There are hundreds of books on astrology, does that make astrology a scientific alternative to astronomy of such pursuasive scope that we should teach it in science class?
From donh: There are hundreds of books on astrology ...
I was thinking of responding along similar lines when I saw your post. So I'll just elaborate a bit.
If you go into a "New Age" bookstore, Red6, or any really large general bookstore, you'll see shelves groaning with books on all kinds of pseudo-science: Ancient astronauts, UFOs, crop circles, pyramid power, psychic channeling .. the list is a long one, and a very sad one. The point I'm making here is that anyone can write a book, about anything, and say anything he likes.
The issue you raise, the issue that everyone faces, is this: knowing that all kinds of foolish tales, claims, and books exist, what shall we believe? How do we know something? How do we decide between two or more competing claims about the same thing? One guy says the earth is 6,000 years old. Another guy says it's billions of years old. Now what?
You seem like a thoughtful fellow, Red6. So tell us, how do you decide these things?