messed things up for a great deal of people.
There maybe others who are more clued up on Astrology than I am that can give much better informed insight but with your question I will answer by saying that there are many people who do not believe even in themselves.

Answer 7

I think some ppl think astrology's evil b/c they've been told that astrologers, psychics, palm readers, etc., are all Satanic.
Another reason may be b/c of fear. When something reveals aspects of one's life accurately...that can be a huge pill to swallow.

I'm not really sure where I stand on the issue, but I seems rather strange that some descriptions of people born under a certain sign are accurate. I used to read my horoscope daily for amusement purposes, then I discovered a website (http://novareinna.com/constellation/) that was right on the money...and I was totally shocked! I felt like someone had been sneaking into my house and taping excerpts of my life. I was so wild...

Answer 8

To keep it short; because they don't look further than their own back yard. That back yard is sun sign astrology. So they believe that astrology is just the astrology they see in their back yard.

Some who argue the study of astrology do know a bit more about astrology, but get stuck on the technical part and never get through to the meaningful part; the reading of the charts. They could tell you that it is implausible that moving planets have any effect on your persona, but they can't tell you what it means for someone to have Mercury conjunct the moon in Libra. Because they simply don't know. So they're in the local park. A bit further than those who only look as far as their back yard, but not far enough yet.

And it is the knowledge of what every aspect, position, planet, house and sign means, that puts you in the Amazone. Only then you can say with absolute certainty whether or not Astrology is worth believing in.

Then again, as I've always said; Astrology is not a matter of belief - only a matter of knowledge.


But, like I mentioned before, it's those people who can't look past a certain point (own back yard, local park) who are still under the impression that Astrology is a belief, and more importantly supersticious. For the first group it is simply because they have no idea that Astrology goes further than just the sun signs, for the second group it is because they have no knowledge on how to interpret the charts, only on how the charts are drawn.

I used to be the first group, until I found out there was more to Astrology than just the sun signs. I found that out by trying to prove it wrong. I first taught myself interpretations and it was only later that I taught myself how to calculate a chart and which would be the most logical house system (although I still use Placidus, this *isn't* the most logical house system... you'll find out why when you have to draw a chart for someone born above the north polar circle... it is, however, a time based system and time based seems most logical for houses, because the Ascendant can only be calculated with the birth time)

So I never made it into the second group - just by learning how to interpret charts before learning how to calculate them. Of course, anyone who is going to get themselves an Astrology basics book - and there are far too many of those - don't take them on word for word; they are books written by people (astrologers are just as much subject to making errors as anyone else, they're only human after all; they're not necessarily psychics because you don't need any gifts to practice astrology. A good psychological insight is a must-have, though.). Astrology basics books are NOT BIBLES! So if a book says that mercury in sagittarius is prone to small talk, note that this is written with an unaspected mercury in mind. In 99% of people's charts, there is going to be at least one planet aspecting mercury and offering it an influence typical to that planet. So of course not everyone with mercury in sagittarius is going to be prone to small talk, depending on what aspect other planets make to it, and how they influence it.

Answer 9

Fantastic question, kudos. (and God love you for pointing out the other planets)

I have faith in God, and use (<~~keyword) astrology.

I have been studying astrology for years, and when refuting the claims that astrology is considered "evil" especially via biblical text, it's important to keep history in mind. Historically, the term "astrologer" referred to pagan worshipers and fortune tellers, whether using the stars or not. This is often what is meant by the biblical abominations.

(I love talking about this with people, so rarely do I see someone willing to engage in unbiased discussion about it, lol someday I hope to write a book "Jesus Was a Capricorn" if it weren't for that darn Kris Kristofferson, perhaps "The Virgo Mary" instead lol)

Here's a question I answered a few months ago about the bible and astrology....

"What does the bible say about astrology? specialy in the NT?"

