How Popular is Astrology? (Do Intelligent And Rational People Believe That Crap?)

Astrology Now ^ | Astrology Now

[jstone78]

How popular is astrology?

Your belief in astrology is part of a popular trend. Are you the kind of person who sneaks a look at the daily horoscope when no one's looking? Who secretly buys an Astrology magazine when you're traveling by yourself? Who pretends you're just kidding when you ask what somebody's sign is? Do you roll your eyes when people start talking about charts and ascendants, retrogrades, and rising suns, but secretly hang on every word?

If you've done any of the above. Don't worry. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

There is this view in our culture that you are either an air head or mentally deficient if you have some belief that there is more to Astrology than a pick-up line in a bar.

But it's a view that is CONTRADICTED by every poll, statistic and fact about Americans and their relationship to Astrology . . .

9 out of 10 Americans know there sign. No big deal. Doesn't mean much.

But did you know . . .

that more people believe in Astrology than in any single religious denomination?

or that Astrology is the number one . . . the most popular area within the Lifestyles Channel of America Online!

or that a recent Gallup poll found that over 50% of Americans believe in Astrology. That's about 125 million people! And that's a cross section of all Americans . . . University presidents, CEO's, lawyers, teachers, mechanics, cooks, waitresses . . . all of us.

[Mr. Mojo]

Flim Flam (by James Randi) effectively and entertainingly debunks all this nonsense, and more.

[AmusedBystander]

I don't know how accurate anything is, but the placemat at my favorite Chinese restaurant is uncannily accurate on the personalities listed for the year of birth for my family and friends.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

Personally, astrology hits on a concept that I have a problem with: that astralogical signs/forcasting are used to "tell" you who you are, what your relationships to others entail/signify, and seek to "predict" what your life in going to be like.

Life is what YOU make of it...the endpoint of astrology only creates another way to victimize yourself and to disregard for personal responsiblity and common sense.

[jstone78]

{"....Now take two prominent astrologers of your choice, have them each interview each adult independently...."}

By the way, I do recognize the fact that astrologers are very intelligent people, otherwise, they would not get away with manipulating so many people.

I can just imagine what they discuss at astrologers' conventions. They probably snicker about all the suckers that they milk. After all, people who attend such conventions are rational men and women, who know the tricks of the trade.

[msru]

America's Founding Fathers tried to limit the number of such idiots on the voters' rolls, by imposing stringent qualifications on the franchise. When qualifications on the franchise were removed, the quality of elected leaders declined.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[cricket]

"But I think that people who believe in astrology are stupid, and are certifiable idiots and morons. It does not matter how rich or educated they are. The idea that one can claim to tell the future by looking at the stars, palm reading, analysing charts or tarot cards, defines all common sense. It is a real shame that 50 percent of the population believe such garbage."

. . .that is an incredible indictment against half our population! Now if you said Liberals were certifiable; would believe that.

But the truth/value of Astrology is not in 'predicting'. . .but rather in personality profiling. . .and works as well as many 'legitimate' personality tests, which no doubt at one time or another, you have taken and which are defined by four basic personality types of which there of various combinations.

Air,Fire,Earth and Water personalities. . .offer the same kind distinctions, combinations. . . and insights!

[Dog Gone]

VIRGO
Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
Someone is seriously stealing your car. Right now. Go look! Dude, I'm not kidding, the damn stars are telling me that you have to go stop those guys from stealing your car or you're going to be walking to that dentist appointment. Okay, don't go. Forget it. No, it's too late now, they're halfway to Mexico by now.

Call police: September 31

[vrwc1]

Astrology is condemned in the Bible. If you are a Christian or a Jew, you shouldn't have anything to do with it.

[Freeper]

Astrology is suppose to be an "art" that is several thousand years old. How could that be when a couple of the planets in our solar system were not discovered until the 1900's? And even within the past year many professionals are questioning whether a couple of the "defined" planets are even planets. Pluto being one of then.
Just a couple of questions asking for clarification.

[Maceman]

How about a challenge, then? Have some skeptic here provide whatever birth information she needs, let her run an analysis, post it, and the subject can comment on its accuracy while the rest of us evaluate how vague or specific it is.

I actually thought of this. I'll see whether she is interested (she is very busy -- works a lot of hours and also is the mother of a four-year-old) and normally doesn't work for free).

