Human beings are always looking for narratives to help them connect their past, present, and future aspirations and expectations, and this is where astrology comes in.
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Is it true that many believe in astrology?
Christine Smallwood’s fascinating piece, “Astrology in the Age of Uncertainty:
Astrology is currently experiencing widespread popular acceptability that has not been seen since the 1970s. The transition began with the introduction of the personal computer, was expedited by the Internet, and has now reached new levels of speed thanks to social media. According to a Pew Research Center poll from 2017, about a third of Americans believe in astrology.
Astrology, like psychoanalysis before it, has infiltrated our collective vernacular. At a party in the 1950s, you could have heard someone talk about the id, ego, or superego; now, it’s normal to hear someone explain herself using the sun, moon, and rising signs. It isn’t just that you are aware of it. It’s who’s saying it: folks who aren’t kooks or deniers of climate change, who don’t find a conflict between utilizing astrology and believing in science…
I ran a short Google search and discovered the following Pew report from October 2018:
The religion breakdown was the only thing that surprised me about this table.
I had the impression that mainline Protestants were the rational ones, but they believe in astrology at the same rate as the overall population.
But, hey, I guess they’re ordinary Americans, so they have average American ideas.
Only 3% of atheists believe in astrology, which is also unexpected.
This makes sense, yet it seemed reasonable to me that someone may not believe in God but believe in other supernatural things: in fact, I could see astrology as a type of replacement for a traditional religious system.
But it appears that is not the case.
Brian Wansink has been compared to an astrologer who can make astute observations about the world based on a combination of persuasiveness and qualitative understanding, and then attributes his success to tarot cards or tea leaves rather than a more practical ability to synthesize ideas and tell good stories.
Does Brian Wansink, on the other hand, believe in astrology?
What about Marc Hauser, Ed Wegman, Susan Fiske, and the rest of the bunch who call their detractors “second-string, replication police, methodological terrorists, Stasi, and so on?”
I doubt they believe in astrology because it symbolizes a rival belief system: it’s a business that, in some ways, competes with rah-rah Ted-talk science.
I wouldn’t be shocked if famous ESP researchers believe in astrology, but I get the impression that mainstream junk-science supporters in academia and the news media feel uncomfortable discussing ESP since its research methods are so similar to their own.
They don’t want to be associated with ESP researchers because it would devalue their own study, but they also don’t want to put them under the bus because they are fellow Ivy League academics, so the safest plan is to remain quiet about it.
The greater point, however, is not astrology believing in and of itself, but the mental state that allows individuals to believe in something so contrary to our scientific understanding of the world.
(OK, I apologize to the 29% of you who don’t agree with me on this.)
When I return to writing on statistical graphics, model verification, Bayesian computation, Jamaican beef patties, and other topics, you can rejoin the fold.)
It’s not that astrology couldn’t be correct a priori:
We can come up with credible hypotheses under which astrology is real and amazing, just as we can with embodied cognition, beauty and sex ratio, ovulation and voting, air rage, ages ending in 9, and all the other Psychological Science / PNAS classics.
It’s just that nothing has come up after years of rigorous research.
And the existing theories aren’t particularly convincing: they’re speculative world models that may be good if the purpose was to describe a real and enduring occurrence, but they’re less so without actual data.
Anyway, if 30% of Americans are willing to believe such nonsense, it’s no surprise that a significant number of influential American psychology professors will have the kind of attitude toward scientific theory and evidence that leads them to have strong beliefs in weak theories with no supporting evidence.
Indeed, not only support for specific weak theories, but support for the fundamental principle that pseudoscientific views should be treated with respect (although, oddly enough, maybe not for astrology itself).
P.S.In defense of the survey respondents (but not of the psychology professors who support ideas like the “critical positivity ratio,” which makes astrology appear positively sane in comparison), belief in astrology (or, for that matter, belief in heaven, gravity, or the square-cube law) is essentially free.
Why not believe these things, or not believe them?
Belief or denial in evolution, climate change, or unconscious bias, on the other hand, can have social or political consequences.
Some opinions are purely personal, while others have a direct impact on policy.
I have less patience for famous academic and media elites who aggressively support junk science by not just expressing their trust in speculative notions supported by no real data, but also attacking those who point out these emperors’ nudity. Furthermore, even a hypothetical tolerant, open-minded supporter of junk sciencethe type of person who might believe in critical positivity ratio but actively support the publication of criticisms of that workcan still cause some harm by contaminating scientific journals and the news media with bad science, and by promoting sloppy work that takes up space that could be used for more careful research.
You know how they say science corrects itself, but only because individuals are willing to correct themselves?
Gresham’s law is also true, but only when people are willing to distribute counterfeit notes or money they think is counterfeit while keeping their lips shut until they can get rid of their wads of worthless stock.
