| Popular interest in astrology has surged | | | | 2. Is Astrology Internally Consistent? |
| in recent years, due, in part, to | | | | Even more than its scientific status, |
| revelations concerning the acceptance of | | | | astrologers are divided on the issue of |
| astrology even at the White House. The | | | | what astrology is and how it works. |
| influence of astrology has thus reached | | | | Almost every astrologer we talked with |
| into the highest levels of national | | | | admitted that if one merely examined the |
| government; in fact, it has apparently | | | | literature on astrology, he would only |
| been there for some time.1 | | | | end up confused. This was because as a |
| Gallup Polls consistently reveal that | | | | whole there were so many contradictory |
| tens of millions of Americans are | | | | theories and practices within astrology. |
| believers in this ancient and | | | | Indeed, the massive amount of literature |
| potentially dangerous form of | | | | displayed at the Conference was often |
| divination. The most recent poll in | | | | written by leading astrologers. They |
| mid-July of this year indicated that the | | | | themselves admitted this. For example, |
| Church should also take note of its | | | | L. Edward Jondro states in A New |
| influence. It revealed that at least 10 | | | | Conception of Sign Rulership that "the |
| percent of Evangelical (that is, | | | | thoughtful student...[using] standard |
| Conservative) Christians believe in | | | | astrological texts... [encounters a] |
| astrology.2 This figure could translate | | | | maze of ridiculous contradictions that |
| into several million Evangelical | | | | confront him. "6 Another leading |
| believers in astrology! (For a look at | | | | astrologer observes, "There are as many |
| the theological, spiritual, | | | | views of aspects [aspects deal with the |
| psychological and other consequences of | | | | angular relationships between planets] |
| astrology see The Facts on Astrology by | | | | and how they are used in the chart, as |
| John Ankerberg and Dr. John Weldon.) | | | | there are astrologers."7 And we must |
| With all the interest in astrology we | | | | also agree with two astrologers who |
| felt it was time for an "inside" look. | | | | compiled a bibliographical history of |
| As a result, I attended the 50th | | | | modern astrology, Astrological Pioneers |
| Anniversary Convention of the American | | | | of America, to celebrate AFA's 50th |
| Federation of Astrologers (AFA) in Las | | | | year. They acknowledged that "disproven |
| Vegas, Nevada, July 4-8, 1988. The | | | | theories, unsupported theories, or even |
| AFA-based in Tempe, Arizona' is the | | | | mutually contradictory theories may |
| largest and most influential | | | | flourish indefinitely."8 |
| astrological association in the U.S., | | | | Considering astrology as a whole, we |
| and one of the oldest. It claims to be | | | | find little more than contradictions. |
| "the nerve center of astrology in | | | | Thus, even though different systems of |
| America today." It has members in all 50 | | | | astrology must by definition give |
| states and 38 countries, including all | | | | different interpretations (for the same |
| U.S. possessions. It is also one of the | | | | client's astrological chart), this does |
| most "scientifically" oriented groups. | | | | not seem to bother the astrologers. |
| Modern astrology often claims to be a | | | | Some astrologers say the "aspects" of |
| scientific enterprise having nothing to | | | | astrology are vital, while others |
| do with the realm of the occult. I | | | | downplay or disregard them. Thus, some |
| deliberately selected the AFA Convention | | | | say the aspects are more important than |
| in order to give the best opportunity | | | | the s houses; others say the houses are |
| possible to verify these claims of | | | | more important than the aspects; some do |
| modern astrology. Thus, if a scientific | | | | not use the houses or aspects at all. |
| and non-occultic approach is not found | | | | Some calculate only the influence of the |
| here, it is unlikely it will be found | | | | nine traditional "planets," while others |
| elsewhere in the world of astrology. | | | | calculate the influence of the |
| The AFA brochure entitled "Aims and | | | | asteroids, planetary moons and even |
| Objectives of the American Federation of | | | | black holes and other galaxies! Others |
| Astrologers" includes the following: (1) | | | | even attempt to calculate the |
