DOES ASTROLOGY WORK?

By Robert A. Ginskey

Does astrology have a rational scientific basis?  Is there any conceivable way that the celestial location of stars, planets, and nebulae at the time of one’s birth could influence an individual’s personality, health, marriage, career, and a host of other personal events?

The accompanying article shows that the origin of astrology lies in pagan superstition.  But does astrology work?

Until the sixteenth century, the earth was believed to be the center of the universe, with the sun, moon, planets, and stars revolving around this all-important center of activity.

But the heliocentric universe of Copernicus (1543) dethroned the earth.  And since then, the advance of astronomical knowledge has relentlessly pushed the earth farther and farther from any privileged position in the cosmos.  The sun, too, has been demoted to an inconspicuous suburb in a rather unexceptional galaxy in a relatively small group of galaxies in a universe of uncounted billions of stars.

In such a universe, it becomes increasingly difficult to believe the heavens were created to have a specific influence on the earth and on individual humans in particular.  How would such an influence occur?  Through gravity?  Radiation? 

The immense distances counted in the universe – usually measured in light years – ruled any such influences.  The gravitational attraction of the doctor standing at the delivery table will be far greater than the gravitational influence of any star or galaxy on a new-born baby.

And the radiation from even the brightest star will be thousands of times weaker than a single light bulb in the delivery room.

The conclusion seems inescapable:  No known force emanating from the constellations of the heavens could be expected to exert a unique, life-long influence on anyone.

Even if the stars did exert an ever-so-subtle influence at the time of an individual’s birth, can anyone seriously believe their influence is important when compared to the multitude of much stronger environmental forces on earth that directly affect our lives?

All life on earth is affected by periodic changes, in the environment.   Such cyclic variations are often the basis for natural rhythms called biological clocks.  The most obvious example is the rising and setting of the sun, a daily cycle of light and dark which directly affects the activities of virtually all plants and animals. 

Originally published as Does Astrology Work?, The Plain Truth, November 1976, pp.  12-13 An article of related interest may be: OMENS? DIVINATION? HOROSCOPES? THE ORIGIN OF ASTROLOGY.

Note: The old Worldwide Church of God no longer exists and the group that took it over would not make Herbert Armstrong's old church writings available, even when I offered to pay. So the above article is freely shown in the public interest. The most faithful remnant of his old church is the Continuing Church of God.

Some items of further interest may include:

The Bible and Astrology Should Christians avoid participating in astrology or did God inspire it? Does the Bible encourage astrology? What does the Bible actually teach? What is astrology? How does astrology differ from astronomy?
OMENS? DIVINATION? HOROSCOPES? THE ORIGIN OF ASTROLOGY Where did astrology come from? Should you read your horoscope?
Did God Create a Devil? If not, what happened? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet.
Angels, Cherubim, and Seraphim This is information about various types of angelic beings.
Did Early Christians Celebrate Birthdays? Did biblical era Jews celebrate birthdays? Who originally celebrated birthdays? When did many that profess Christ begin birthday celebrations?

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