Is Astrology a science?

[Hmm]

I don't believe in astrology. I'm a typical Pisces like that (I'll close the door on my way out)

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

Anyway, the basic premise of Astrology, that by studying the stars you can predict future events or temperaments, is a different matter. If you assume Determinism as some do, then these things should be predictable if you have sufficient knowledge of the current state of particles and how they generally act, as the assumption being that particles will act in predictable ways regardless. If events only occur by a cascade of matter, that events are in a sense fated from the interactions of matter from the Big Bang onward, then Astrology in this sense is still live as a potential scientific discipline.

Even for Laplace's Demon, the astrological parameters at someone's birth would be insufficient to calculate anything useful about life on Earth.

If you were Laplace's Demon, with complete knowledge of the state of every particle in the universe at the time of someone's birth, and infinite computational capability, you could calculate the state of the universe or any part of the universe at any time past or future - which would allow you to calculate the state of that individual at any time, including their birth. But you'd already know that because that's where you started...

 

[Ophiolite]

I don't believe in astrology. I'm a typical Pisces like that (I'll close the door on my way out)

As a Gemini I'm in two minds over that comment.

 

[Hans Blaster]

I think I'm a Cetus.

 

[bèlla]

I did my chart years ago and hasten to put much credence in the practice. But the thread made me recall it nonetheless. There's interesting parallels to its suggestions and my personality and the way my life turned out. Is it a coincidence or something more? Who knows.

~bella

 

[AV1611VET]

I did my chart years ago and hasten to put much credence in the practice. But the thread made me recall it nonetheless. There's interesting parallels to its suggestions and my personality and the way my life turned out. Is it a coincidence or something more? Who knows.

God does, and He calls it an "abomination."

Deuteronomy 18:9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

 

[sjastro]

God does, and He calls it an "abomination."

Deuteronomy 18:9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

And I thought the verses pertained to the evilness of scientists experimenting with squeezed light.

 

[sjastro]

On a more serious note Johannes Kepler who formulated the laws of planetary motion was also an astrologer and represents an interesting period of the transition of astrology to astronomy.
Kepler cast the horoscope of Albrecht Von Wallenstein who fought on the Catholic side in the bloody Thirty Years War in central Europe between Catholics and Protestants.

Evidently the horoscope shows that Von Wallenstein had enemies within the Catholic camp which didn't help as he met a grisly end.

 

[Phred]

On a more serious note Johannes Kepler who formulated the laws of planetary motion was also an astrologer and represents an interesting period of the transition of astrology to astronomy.
Kepler cast the horoscope of Albrecht Von Wallenstein who fought on the Catholic side in the bloody Thirty Years War in central Europe between Catholics and Protestants.

Evidently the horoscope shows that Von Wallenstein had enemies within the Catholic camp which didn't help as he met a grisly end.

It also showed that someone liked him.

 

[AV1611VET]

Evidently the horoscope shows that Von Wallenstein had enemies within the Catholic camp which didn't help as he met a grisly end.

Looks like a video game to me.

 

[Phred]

You fold that up you get this.

 

[sjastro]

The only useful application for astrology.

 

[Eftsoon]

Astrology is occultic. It isn't a valid source of revelation or a harmless practice.

What does the Bible say about astrology and the zodiac? Is astrology something a Christian should study? | GotQuestions.org

Resorting to horoscopes and birth charts for insights is dangerous.

 

[AV1611VET]

Resorting to horoscopes and birth charts for insights is dangerous.

That is correct.

Those who dabble in it are beaconing the spiritual world and inviting trouble.

 

[sjastro]

On a more serious note Johannes Kepler who formulated the laws of planetary motion was also an astrologer and represents an interesting period of the transition of astrology to astronomy.
Kepler cast the horoscope of Albrecht Von Wallenstein who fought on the Catholic side in the bloody Thirty Years War in central Europe between Catholics and Protestants.

Evidently the horoscope shows that Von Wallenstein had enemies within the Catholic camp which didn't help as he met a grisly end.

What is contradictory about Kepler as an astrologer casting horoscopes he used the geocentric system where the Sun and Moon are also planets which revolve around the Earth.
As a scientist he supported the heliocentric system of the planets revolving around the Sun which made him the meat in the sandwich and put him on the death lists of both Catholics and Protestants.

 

[Bradskii]

I did my chart years ago and hasten to put much credence in the practice. But the thread made me recall it nonetheless. There's interesting parallels to its suggestions and my personality and the way my life turned out. Is it a coincidence or something more? Who knows.

~bella

The British mentalist Derren Brown did an experiment with a large group of students. Some English and some Spanish. They had to put some personal item in a sealed envellope and note the date of their birth. Brown was then going to write a horoscope for each of them.

They then interviewed each student as to the accuracy of the 'reading' and without fail, they all agreed that he'd pretty much nailed their personality and had described them with unnerving accuracy.

Then they exchanged readings so that they could determine how accurate they each thought they were in regard to their friends.

Spoiler alert in the next post...watch the video first.

 

[Bradskii]

All the readings were identical...

 

[Astrophile]

This is simple enough. We all know biology and chemistry and geology are fields of scientific endeavor. But what about Astrology? Do you consider that Astrology is a science?

No. It is a pseudoscience and a complete waste of time.

 

[durangodawood]

Even for Laplace's Demon, the astrological parameters at someone's birth would be insufficient to calculate anything useful about life on Earth.

If you were Laplace's Demon, with complete knowledge of the state of every particle in the universe at the time of someone's birth, and infinite computational capability, you could calculate the state of the universe or any part of the universe at any time past or future - which would allow you to calculate the state of that individual at any time, including their birth. But you'd already know that because that's where you started...

Laplace's demon could not predict a person's personality or life course from perfect knowledge of astronomical affairs tho.

 

[coffee4u]

This is simple enough. We all know biology and chemistry and geology are fields of scientific endeavor. But what about Astrology? Do you consider that Astrology is a science?

Astrology is a form of witchcraft. Scripture lumps them all in together
Daniel 4:7 When all the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers came in, I told them the dream, but they could not tell me what it meant.

Isaiah 47:13-14 All the advice you receive has made you tired. Where are all your astrologers, those stargazers who make predictions each month? Let them stand up and save you from what the future holds. But they are like straw burning in a fire; they cannot save themselves from the flame. You will get no help from them at all; their hearth is no place to sit for warmth.

Leviticus 20:6 If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.