P.P.S.Just to be clear:I don’t think astrology is a waste of time, and it’s possible that Marc Hauser was onto something real, even while faking data (according to the US government, as mentioned on Wikipedia), and the critical positivity ratio, ovulation, voting, and all the rest…
Just because there isn’t enough evidence to support a theory doesn’t mean it’s untrue.
I’m not trying to disprove any of these assertions.
All of it should be published someplace, along with all of the criticism.
My issue with junk science proponents isn’t simply that they advocate science that I and others perceive to be rubbish; they can also be wrong!
However, they consistently avoid, deny, and oppose valid open criticism.
P.P.P.S.Remember that #notallpsychologists.
Of course, the problem of junk research isn’t limited to psychology in any way.
Professors of political science, economics, sociology, and history, to the extent that they believe in astrology, spoon bending, or whatever (that is, belief in “scientific paranormalism as describing some true thing about the natural world, not just a “anthropological recognition that paranormal beliefs can affect the world because people believe in it), this could also sabotage their research.
I suppose it’s not such a big problem if a physicist or chemist believes in these things.
I’m not attempting to shut down study into astrology, embodied cognition, ESP, beauty-and-sex-ratio, endless soup bowls, spoon bending, the Bible Code, air anger, ovulation and voting, subliminal smiley faces, or anything else.
Allow for the blooming of a thousand blooms!
Given that a sizable portion of the populace is willing to believe in scientific-sounding notions that aren’t backed by any good scientific theory or evidence, it should come as no surprise that many professional scientists hold this viewpoint.
The repercussions are especially evident in psychology, which is a vital field of study where theories can be hazy and where there is a long legacy of belief and action based on flimsy data.
That isn’t to say that psychologists are awful people; they’re merely working on difficult challenges in a field with a long history of failures.
This isn’t a critique; it’s just the way things are. Of course, there is a lot of excellent work being done in the field of psychology. You’ll have to work with what you’ve got.
Who is it that believes in astrology?
Despite reasoning claiming that the movements of stars and their relative locations cannot influence human behavior, scientists have periodically put astrology to the test during the past several decades. To date, everyone has come to the same conclusion: the idea is rubbish. Despite this, millions of people all around the world believe it to be actual science. The researchers began by noticing that believing in astrology has increased in recent years, presumably as a result of stressors such as the COVID-19 pandemic. They then set out to see if there were any characteristics that people who were willing to believe in a pseudoscience with no evidence of its use shared.
They devised an online questionnaire to determine personality traits, which they then put to a shortened version of the Belief in Astrology Inventory evaluation, which was created by a pair of academics at Rovira I Virgili University in 2006. A quick IQ test was also included. They then used Facebook to recruit 264 English-speaking persons to participate in their survey.
The researchers discovered that persons who claimed to believe in astrology’s powers scored higher than normal on narcissistic tests and performed badly on the IQ exam. They claim that those who believe in astrology are more self-centered than the ordinary person, seeing themselves as unique individuals with natural leadership abilities who also happen to be less intelligent than the typical person. They discovered that the greater a volunteer’s IQ score, the less likely they were to believe in astrology.
What appeals to you about astrology?
The scorpion is the Zodiac sign of determination, assertiveness, and intuition. Are these the qualities that a world leader must possess? Some speculate that this is the case. According to Vocativ, an analysis of 190 world leaders found that certain Zodiac signs are more likely to hold leadership roles. “Scorpios, who are born between late October and late November, have the most cabinet ministers, with 22, or more than 11% of those in charge around the world, according to the Daily Mail. President Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Marie Antoinette, and the Pope are all Scorpios “Sun Yat Sen, the father of modern China. The fiery Leo and Sagittarius are next on the zodiac list of world leaders.
4. Hitler’s horoscope foretold his future.
Someone born on April 20th, 1889, was predicted to ascend to power by an astrologer. Adolf Hitler was that person. Karl Krafft, a Swiss astrologer, prophesied an attempted assassination of Hitler. The Nazis arrested Krafft for foreseeing the sad occurrence. Goebbels, the Minister of Propaganda, engaged Krafft as the Nazis’ in-house astrologer after determining the astrologer was innocent. AstrologyCosmos claims that “Hitler began the successful Operation Barossa attack because of Krafft’s astrological predictions.
5. Babylon was the birthplace of astrology.
Babylon was the birthplace of astrology as we know it today. In the cultural region known as Babylonia, some of the first astrological documents date back to 4000 BCE. Planets and stars were noticed and recorded by Babylonians. These astrologers laid the groundwork for Greek and Hellenistic astrology, which is now influencing Western astrology.
