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