Horoscopes are a fake system for insight into personalities

Monday, February 8, 2010 - 10:30 PM

Barry Belmont

In addition to being a science buff, I’m an avid astrologer. I’m not the best by any means, but I’ve been known to divine one’s future from the stars alongside the greats.

Let me show you how good I am. We’ve never met, but I’m so capable that with relative ease I can see into your personality as shown by the stars.

Sometimes you’re the life of the party, but other times you just want to be left alone. You’ve got a great sense of humor and a strong sense of right and wrong, even if it’s not always appreciated by others. You work hard, but you understand the place of fun and relaxation in your life. And though you have made it through some hard times in the past, there will be more rough patches on the road ahead. Don’t get discouraged, even if you feel the world has abandoned you. The stars are always there to help you through.

See? What did I tell you? Am I good or what?

Alright, full disclosure: I’m not an astrologer. In fact, there is no astrological energy.

However, believe it or not, something like 25 percent (give or take about five percent) of adults in America think astrology is legitimate. That’s about 80 million people who believe a quite detestable lie.

Why is this lie quite detestable?

Consider the history behind it. Though it was developed by the best astronomers of the time, it is ultimately an astronomical system created by people who thought the planets, sun and stars rotated about the earth. That kind of ignorance is unacceptable in today’s society.

Consider that you were not born under the “sign” you think you were. The current zodiac is about 2,000 years out of sync due to the precession of the earth’s axis.

Consider that there are more astrology sections in newspapers than astronomy sections. Didn’t we replace superstitious nonsense with empirical evidence and rationality a few hundred years ago?

Consider how easy it was for me to describe you in the above “horoscope” using broad language and generality. To be a good astrologer, all you need to do is make a claim about somebody and then take it back. “You have strong convictions, but you have an open mind.”

Consider how prejudicial the idea of astrology really is. Its basic tenant is that when people are born determines who they are. And though astrologers are all about pleasing their customers by saying good things in their horoscopes, is it really any different to claim that someone is noble because they’re a Leo than to claim they are lazy because of their skin color?

By claiming that the universe conspires to construct 12 broad classes of individuals, astrologers insult the diversity of human life and the sweeping grandeur of the cosmos. There is no point in pretending the universe revolves around us. It is better to stand in awe of our cosmic insignificance than to lie to one another about constellations most of us can’t even point out in the night sky.

Barry Belmont is apparently stubborn. He’s probably a Taurus. He also studies biology and mechanical engineering. Reach him at perspectives@nevadasagebrush.com.