6. You have multiple signs
Many people believe that they only have one sign, which is determined by their date of birth. The sun sign is the most well-known, but there are also signs for each of the planets and 12 different houses. ‘The’ “Your sun, moon, and rising sign are the big three, and they give information about your personality, emotions, vulnerability, and how you love. In order to download your birth chart, you’ll need your birth date, birth place, and birth time (as accurate as possible) “The big three
Any of the following free birth chart calculators can be used:
7. The moon has an effect on your emotions.
When the moon is full, you can find yourself sobbing on the couch about your first love. What was the source of that? As far back as 400 B.C., there has been research “The moon’s influence was blamed for the shifts in behavior. According to Healthline, the term “lunatic” comes from the belief that changes in mental condition are linked to lunar cycles. Perhaps this is why Emelia informs Othello in Shakespeare’s Othello that the moon is too close to the Earth and has driven men insane.
8. There is an element in each Zodiac sign.
Water, fire, air, and earth are the four elements linked with each of the twelve Zodiac signs. The characteristics of these elements are inextricably linked to the characteristics of the indications.
What impact does astrology have on our lives?
Astrology, according to hardened scientists, does not work. It does, according to believers. Who is correct? They’re both correct. It depends on your definition of “work.” Astrology is the concept that, depending on when one was born, the alignment of stars and planets influences one’s mood, personality, and environment. Astrologers publish customised horoscopes in newspapers based on a person’s birth date. These horoscopes make predictions about people’s personal situations, define their characters, and offer guidance based on astronomical bodies’ positions. According to a poll done by the National Science Foundation, 41% of people believe astrology is “extremely scientific” or “kind of scientific.” Let’s break down the original query into two more precise questions: 1) Is a person’s life affected by the position of astronomical bodies? 2) Can horoscopes improve people’s moods? These are two completely different questions. Both are scientifically verifiable.
Is it true that the positions of astronomical bodies have an impact on people’s lives (beyond the weather)?
No. Seasons are determined by the sun’s position and orientation in relation to the earth. Anyone who has shoveled snow off his path in January when he would rather be at the beach can attest to the fact that the planets have an impact on our lives. Electromagnetic disturbances caused by solar flares can impair satellites and possibly create outages on Earth. Ocean tides are caused by the moon’s position. If you’re a fisherman, the moon’s location might have a big impact on your livelihood. Beautiful auroras are caused by the solar wind, and sunlight is our planet’s primary source of energy. All of these effects, however, are covered by simple meteorology, not astrology. Astrology claims that, depending on a person’s birth date, astronomical bodies have an impact on their lives beyond fundamental weather patterns. This claim is untrue from a scientific standpoint. Several scientific research have refuted the idea that astronomical bodies have an impact on people’s life based on their birth date. For example, Peter Hartmann and his colleagues looked at nearly 4000 people and discovered no link between birth date and personality or IQ. Shawn Carlson conducted one of the most renowned tests in which he had 28 astrologers give predictions and then verified their accuracy. He fine-tuned the approach before conducting the experiment, ensuring that it was scientifically sound and that all of the astrologers believed the test was fair. He discovered that astrologers were no better at predicting the future than random chance, according to a study published in Nature. These findings are consistent with basic science.
Gravity, electromagnetism, the strong nuclear force, and the weak nuclear force are the four fundamental forces of nature. When an object interacts with a human, it must do so via one of these fundamental forces. Strong acid, for example, burns your skin because the acid’s electromagnetic fields pull on your skin molecules so intensely that they split apart. Gravity drags a falling boulder onto you, crushing you. Because of nuclear forces, a nuclear bomb will evaporate you. Each of the fundamental forces has the potential to be quite powerful. The issue is that they all die out as time passes. Beyond a few nanometers, nuclear forces decay so quickly that they are effectively nil. Electromagnetic forces can range from nanometers to kilometers in length. Electromagnetic waves (light) can be detected from the boundary of the observable universe by sensitive equipment, although the light is extremely feeble. Although a star’s gravity is technically felt across the cosmos, its unique impact on the universe is limited to its solar system. Polaris’ gravitational attraction on an earthbound human is weaker than the gravitational pull of a gnat flying around his head due to the impact of distance. Similarly, the electromagnetic waves (light) from Sirius that reach an earthbound human’s sight are dimmer than the light from a passing firefly. If stars and planets had an impact on humanity, gnats and fireflies would have an even greater impact. Even if the planets’ gravity was powerful enough to influence you, a literal alignment of the planets would not result in you winning the lottery, for the simple reason that it never happens in the real world.