A: "nothing in the NT directly, all in the old testament, the poster above provided the verses...

but some speculate that each of the four gospels have a sort of symbolism of the four elements,

matthew being the element of air, an element commonly associated with communication, this being the gospel that has the majority of Jesus' words and sermons, communicating the faith

Mark being the element of earth, well-grounded, matter of factly written and "down to earth" in this gospel

Luke being the element of fire, the element associated with higher learning, (Luke was a physician), truth and logical thinking

and John, being the element of water, emotion and love, mutalitity. This is the gospel that focuses on God's love for humans. Also commonly associated with this gospel is the water sign scorpio, which is the sign of death and regeneration, as in Jesus' crucifixion.

Also in matthew, the scripture indicates that the 3 wise men were led by a star, some interpret this to mean that the wise men were possibly astrologers.

You are entitled to your own belief, but I personally view astrology as a tool to help us understand each other better, given the personality traits commonly associated with each sign. I think of this tool as nothing other than a divine gift from God.

I'll never understand why many christians claim to have faith in a higher power, but claim that all supernatural works are of the devil. This assumes that God would not give us such a gift, and I believe God has. To each their own i guess
3 months ago
Source(s):
I got this from a Christian website...

"We believe in an intelligent, personal God who has created the universe and each of us in it. The stars “reveal the handiwork of God” giving us a map of the terrain of our life. We do not believe the chart is a fatalistic or deterministic predictor, but reveals the plan the Creator has for our lives and how an understanding of our chart can assist us on our Christian path. We have found astrology to be a helpful tool for revealing the gifts, capacities and destiny that God has uniquely created in each one of us. "

http://www.cdmucc.com/christian_astrolog...


From my own personal experience, astrology is more often than not, correct in discribing people and how to have better relationships with them.

Given that, I refuse to believe the devil has that much power to do good. Only God does.

EDIT: LOL I just realized what this looks like with my avatar and everything... oh well. I'm not saying you should use astrology, just saying i do."

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Av_HmKFrLoRWjHA38mKWD5Xty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20070831013252AApnABc&show=7#profile-info-UuBYaDhPaa

Answer 10

So, my personality fits my zodiac profile. With the same level of rationale, my personality fits EVERY zodiac profile, just like most folks I know.

I used to read tarot cards for money, the meanings are vague enough that you can fit them by any event or emotional state that the client may be in (or, even better, could potentially be in!).

There's a guy out now by the name of Derren Brown. He's a British magician guy who makes that Chris Angel pud look like, well, a pud.

He has one trick where he distributes numbered folders to eight to twelve people in a co-ed group, and has them trace their handprint on it, insert a lock of hair, and some other similarly meaningless, but seemingly personal artifacts. He then writes a three-page personality profile for each person, and passes them out by number. Well, predictably, each person reads their profile and says it is 'like he is in my head,' 'known me my whole life,' saw inside my spirit,' etc. etc.

Then he admits he may have mixed them up. Of course, the subjects deny the possibility. "No way! This is so me! Perfect! To a tee!'

He makes the subjects trade profiles. Then again. Then again. The profiles are ALL EXACTLY THE SAME. Then, he shows you that he did this in several countries, with several groups of different ethnicities, ages, and walks of life. The profiles are ALWAYS THE SAME.

This just tells me that humans are not so different from each other. We all want to believe that there is sense and order to why we do what we do, and, more importantly, feel what we feel. Religion does this better than the pseudo-sciences (astrology, numerology, tarot, throwing chicken bones, or reading tea leaves, whatever).

After all, the faithful find proof all around them.

I don't think it's 'evil.' A tad silly? Yes. Evil? No.

I do not believe in fate or predestination, at all. Besides, the stars weren't in those positions when I was born. They were in those positions anywhere from a few hundred to hundred thousand years before I was born.

I admit that there is a level of 'primitive wisdom' to many traditions, just not this one. Seven, nine, thirteen. and twenty one were power numbers because someone knew they were PRIME numbers, evenly divisible by one and themselves, only. Try to communicate that to someone who has never heard of algebra, because it didn't exist. They just think of them as 'special' or 'power numbers.'

Look up Rosicrucianism. This is the origin of so-called 'Hermetic magic.' Quite enlightening when you see where these trappings of mysticism come from.