| "to clarify Astrology...as a | | | | "influence" of invisible (spiritual) |
| science...for professional use" and "to | | | | planets! |
| give Astrology the prestige and standing | | | | Some astrologers use different "house" |
| to which it is entitled as a science"; | | | | systems (the topocentric, placidian, |
| (2) "to arrive at a standard system of | | | | campanus, alcabitius, etc.). |
| study and practice" and "to unite all | | | | Many astrologers say that traditional |
| astrologers"; and (3) "to protect the | | | | astrology is simply incomplete without |
| public by encouraging ethical practices, | | | | integrating it to Jungian or other |
| by eliminating charlatans and also to | | | | modern psychologies. |
| promote the education of the public | | | | Still others say that integrating |
| towards accepting astrology as a means | | | | astrology with other occult arts such as |
| to a "fuller and richer life". | | | | Tarot cards, numerology, the I Ching, |
| Our purpose in attending the Convention | | | | etc., is what gives the best reading. |
| was to examine these claims. I attended | | | | Still others say that astrology works |
| as many seminars as possible, examined | | | | best only when it is combined with |
| the literature offered, conducted a | | | | Hindu, Chinese, Draconic or some other |
| "survey of astrologers" beliefs" and | | | | form of ancient or modern astrology. |
| talked with as many astrologers as time | | | | (For example, there is Arabian |
| permitted. | | | | astrology, Hindu astrology, Hermetic |
| I had three specific objectives in mind, | | | | astrology, Pythagorean astrology, |
| each correspondingly related to the | | | | Rosicrucian astrology, Theosophical |
| above three "aims and objectives" of the | | | | astrology, Sabian astrology, Uranian |
| AFA. | | | | astrology, etc.) |
| Objective One: Is astrology a factual | | | | In addition, many different Zodiacs can |
| science? | | | | be found (for example, there is the |
| The first goal was to examine the claim | | | | Tropical Zodiac (which starts at a given |
| of astrology to being a factual | | | | point); the Sidereal Zodiac (beginning |
| scientific enterprise in the sense of a | | | | at yet another point); and the Draconic |
| biological or astronomical science. | | | | Zodiac (which begins at still another |
| Thus, astrologers often claim to be | | | | point). The issue is important because |
| engaging in a "scientific" practice, one | | | | different starting points on the chart |
| that has replaced the older astrological | | | | lead to entirely different |
| behavior of divination of the future. | | | | interpretations. One astrologer even |
| They may, for example, claim that | | | | told us that it made no difference at |
| divination has been replaced with mere | | | | all what one's starting point was an |
| discernment of "psychological | | | | astrologer could start at any point on |
| indications." How legitimate is such a | | | | the chart at all! |
| claim, and do astrologers themselves | | | | In addition, all astrologers agreed that |
| really believe astrology is a science | | | | when you pick up any dozen texts on |
| and not divination? | | | | astrology you get a dozen different |
| Objective Two: Is astrology internally | | | | answers. This became painfully obvious |
| consistent? | | | | at the Conference book tables. The more |
| My second goal was to examine the | | | | we read the literature, the more |
| internal consistency of astrology | | | | confused matters became. |
| concerning its theories and practices. | | | | Judging from the lectures it was also |
| Is it really possible to have a | | | | painfully obvious that what "worked" for |
| "standard system of study and practice" | | | | one astrologer would not work for |
| or is astrology as a whole so | | | | another. Some teachers had successful |
| contradictory that it cannot possibly be | | | | results while others openly admitted |
| true? | | | | they had done their research based |
| Objective Three: Is modern astrology | | | | squarely on astrological theory and |
| non-occultic? | | | | found a zero percent correlation. (But |
| The third goal was to examine the extent | | | | all of them had an "explanation" for |
| of occult influences (if any), at the | | | | their failures.) |
| Conference. We also wished to "test" the | | | | Perhaps the greatest harmony encountered |
| theory of some former astrologers that | | | | was in the area of general religious |
