Does Science Underpin Astrology?

Astrology is a pseudoscientific practice that suggests that information about human affairs and terrestrial events can be discerned by studying the apparent positions of celestial objects. It has been used in different cultures since at least the 2nd millennium BCE, with its roots in calendrical systems used to predict seasonal shifts. Astrology may seem scientific due to its use of scientific knowledge about heavenly bodies and sounding tools like star charts. Some people use astrology to generate expectations about future events and people’s personalities, much as scientific predictions.

However, astrology is scientifically misleading, as it uses astronomy as its root. The conclusions made are not scientific, but mere predictions or observations. Scientists have long debated the validity of astrology, with mass data collection allowing researchers to determine whether there is any scientific validity to zodiac signs. Astrology consists of belief systems that hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events or descriptions of personality in the human world.

Despite scientific studies having never found evidence for the claims astrologers make, some people still believe astrology is scientific. Astrology has not demonstrated its effectiveness in controlled studies and has no scientific validity, making it regarded as pseudoscience. Astrology is founded on understanding the positions of the stars, which seems like a scientific enough pursuit in itself. However, the reasons astrology doesn’t seem to make sense from a scientific perspective are its lack of empirical validation and adherence to scientific methodologies. A survey conducted by the National Science Foundation found that 41 of respondents believe that astrology is “very scientific” or “sort of scientific”. Although the predictions astrology makes are false, they are nonetheless a matter of science.

Where do astrologers get their information?

Astrology, despite using Nasa data for calculations, is not a true map of the heavens. The Babylonians invented astrology, believing the sun rotated around Earth. Modern astrologers still use Earth-centered charts, despite Copernicus’s invention. Astrological meanings derive from sympathetic magic, linking things that look alike together. Mars, for example, rules red things like blood, and surgery and war.

Astrology forecasts are combined with planetary movements, such as Saturn transiting the First House of self, which can lead to life contracts, increased responsibilities, or a cold, critical person entering one’s life.

Why do star signs exist?

Astrology, a system of omina based on celestial appearances, is a pseudoscience that originated from Babylonian astrology and was later influenced by Hellenistic culture. It consists of twelve 30-degree sectors that make up Earth’s 360-degree orbit around the Sun, starting from the First Point of Aries, the vernal equinox. The signs include Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.

Over time, Western astrology’s divisions have shifted out of alignment with the constellations they were named after by axial precession of the Earth. Hindu astrology measurements correct for this shifting. Astrology was also developed in Chinese and Tibetan cultures, but these astrologies deal with the whole sky.

Astrology is based on the principle of “as above, so below”, meaning that celestial phenomena relate to human activity. Scientific astronomy used the same sectors of the ecliptic as Western astrology until the 19th century.

Do billionaires use astrologers?

The practice of astrology is not founded upon the principles of conventional empirical evidence.

Who is the father of astrology?

Astrology in India has its roots in the Vedic period, with the Vedanga Jyotisha being the only work of this class to have survived. It contains rules for tracking the motions of the sun and moon in a five-year intercalation cycle. The date of this work is uncertain, as its late style of language and composition conflict with some internal evidence of a much earlier date in the 2nd millennium BC. Indian astronomy and astrology developed together, with the earliest treatise on Jyotisha, the Bhrigu Samhita, compiled by the sage Bhrigu during the Vedic era.

The documented history of Jyotisha in the subsequent newer sense of modern horoscopic astrology is associated with the interaction of Indian and Hellenistic cultures through the Greco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek Kingdoms. The oldest surviving treatises, such as the Yavanajataka or Brihat-Samhita, date to the early centuries AD. The Samhita (Compilation) is said to contain five million horoscopes, comprising all who have lived in the past or will live in the future. The first named authors writing treatises on astronomy are from the 5th century AD, the date when the classical period of Indian astronomy can be said to begin.

What does Islam say about astrology?

The earliest Islamic stance against astrology can be traced back to individuals such as Abd al-Jabbar and Abu Ma’shar al-Balkhi, who sought to justify the causal influence of celestial beings on terrestrial life forms. Historical texts like Kitab al-Daraj provide evidence of the presence of astrology in early Islam. However, even before these individuals, historians and theologians like Al Hashimi sought to justify the role of astrology in influencing Islamic adherents’ religion.

Al Hashimi, through philosophers like Masha Allah, explored the possibility of the influence of stars on one’s morality and religion in general. He cited Masha Allah’s idea that the Islamic prophet Muhammad’s birth was a result of a coming together of celestial objects, essentially pointing to the inherent birth of Muhammad as a result of astrological events. Both Masha Allah and Al Hashimi draw upon similarities but draw upon their inherent stance in pointing to the planets, stars, and other celestial beings as the primary means by which divine rule is exercised, i. e., how God emanates control over all life forms.

Early Muslims relied on the sun and moon to determine important things such as the direction of Mecca, fasting times for Ramadan, and the beginning and end of each month. They used astrology and the position of the planets to predict the health and well-being of individuals, with eclipses in Libra, Aquarius, or Gemini being predictions of worldwide plagues, and comets or shooting stars being predictions of famine and sickness.