Yes. But it has nothing to do with the accuracy of the horoscopes. Because of a psychological impact known as the placebo effect, horoscopes make individuals feel better. The placebo effect occurs when a person’s belief in a useless procedure makes them feel better. The improvement is caused by the belief rather than the method. The placebo effect has been shown scientifically. If you offer ten sick people water-only pills and tell them it’s a potent new treatment that will assist them, and then have ten sick patients refuse to take the pills, the patients who take the pills will improve in health over time. Because of the placebo effect, a new treatment must be shown to make patients feel better in addition to making them feel better. It must be demonstrated that it outperforms a placebo. The control group in accurate medical experiments is not a group of untreated patients. The control group, on the other hand, is made up of patients who were given a placebo. The placebo effect is at work when it comes to astrology. A large number of people believe in astrology. They feel better when they read their horoscope and follow its advise. However, it is their belief, not the astrology, that makes them feel better. The placebo effect is used in many pseudoscientific treatments, from crystal healing to homeopathy. Believing in a treatment that doesn’t work may be beneficial, but believing in one that does is much better. Sticking to scientifically proven treatments allows you to reap the benefits of both belief and therapy action. Instead of reading your horoscope first thing in the morning, go for a walk. Exercise has been shown to be beneficial to both the body and the mind, and your belief in its benefits will also aid you.
Topics:
astrology, astronomy, gravity, horoscope, placebo, placebo effect, sign, stars, astrology, astronomy
Is it possible for you to believe in God and astrology?
I’ve been asked numerous times over the years to speak about the compatibility of astrology and religion by clients who are deeply religious. Despite the fact that some passionately religious people consider astrology to be heretical, I’ve noticed an extraordinary ideological connection between organized religions and the orderly world of astrology.
Astrology is completely compatible with a strict religious belief system. It’s a graceful jump to assume that a God created the universe, with noble ideals guiding even the planets and stars.
The study of the planets and stars precedes and has influenced religious belief and practice around the world, according to evidence from ancient texts, sculptures, and stained glass art. Symbols of astrological signs and planets can be found in our earliest ancient religious sites. Significant religious luminaries including Jesus, Mohammed, Moses, Buddha, and Mary Baker Eddy were born within astrological alignments that synchronistically confirmed their arrival.
Some devoted religious believers’ opposition can be traced back to a time when priests and religious authorities sought to interpret and mediate all religious experiences from their positions of authority. Our forefathers sought divine inspiration straight from the stars and considered themselves to be an intricate part of an active universe evolving before the development of male-dominated organized religion. Astrology as a technique and a belief system founded on an enchantment with the divine orchestrations of the heavens was open to anyone. Astrology does not necessitate the worship of a single deity or figurehead; rather, it assumes the existence of an infinite and purposeful intellect that pervades the heavens and the earth in a grand symphony of meaning.
Religion comes from the Latin term religio, which meaning “to connect together.” What could be more inextricably interwoven than celestial motions and human experiences and events?
The meanings of the 9th and 12th houses, as well as the archetypes of the planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune, all honor the importance of religion and spirituality in astrology. The 9th and 12th houses represent areas of life where religious or spiritual guidance, experience, and/or ordainment may be sought. Jupiter can represent a powerful spiritual or religious figure, Saturn a harsh God image, and Neptune mystical experiences and religious rapture.
A trustworthy, unbiased astrologer can assist a client in strengthening their confidence. Through an examination of their chart, I’ve assisted several clients in reclaiming and activating their religious roots, leading them toward the power that comes from following a religious path. Religion is a cornerstone of psychological and mental well-being for some people.
Unlike many organized religions, astrological ideas and practices are free of sexism, racism, homophobia, and other forms of oppression. Even the old astrological metaphors of masculine and feminine planets and energies have been redesigned as receptive and active energies that are not gendered in expression. Every human has a strong seat at the table of the universe, just as every planet and star has a position in the sky.
Astrology and organized faiths are both:
- Are you looking for a way to express yourself?
- Are not backed up by scientific evidence
- Thousands of years have passed
- Are based on legend and folklore.
- Have spawned works of art and poetry that are both inspired and stunning.
- Give people a sense of belonging and identity
- Assist folks who are going through a lot of pain and loss.
- Investigate the concepts of fate and free will.
- Have a history of group rituals?
- Keep track of important dates on your calendar.
In contrast to religion, astrology:
- There are no places of worship.
- There are no membership requirements or vows.
- There are no moral edicts.
- Has no claim to superiority based on merit
- Is there no human saint?
- There is no such thing as a hierarchy of worthiness.
- Does not indicate that there is an afterlife.
- There is no specific code of social conduct outlined.
- There is no formal consensus on the amount of training that must be completed.
- There are no official uniforms or costuming for practitioners.
- It does not necessitate worship.
These lists demonstrate how religion and astrology can have a fruitful relationship.
Religion is a Saturn word in astrological terms: it is ordered, spells out right and wrong, and is constructed on and in institutions and agreements. Astrology has a Uranian bent to it: