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