A moon in the dark-What skeptic say about astrology
Astrology, in its traditional form, is a type of divination based on the theory that the positions and movements of celestial bodies (stars, planets [except the one you are born on or those in other solar systems], Sun, and Moon) at the time of birth profoundly influence a person’s life. Some forms of astrology claim that terrestrial events such as natural disasters are predicted by various celestial arrangements or events. Given the innumerable relationships of celestial items, it would be surprising if one could not find some correlation between earthly events like tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, hurricanes, droughts, fires, etc., and an arrangement of planets in relation to the Sun or Moon. Correlation does not prove causality, but it is good enough for most astrologers
Listen what skeptics have to say about it click here to see
If you like to read more about it read it here or here
Yehh..you have provided much information.
But not all. And also in your argument some support astrology.
I am not in favour and also not against astrology, actually I am not in favour of deciding so early without inspecting whole matter. If we want we can collect arguments in favour and in against also.
Some facts should be understood regarding astrology..
1. It is degrading, falling science. From long past not much work is being done in this field. There was time the house of astrology was at its peak and was shining. But in time due to some money oriented people its authentication continually decreased.
So if you inquire just keeping present state in mind that will be biasing.
2. As you also in your artical highlighed many scientific things, the position of planets is changed, and what date of birth one should consider conception time or birth time. These are some things which should be explored.
You have to either support or will have to be against it.Duality will not work here.You do not need planetary positions to determine the time of your birth.Only astrology to predict your future needs the planetary positions.It is all humbug.
Actually what astrology said was that everything in this universe(planets etc.) has a particular frequency of their own. When a child is born what was the harmony of planets is boing to be familiar with him/her in life. How much the harmony will be disturbed, -ve effects will be happening in life.
The matter is not that whether i believe or not in astrology, because i don’t have any urge to know future before time. What will happen to me let it happen. I will know when it will happen. Now, i am busy with what is happening now.
The real matter of debate for a quester should be inquiries, exploration, knowing the hidden. It is not of much significant actually what will happen in one’s personal life. Universal what and why are important than when. Once we know what and why why, then we will know when too. Astrology was used to be a science. The results are not reliable now doesn’t means they were not in past also. There was a time when astrology was reveling good enough about one. So, if today one proves it a fraud, it was a fraud in past is not proved. Many things of past are not well known to us today. It is not good to just call all things related to past superstitious. Many things of past were strangely unbelievable but they used to happen. Astrology is one of them.
And you said either believe or not. That is not they way. Instead, that is the reason for having less researches. One have to be enormously doubtful to know. Beliefs are against knowing at yourself. That is why we condemn religions. They said believe in god, some said do not believe there is no god. But, a very few of us know surely is it or not. Atheist and theist both know know nothing about god but both have belief. A child is born in India one belief is given to him, another is born in Russia just opposite belief is given to him. The problem is that human mind is trained in a way that is can’t be in undetermined state. So, belief is there from very past.
The first (may be only) capability of one to be a scientist in real meaning is to be doubtful about unknown. Don’t use ready made solutions, have your own way. That is all science requires. How a scientist can have belief? What he should belief? Science is thing which changes belief.
Earth was though to be flat, center of universe, at rest for many centuries. Is it so? A mind having this belief would be able to explore? No..a rebellious doubtful mind explored the truth.
Gravity was something different a century back, it is something different today. So, don’t attach to yes or no, belief or not, instead say till now we can say like this. Maybe something can further change about gravity in 100 more years. That is science and its way. If one believe that this thing is like this that doesn’t means that that thing will not change, that will change..will have to change..just the time it will take will be more, science will be slow..but some day someone Rebellious will come and explore new way..new things..new reasons…
Humanity have paid a lot due to belief.. I don’t want this word anymore. Let it disappeare and doubt take its place. Atleast in India it should be. Our people are much attached to belief and less to explore.. Let us use our grey matter and redefine everything…..
(A lot of time..class late 🙁 )
Interesting debate going on here…..
