Astrology is a field of divination that links us to the cosmos, suggesting that the positioning of celestial bodies, such as planets and stars, has an etherial grip on our feelings and thoughts. The belief in astrology is multifaceted, encompassing elements of psychology, personality traits, societal influences, and societal influences. There is no scientific basis for astrology, and the belief that the motion of the planets and stars influences or predicts human behavior is not what people think.
Psychologist Christopher French explores why certain people are so prone to believing their start signs and horoscopes, while astronomer Aliza Kelly explains why astrology and zodiac signs feel true even though it isn’t a science. Astrology has been rejected by the scientific community as having no explanatory power for describing the universe, and scientific testing has found no evidence to support its claims.
In reality, astrology is not worthless, sinful, or dangerous because it tries to “circumvent” and usurp God who alone determines our fate. Stars are giant flaming orbs of gas, floating in a vacuum, and they do not dictate anything in your life. Astrology is in the same class as racism, sexism, and sectarianism for promoting irrationality and ignorance. Astronomers have spent years trying to explain why zodiac signs are not science, and NASA finally seems fed up with the public’s obsession with them.
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Why you shouldn’t listen to horoscopes?
Astrology can be damaging due to the random information it provides, and it can hinder personal growth by interfering with decision-making. While Vyse doesn’t recommend acting on a horoscope, it may boost confidence and improve performance. However, Sandbek and Vyse agree that there are more reliable ways to build self-esteem. They suggest that using random information to feel good is not healthy and that people should focus on strengthening their support system, relationships, and weeding out bad ones. Technology and resources can help improve people’s lives by enhancing their support systems and relationships.
Why do we still believe in astrology?
Astrology is a popular coping mechanism for people experiencing life’s complexity. It helps people make sense of their lives and provides comfort during challenging times. Interest in astrology has been increasing during tumultuous times, such as the Great Depression and the coronavirus pandemic. This is due to the lack of meaning maps provided by traditional institutions and the welcoming nature of astrology, unlike other institutions that have failed to do so. Astrology has become a tool for comfort and understanding during challenging times.
Why do Christians don’t believe in 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.
Why did astrology decline?
Astrology has been a scholarly tradition throughout its history, connected with other studies like astronomy, alchemy, meteorology, and medicine. However, new scientific concepts in astronomy and physics, such as heliocentrism and Newtonian mechanics, challenged its academic and theoretical standing. Astrology, in its broadest sense, is the search for meaning in the sky. Early evidence for humans making conscious attempts to measure, record, and predict seasonal changes by reference to astronomical cycles appears as markings on bones and cave walls, showing that lunar cycles were being noted as early as 25, 000 years ago.
Farmers addressed agricultural needs with increasing knowledge of the constellations that appear in different seasons, and used the rising of particular star-groups to herald annual floods or seasonal activities. By the 3rd millennium BCE, civilizations had sophisticated awareness of celestial cycles and may have oriented temples in alignment with heliacal risings of the stars.
Scattered evidence suggests that the oldest known astrological references are copies of texts made in the ancient world, such as the Venus tablet of Ammisaduqa, which is thought to have been compiled in Babylon around 1700 BCE. A scroll documenting an early use of electional astrology is doubtfully ascribed to the reign of the Sumerian ruler Gudea of Lagash, but there is controversy about whether these were genuinely recorded at the time or merely ascribed to ancient rulers by posterity.
The oldest undisputed evidence of the use of astrology as an integrated system of knowledge is attributed to the records of the first dynasty of Babylon (1950-1651 BCE), which had some parallels with Hellenistic Greek astrology.
Can Christians use 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.
Why do scientists not believe in astrology?
Astrology is a belief system that suggests a connection between astronomical phenomena and human events or personality descriptions. However, it has been criticized by the scientific community for lacking explanatory power and scientific testing has found no evidence to support its premises or effects. The most famous test, led by Shawn Carlson, concluded that natal astrology performed no better than chance. Astrology has not demonstrated its effectiveness in controlled studies and has no scientific validity, making it regarded as pseudoscience.
There is no proposed mechanism by which stars and planets’ positions and motions could affect people and events on Earth in the way astrologers claim, which contradicts well-understood aspects of biology and physics. Modern scientific inquiry into astrology focuses on the correlation between astrological traditions and the influence of seasonal birth in humans.
Who created astrology?
Astrology, a branch of divination, originated in Mesopotamia around the 3rd millennium BC and spread to India. It developed its Western form in Greek civilization during the Hellenistic period. Astrology entered Islamic culture as part of the Greek tradition and was returned to European culture through Arabic learning during the Middle Ages. According to the Greek tradition, the heavens are divided according to the 12 constellations of the zodiac, with bright stars casting spiritual influences on human affairs.
Astrology was also important in ancient China, with horoscopes being cast for newborns and life-changing events. Despite the Copernican system eradicating the geocentric worldview required for astrology, interest in astrology has continued into modern times, with astrological signs believed to influence personality.
Why are horoscopes always wrong?
Precession is a phenomenon where the Earth’s rotational axis wobbles, causing the zodiac to appear to slide to the east over the course of 25, 800 years. This movement, discovered by Hipparchus of Nicaea around 150 B. C., causes the vernal equinox to shift from Aries to Pisces around 100 B. C., where it is now, until A. D. 2700, when it moves into Aquarius. Over the course of 25, 800 years, the equinox will eventually return to Aries, resetting the cycle of astrological signs. The discovery of precession was made by Hipparchus of Nicaea around 150 B. C., and it continues to impact the zodiac’s view from Earth.
Why is astrology considered witchcraft?
The conviction in malevolent spiritual entities gave rise to a dual condemnation of magical practices that sought to benefit humanity rather than cause harm, as well as divination techniques of all kinds. This was largely due to the fact that the ability to foresee and predict future events was often perceived as being closely associated with witchcraft.
What did the Prophet say about 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.
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