Many interpretations of the Quran point to astrology as that which goes against the fundamental principles preached by the Islamic religious tradition. Astrology ultimately points to the role of celestial beings in influencing terrestrial life and the everyday lives of individuals, ultimately hindering their destiny. Various excerpts from the Quran are interpreted to disprove this theory, with the Quran in Surah Al-Jinn suggesting that any such presence of extraterrestrial influence on mankind is not plausible and is therefore haram (forbidden) in Islam.

The Hadith, a reference to the instructions and practices of Muhammad, encourages adherents of the Islamic faith to embody the concept of astrology. Muhammad made various claims regarding the legality/illegality of astrology with regards to the Islamic religious tradition, such as the belief that rain is a bounty bestowed only by Allah (God). The Hadith makes specific mention to the stars, suggesting that those who suggest rain originates as a result of a star are a disbeliever in Me (Allah).

This works to fundamentally embody the concept of astrology and the consequent belief in the idea that celestial beings have an influence on anything other than what enshrined in the Quran and Hadith as shirk (blasphemy), leading one to leave the fold of the religion.

What is astrology based off of?

Astrology is a method of predicting mundane events based on the assumption that celestial bodies, particularly planets and stars, determine or indicate changes in the sublunar world. The theoretical basis for this assumption is historically from Hellenistic philosophy, which distinguishes astrology from celestial omina (omens) first categorized and cataloged in ancient Mesopotamia. Astrologers initially presupposed a geocentric universe with planets and stars rotating in orbits with Earth’s center.

Later, Aristotelian physics principles were adopted, dividing the eternal, circular motions of the heavenly element from the limited, linear motions of the four sublunar elements: fire, air, water, and earth.

Special relations were believed to exist between celestial bodies and their motions, configurations, and processes of generation and decay. These relations were sometimes considered so complex that no human mind could completely grasp them, making astrologers easily excused for errors. Platonic astrologers believed in divine intervention in natural processes through celestial influences upon Earth.

The role of the divine in astrological theory varies considerably. In its most rigorous aspect, astrology postulates a totally mechanistic universe, denying the possibility of intervention and free will. This has been vigorously attacked by orthodox Christianity and Islam. However, some astrologers, such as Bardesanes, believe that the motions of the stars govern only the elemental world, leaving the soul free to choose between good and evil.

Man’s ultimate goal is to attain emancipation from an astrologically dominated material world. Some astrologers, like Harranians and Hindus, regard the planets themselves as potent deities whose decrees can be changed through supplication and liturgy.

Is astronomy or astrology a natural science?

Astronomy and astrology are often confused, but they are distinct fields. Astronomy is a scientific discipline that studies celestial objects and phenomena, using physics, mathematics, and chemistry to explain their origins and behaviors. Astrology, on the other hand, is a divinatory practice based on the belief that celestial bodies, particularly the Moon, Sun, and planets of the Solar System, can influence people and events.

Although astrology involves celestial objects, constellations, and phenomena like apparent retrograde motion, it has no scientific basis and is considered a pseudoscience. The term “Mercury in retrograde” refers to the phenomenon of apparent retrograde motion, which is related to orbital speeds and observer perspectives.

What does the Bible say about astrology?

In Matthew 28:18, Jesus asserts that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. This contradicts biblical wisdom, as chasing after false gods is a sin. There is no biblical evidence that God has given authority to stars or astrologists. Pursuing predictions about our destiny or personality is biblically sinful, as it takes power from God and gives it to something other than God. A horoscope cannot change what God has already ordained before we were even created.

Do Muslims believe in astrology?

The Hadith, a collection of Islamic religious teachings, is a significant part of the Islamic faith. It outlines the instructions and practices of Muhammad, who criticized the legality and illegality of astrology. According to Abu Dawud, seeking knowledge from the stars is considered witchcraft, which is inherently forbidden in Islam. The Hadith also emphasizes that rain is a blessing bestowed only by Allah, and any belief that rain is a result of other beings is considered disbelief.

The Hadith also mentions the stars, stating that those who suggest rain originates from a star are considered disbelievers in Allah. This concept of astrology and the belief in celestial beings’ influence on anything other than what is enshrined in the Quran and Hadith constitutes shirk (blasphemy) and leads one to leave the fold of the religion.

Second-century Islamic scholar Imam Ali, the fourth caliph of Islam and cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, views astrology as fundamentally forbidden in the Islamic religion. He warns followers not to learn the science of stars except for guidance on land or sea, as it leads to divining and an astrologer is a diviner. This aligns with the Quran, which points to stars and astrology as only a means of navigation.

However, prominent scholars like Ibn Arabi and Ikhwan argue that planets are not considered God but do suggest each prophet with a specific planet/celestial being. Prophet Idris, also known as Enoch, was gifted with great knowledge of the stars and used his gift to meditate upon God’s grandeur and teach others. He believed that the stars and moon contributed to mankind and founded the study of the stars.

Different sects of Islam offer varying perspectives on the concept of astrology.

Is Christianity against astrology?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that divination, including predictive astrology, is incompatible with modern Catholic beliefs, such as free will. It rejects all forms of divination, including horoscopes, palm reading, omen interpretation, clairvoyance, and mediums, which conceal a desire for power over time, history, and other human beings. These practices contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear owed to God alone.

Astrology and science, Christian mysticism, Christianity and paganism, Esoteric Christianity, Jesus Christ in comparative mythology, Jewish views on astrology, Muslim views on astrology, and William Lilly’s book Christian Astrology are all considered incompatible with modern Catholic beliefs.