Just in case, why don't you reply or freep-mail me with your birth info (date, time, location) and I'll see what I can do.

[sonserae]

Yeah...the Onion Astrology forecast is the only one I read. I don't necessarily believe in Astrology but I do know...Leos and Taurus' don't get along!!!

[Mr. K]

Or better yet, let's give the exact same birtdate to 10 different astrologists and ask them to prepare a report.

Then compare them.

[PoisedWoman]

I had a difficult time with my son until when he was 17, I had his chart done at suggestion of a minister friend. His chart was amazing. I cried for days. Had I had his chart done when he was born, I would have been a much different and better mother, I assure you. If my mother had seen my chart, she might have been a better mother to me...and so it goes.

However, I have no interest whatsoever in astrology at this time. As for my own very difficult stars, I'd be better off not knowing....sheesh, it's hard enough to get through a day without thinking about all the planets that oppose your every thought and deed.

[Maceman]

I had a difficult time with my son until when he was 17, I had his chart done at suggestion of a minister friend. His chart was amazing. I cried for days. Had I had his chart done when he was born, I would have been a much different and better mother, I assure you. If my mother had seen my chart, she might have been a better mother to me...and so it goes.

My wife had me go home and pull my daughter's chart within hours of her birth.

[Maceman]

Life is what YOU make of it..

Absolutely true. But we all come to it with inherent strengths, weaknesses, issues, predilictions, etc. AStrology can be very helpful in understanding these things on some level.

[Maceman]

Astrology is suppose to be an "art" that is several thousand years old. How could that be when a couple of the planets in our solar system were not discovered until the 1900's?

How can medicine be true when so much of our understanding of life processes was not discovered until the late 20th century?

[<1/1,000,000th%]

No. (My horoscope says so.)

[spectre]

So I would imagine if the Bibile says not to have anything to do with it, there must be something to it?

sw

[Quix]

LOTS of bright people make stupid mistakes. Genius is not consistent across the whole mental skills and interests area. Many bright people make stupid mistakes because they believe their own arrogant self-talk that they are experts at everything. Actually many would have trouble unplugging a drain or knowing how to install a halogen bulb. Many bright people in Taiwan burn phoney money "drawn on the bank of hell" so their dead relatives will have money to spend in the afterlife and so they'll have good luck in their businesses--EVEN THOUGH THEY REALLY DON'T BELIEVE IT. THEY DO IT ****JUST IN CASE****.

I suspect many Americans are the same way about astrology.

HOWEVER, ****ALL**** i.e. 100% [to the best of my memory--A *VERY* RARE EVENT IN SOLID RESEARCH]--100% of the solidly constructed and implemented research studies on astrology have ****ALL**** resulted in:

0.000% CORRELATION
. . .
BETWEEN
. . .
ASTROLOGER'S PREDICTIONS
. . .
&
FUTURE REAL EVENTS

And, if my memory serves me right--there was no real significant correlation even between different astrolergers.

Actually, I might have wondered if "according to your faith, so be it unto you" could have had some effect but I guess not, for not believers?

For Christians, reading their horoscopes in the daily paper is a hazard they should strictly avoid. All that seems neutral or harmless is not. Many have suffered demonic oppression or worse therefrom BECAUSE they legally give satan authority and permission to harrass them BECAUSE they have violated A VERY STERN AND STRICT BIBLICAL INSTRUCTION TO AVOID ALL SUCH.

God is a jealous God and wants none of His to seek wisdom or knowledge from other gods which are really nothing but charades.

Demons live eternally and can bring all kinds of historic facts to bear--INCLUDING tones of voices of dead relatives; very private details of their lives etc.--to convince an individual that an astrologer or satanic seer is something authentic or even a dead relative or even that the customer has lived a certain past life the demonic forces are setting the person up to believe.

Interestingly, I've never had a good answer as to why there's probably 100,000 women and maybe some men who claim to have been Cleopatra. Not too many seem too eager to claim to be a cheap whore from 25 years ago.

Anyway--My 2 NT$ worth.

[spectre]

Dr. Louis Turi, a Frenchman who grew up and studied in the same village Nostradamus did (hold the laughter :~) and uses charts of the sun and the moon, date and time of birth to work out charts. He is fascinating.

sw