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