I mentioned to a co-worker that I'm going to be a grandfather for the first time in the Fall. She congratulated me and expressed great delight at the blessed event. But then she proceeded to tell me what astrological sign the child would be and how she has the same sign and how cool people born under that sign are. I said nothing as is my usual response to such nonsense. Later I thought it sad that one would ignore things like DNA and upbringing and the environment one grows up in and attribute a person's characteristics to the alignment of the stars when said child was born. I’ve always hated it when people reference astrology as if it had any basis in fact.
If I’m wrong, show me the scientific evidence.
Astrology descriptions are written to fit almost anyone, to wit: “you value close relationships but need time alone,” “you can be confident but also self-doubting.” The accuracy is coming from the reader, not the system.
People look for patterns, it’s a way to make sense of things that seem random and unknowable (ya know, most of life). They connect dots between a horoscope and a real event and ignore all the times nothing lines up.
Systems like astrology create the feeling that there’s an underlying order to the world. The sense of structure can be comforting.
It’s also why we have religions. There is little to no historical or scientific evidence to back most of what Christians, Muslims and Jews believe. Holy books are elaborate fictions. They can be instructive in teaching fables and morality but they can also be perverted to do things like demonize homosexuality. People who believe that there’s an invisible man in the sky who controls everything take comfort in the existence of this supreme being. Some people believe he sent his “only begotten son” to Earth and he performed miracles before rising from the dead. This he did to absolve humans of their sins. Makes as much sense as believing in unicorns. Christians often call their organizations “faith-based.” I think of them more as “fantasy-based.”
While all the power rests in God — by whatever name — people do believe in the power of prayer. Which just goes to show people will believe anything. I told a former colleague of mine who is Christian that a former student of ours had been reported missing. Later he let me know that his congregation was praying for her safe return home. As I understand it his assumption was that God would hear these prayers and think: “I better find this woman and make sure she gets home.” Evidently the all-knowing God had not previously considered her plight. In any case the woman has still not returned home. God evidently ignored the congregation’s prayers. Why? What’s the point of praying if God is going to do what he wants anyway? (It was God’s will!)
Why do people believe that praying will move the needle even the tiniest bit? Because I can assure you it does nothing more than make the person praying feel like theya have influence in a situation in which they are, in reality, powerless.
Astrology, religion and the like give answers for people who can’t be bothered thinking for themselves. A ready-made belief system saves a lot of time and energy. Never mind that the answers it provides are facile.
To each their own, of course. The problem comes when people share their nonsense with others like the woman who tried to tell me about my future grandson months before he was born. When I thought about it later I was offended. Keep that crap away from me and my progeny. In the same way I don’t want to hear about your prayers or your faith or the good book or Allah or sitting shiva or any of the other superstitious nonsense you waste your time with.
Seriously, people.
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