"What kind of person am I?" "What is my calling in life?" "What does the future hold for me?" Have you thought about these questions? Most do. Millions of people throughout history have turned to astrology for answers. What does this term mean?
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia define astrology as a study that "assumes that celestial bodies [sun, moon, stars and planets] have a direct influence on human life and destiny at certain times, depending on their relative position."
Is astrology scientific?
In the past, the earth was assumed to be the center of the universe. Because the earth rotates around its axis every twenty-four hours, the sun, moon, and stars appear to rotate around the earth.
Ancient astrologers have come to the conclusion that these celestial motions have special significance for humans. They wrote twelve specific groups of stars or constellations, which they named humans and animals, such as Leo (for Lion), Taurus (for Bull) and Aries (for Ram). The supposed circular orbit in which these stars and planets appear to move was called the zodiac and means "[circle] of animals (or living things)". Regarding the zodiac, The World Book Encyclopedia comments: “Men have always divided the zodiac into 12 equal parts at 30 degrees each. These parts are known as signs of the zodiac. About 2000 years ago, each sign was named after the constellation that occupied its position.
Due to the earth's motion around the sun, starting from the earth, it seems as if the sun moves from one constellation to another each month, forming a complete cycle of twelve months.
Astrologers say that the person at the exact time of birth is particularly impressed by the constellation where the sun appears and also by the one that later rises on the eastern horizon at the place of birth. Astrologers also say that the positions of the planets in relation to the stars and at certain times at certain times can affect the individual in a favorable or unfavorable way. This is especially true at birth. A chart that shows these positions is called a "horoscope". Radiation from these celestial bodies is said to affect newborn cells and cause hereditary changes that determine the type of person they are. It's really true?
One stronomer Dr. Bart said: “No,”he said
Studies on stars and planets have shown that the amount of radiation these bodies receive on Earth is extremely small and that the gravitational effects are so small that they are negligible compared to those of nearby objects.
In addition to the sun, the moon is the only celestial body that regularly generates a force greater than the gravitational force generated by nearby objects at birth. Only under the most favorable conditions can the gravitational force on the planet Mars be equal to that of the doctor responsible for delivery.
Even if celestial bodies could affect a person's cells and shape their personality, would that happen at birth? Prominent geneticist Amram Scheinfeld notes:
The position [of astrologers] that cosmic forces affect the baby's personality at birth is genetically untenable. For this theory to be valid, genes must be affected at the time of conception and not at birth. . . . All your charts are drawn nine months late. ""
Because of this difficulty, some astrologers try to calculate from the moment of conception. But who exactly can determine this moment?
Origin in Religion of Ancient Babylon
What would you learn if you studied the history of astrology? Where and how were you born? One professor explained: "The history of astrology now goes back to ancient Babylon and, in fact, to the earliest stages of Babylon's history." Regarding the zodiac, the Dictionary of the Century and the Encyclopedia note: “There is strong evidence that the zodiac existed around 2100 BC. It was formed in Babylon. . . . Some of the ancient figures in the constellation are remarkably Babylonian in nature. . . and almost anything can be explained by Babylonian mythology.
What purpose did astrology serve at its beginning? The professor continued: “In Babylonia as well as in Assyria . . . astrology takes its place in the official cult as one of the two chief means at the disposal of the priests . . . for ascertaining the will and intention of the gods.” The sun, moon and planets were considered the homes of the Babylonian gods and were named after them. The priests believed that a correct interpretation of the movements of these bodies would reveal what the gods were about to do. Thus, astrology was religious from its beginning. It was a form of divination by means of omens.
Of course, devotees of astrology today do not say that the planets are dwelling places of ancient gods. But their faith in astrology amounts to the same thing. Why so? Well, has not modern astrology branched off from that ancient Babylonian superstition? Is not a branch of a tree still part of the tree? Also, what essential difference is there between believing that planetary “gods” or planetary “forces” govern human affairs?