What is most doubtful is the messenger of this branch of Science ( Although I consider it Pseudo-Science)….How A baby born in A particular religion or ethnic group accept that frequency from planetary motion (As Astrologers Claim) differently and carries a bad luck with him or her but at same time , Even in same hospital or same ward the baby born in different belief group avoids those frequencies…..
It is not about beliefs or conclusions we make , the point here is clearly whether this branch of Science is as accurate as they claim and if it is then what is the base for that…Because we need to understand lot of harm people do in the name of Science also…..
Rightly said by Mr. Chander Mohan that Science is a Travelling from Unknown to known but the route also matters (as research methodology suggests)…..Only because we believe something we can not follow it claiming that it may be true after centuries….( Till then it would do lot of damage to the Society) and that had happened due to this pseudo- scientific approach ( mostly in Rome, Indian Subcontinent and in Middle east)…..
Actually frequency was not the exact word here. I used it due to my limited vocabulary.
In replay to your comment, there was a Russian scientist who was against the belief of astrology, he started enquiries and put all these argument to prove it wrong. But, when he was managing his greatest argument by collecting the birth informations of a lot of people he found something strange, the same kind of professionals were born under same astrological conditions.
The ended up with the comment that there is something existing which modern science have not discovered yet.
And i never said that wait for something that it will be proved in upcoming 100 years. We always have to and should make decisions based on current authentic knowledge. What i was saying was that do not close the door for further development, exploration. Things change as we go deep inside. If we stop at any conclusion the science will slow down. There is nothing 100% sure that this is this. Today the best we know is that this is this. Maybe in future anything can have change, new researches will reveal more about everything. And there are possibility in everything.
In the name of astrology, ninety-nine percent of astrologers are only bluff. Only one percent know that astrology is a vast subject – so vast that someone can only enter into it hesitatingly. The astrology I am talking about is of much depth. Something essential between your life and the universe is connected, is in a rhythmic harmony. We are not separate or isolated but joined together in an organic way. Life is a whole. Whatever is happening anywhere in the universe also affects man and vice versa. If we can understand this properly, there is no need to live encaged within ego and pride. Your ego is not, but the cosmos is. Very powerful forces are operating, and your ego is absolutely insignificant. You are an integral part of this big world.
Every child, every new life, insists on a specific moment for conception and for birth – both are interdependent. He will choose the appropriate constellations according to what he wants to be – whatever his innate possibilities, whatever the shape his previous lives have taken in their entirety, whatever his motivating consciousness is.
At the time of birth, the condition of a child’s mind is exactly like a very sensitive photo plate. When a child is conceived, this is the first exposure. The day the child is born is a second exposure. These two exposures are registered upon the sensitive mind of the child, as if on film. The world, as it is at that moment, is imprinted upon the child. This determines the child’s sympathies and antipathies for his entire life.
The first part of astrology is the outermost layer, which is nonessential. There everything is circumstantial, uncertain, unpredictable. The more we talk about external happenings, the more there is coincidence. The second part is the middle layer, the semi-essential layer. There is possibility of transformation if the right choice is made. The third part is the core, the essence. It cannot be changed. When it is known, the only way is to cooperate with it.
The real thing is the third. It is the quintessence of everything. It belongs to the innermost and is absolutely predetermined. The more one moves toward one’s center, the nearer one comes to the essential, the predetermined part. With inner phenomena things begin to appear scientific, as if based on a definite law. They become more and more decisive.
Between these two conditions – the peripheral and the essential – in the middle layer there is ample room to effect changes by exercising one’s freedom of choice. Here, someone with awareness will make the correct choice, and the right way is to start moving towards your center. A person who is in the darkness of ignorance, though, will drift into his destiny, putting up with whatever comes his way.
When you go to an astrologer, ask him an essential question, like, “Will I die unhappy or fulfilled?” This is worth asking; it is connected to essential astrology. You are usually asking the astrologer how long you will live – as if just living is sufficient. Why will you live? For what shall you live? What shall I become if I live? Astrology can become a tool in your hands only if you distinguish the essential from the nonessential.