| the real power behind astrology was not | | | | belief, but even here there were serious |
| derived from a coherent system of truth, | | | | differences. |
| but rather from contact with the spirit | | | | Almost all the astrologers accepted at |
| world, whether or not the individual | | | | least some form of New Age occultism |
| astrologer was aware of this.4 In other | | | | they believed in reincarnation; they |
| words, I wished to determine the extent | | | | accepted psychic development (many were |
| of spiritistic and other occultic | | | | psychic), and because they were |
| influence within the largest, most | | | | pantheists, most felt they were God. |
| influential and scientifically-oriented | | | | Almost all rejected any form of absolute |
| association in America. | | | | morality. But some also rejected |
| The issue of spiritistic connections in | | | | reincarnation and some rejected the idea |
| astrology is crucial for a number of | | | | they were God. Some attempted to be |
| reasons. Since all of Part Two deals | | | | wholly scientific. One Catholic |
| with documenting this connection, we | | | | astrologer did charts for a number of |
| will only briefly summarize some of our | | | | priests. Most admitted that whatever |
| concerns here. | | | | astrologers said concerning the issue of |
| If astrology is a fundamentally | | | | fate versus free will, that in actual |
| spiritistic practice, then it can never | | | | practice most astrologers were |
| deserve "the prestige and standing" of a | | | | fatalistic, or largely so. |
| science. Spiritism deals in the realm of | | | | There was one, and only one area of |
| religious phenomena, not science. Also, | | | | agreement. All astrologers said the |
| because spiritism is in fact contact | | | | truly important issue was simply that |
| with lying spirits which the Bible calls | | | | astrology worked, not how it worked. |
| "demons," God forbids spiritism as | | | | This was the single most cited reason |
| something "detestable" to Him (Deut. | | | | for a person being an astrologer. |
| 18:9-12; c.f., 1 Cor. 10:20; 1 Tim. | | | | Our own conclusion was that even if it |
| 4:1). Historically, spiritistic activity | | | | worked, as a whole, astrology was in a |
| and the doctrines characteristically | | | | state of such total disarray that it |
| taught by these spirits or demons (such | | | | could never be true. As a coherent |
| as reincarnation, pantheism, gnosticism, | | | | system of belief, it did not exist. In |
| amoralism, etc.) have been associated | | | | other words, astrology did not need to |
| with spiritual deception and ruin, | | | | be true in order to work, and therefore |
| emotional damage, unethical practices | | | | the fact that it could work must be |
| and fraud, the denial of morality, demon | | | | accounted for by recourse to a |
| possession and a host of other evils. If | | | | non-astrological theory. Often this |
| astrology is indeed a spiritistic | | | | could be attributed to normal |
| practice, then it will never be able to | | | | psychological factors such as the |
| logically maintain ethical and moral | | | | client's will to believe or an |
| standards. Once deceiving spirits and | | | | astrologer's psychologically-correct |
| "doctrines of demons" (1 Tim. 4:1) are | | | | "reading" of a client prior to doing his |
| listened to, they will only bring | | | | chart. But psychological factors could |
| eventual ruin to others, both morally | | | | not explain what can only be termed |
| and spiritually. Nor can astrology ever | | | | genuine supernatural self-disclosures |
| become the stated means to "a fuller and | | | | that may occur in astrology. This is |
| richer life" for the reality of | | | | where spiritism enters the picture. |
| spiritistic deception means astrology | | | | Conclusions |
| will only lead a person away from the | | | | From our time at the Conference and our |
| one true God. The end result of this, | | | | own study of astrology, three facts are |
| apart from repentance, is to lead a | | | | clear: |
| person to eternal judgment in hell (Rev. | | | | Fact One: Any given form of astrology |
| 20:10-15). | | | | will not necessarily work for any given |
| Thus, far from protecting the public | | | | astrologer; yet, all forms of astrology, |
| from fraud and deception, etc., | | | | no matter how contradictory, can produce |
| promoting astrology and its spiritistic | | | | "amazing results" for some astrologers. |
| influences would only cause the above | | | | This suggests the power of astrology is |
| evils to proliferate within society. | | | | not from astrology itself. Yet, powerful |
| Gathering the information and compiling | | | | supernatural information is sometimes |
| the results. | | | | provided by astrologers. This leads us |
| At the Convention some 450 seminars and | | | | to our second fact. |
| workshops were offered by almost 200 | | | | Fact Two: Because supernatural |
| professional astrologers during a period | | | | information is given, a supernatural |
| of 4 days. (Thus, one could take up to 4 | | | | source is demanded. The real source of |
| seminars out of the 115 offered each | | | | power in astrology originates from the |
| day.) To secure the objectives | | | | spirit world, whether or not the |
| identified above I (1) attended 9 | | | | astrologer accepts this or is even aware |
| seminars (at random), (2) distributed | | | | of it. Indeed most are not. In the world |
| 100 questionnaires, (3) conducted | | | | of the occult it is often acknowledged |
| interviews and (4) briefly examined over | | | | that spirits have the ability to work |
| 300 of the 500 different astrology texts | | | | inconspicuously through a person so that |
| placed on sale at the Conference. | | | | their presence is not felt. |
| My basic conclusions are as follows: | | | | Fact Three: This means that the |
| 1. Is Astrology a Factual Science? | | | | horoscope itself is merely a convenient |
| Astrologers are divided as to whether or | | | | tool for spiritistic powers to work |
| not astrology can properly be termed a | | | | through. Thus, the horoscope may become |
| science. Clearly, many wished it to be a | | | | an occultic device through which and |
| science. (But even the AFA itself | | | | behind which the spirits can focus their |
| dropped the word "scientific" from its | | | | activity. It does not operate by |
| title in 19455.) If astrology is really | | | | indicating alleged celestial influences. |
| a science, one can only wonder why this | | | | It operates in the same manner as dozens |
| was done. It goes without saying, but | | | | of similar devices which have no power |
| our conclusion is that astrology cannot | | | | on their own but become powerful when |
| be a science based on fact or | | | | the spirit world chooses to use them. |
| experimental replication. Rather, it is | | | | Such devices typically have clear |
| a religious belief system based on | | | | spiritistic connections, as any in-depth |
| pseudo-science, a belief system which | | | | reading of the relevant literature |
| all genuine scientific testing continues | | | | reveals. In all instances, the devices |
| to disprove. Those who think otherwise | | | | themselves contain no power, whether |
| simply are misinformed. | | | | they are simple rocks, dice or gems |
| In addition, the claim to have | | | | (amulets, runes, crystals), cards or |
| substituted mere astrological | | | | sticks (Tarot, the I Ching), playing |
| discernment of "psychological | | | | boards or human hands (Ouija board or |
| indications" of behavior for divination | | | | palmistry), so-called "scientific" |
| of the future is largely a semantic | | | | devices (the radionic "black box"), or |
| distinction. It is true that the | | | | an elaborate chart (an astrological |
| influence of modern psychology in | | | | horoscope). The inanimate device merely |
| astrology is great (especially through | | | | becomes a tool of the spirit world to |
| Jungian and transpersonal psychology), | | | | work through. When the spirits choose to |
| and that astrology may properly be | | | | use such devices, they can be quite |
| classified as a "New Age" psychology. | | | | effective and give startling results. |
| But this has not diminished its occult | | | | However, when the spirits do not choose |
| nature or proclivity for divination, | | | | to use them, they will not work. The |
| however modern astrologers may | | | | operators are then left without power, |
| psychologically choose to redefine the | | | | so they must either engage in fraud, or |
| term. Most astrologers we talked with | | | | in astrology, guess or use whatever |
| believed that a legitimate part of | | | | normal psychological powers of |
| astrology did involve predicting the | | | | discernment or interpretation they can |
| future, including general trends and | | | | muster. |
| specific events. | | | | |