You can imagine the reactions I get when I tell people I write horoscopes for a living. A fellow astro nerd who is keen to talk the stars occasionally surprises me with warm excitement. Other times, I’m met with a slight eye roll that reveals their disapproval of my profession. However, this is my least favorite reaction: “Oh, yes? Then try to figure out what my sign is.” How am I expected to know that, anyway? We’ve only known each other for five minutes. That isn’t how astrology works, either. Even if I can’t tell someone’s zodiac sign just by looking at them, I do know that those born under these signs are the least likely to believe in astrology. If you’re a Taurus, Gemini, Virgo, or Capricorn (or have one of these signs in your birth chart), you’re probably the type of person who would mock or disregard someone’s interest in astrology.
To begin with, there’s nothing wrong with not believing in astrology or not being a fan of it. I’m not here to persuade you to change your mind. I believe it’s wonderful to have your own set of principles and beliefs, and to be honest, I like the idea that astrology is still a bit of a closed club. However, if you have one of the following zodiac signs in your horoscope, you’re likely to be the type of person who takes their time before believing in something, which is often a good thing. But, well, you’ve got to have a little faith now and then. Also, allow them to enjoy anything they want. Capiche?
In This Article...
Which Zodiac signs are the most skeptics?
Taurus is an agnostic when it comes to astrology. They are practical people who believe in what they can see with their own eyes and feel with their own hands. Taurus doesn’t believe in astrology, and they’re very sure it’s all a load of nonsense.
A Taurus may have their chart done, be blown away by how accurate it was, yet still refuse to believe anything.
Is it true that many believe in astrology?
Christine Smallwood’s fascinating piece, “Astrology in the Age of Uncertainty:
Astrology is currently experiencing widespread popular acceptability that has not been seen since the 1970s. The transition began with the introduction of the personal computer, was expedited by the Internet, and has now reached new levels of speed thanks to social media. According to a Pew Research Center poll from 2017, about a third of Americans believe in astrology.
Astrology, like psychoanalysis before it, has infiltrated our collective vernacular. At a party in the 1950s, you could have heard someone talk about the id, ego, or superego; now, it’s normal to hear someone explain herself using the sun, moon, and rising signs. It isn’t just that you are aware of it. It’s who’s saying it: folks who aren’t kooks or deniers of climate change, who don’t find a conflict between utilizing astrology and believing in science…
I ran a short Google search and discovered the following Pew report from October 2018:
The religion breakdown was the only thing that surprised me about this table.
I had the impression that mainline Protestants were the rational ones, but they believe in astrology at the same rate as the overall population.
But, hey, I guess they’re ordinary Americans, so they have average American ideas.
Only 3% of atheists believe in astrology, which is also unexpected.
This makes sense, yet it seemed reasonable to me that someone may not believe in God but believe in other supernatural things: in fact, I could see astrology as a type of replacement for a traditional religious system.
But it appears that is not the case.
Brian Wansink has been compared to an astrologer who can make astute observations about the world based on a combination of persuasiveness and qualitative understanding, and then attributes his success to tarot cards or tea leaves rather than a more practical ability to synthesize ideas and tell good stories.
Does Brian Wansink, on the other hand, believe in astrology?
What about Marc Hauser, Ed Wegman, Susan Fiske, and the rest of the bunch who call their detractors “second-string, replication police, methodological terrorists, Stasi, and so on?”
I doubt they believe in astrology because it symbolizes a rival belief system: it’s a business that, in some ways, competes with rah-rah Ted-talk science.
I wouldn’t be shocked if famous ESP researchers believe in astrology, but I get the impression that mainstream junk-science supporters in academia and the news media feel uncomfortable discussing ESP since its research methods are so similar to their own.
They don’t want to be associated with ESP researchers because it would devalue their own study, but they also don’t want to put them under the bus because they are fellow Ivy League academics, so the safest plan is to remain quiet about it.
The greater point, however, is not astrology believing in and of itself, but the mental state that allows individuals to believe in something so contrary to our scientific understanding of the world.
(OK, I apologize to the 29% of you who don’t agree with me on this.)
When I return to writing on statistical graphics, model verification, Bayesian computation, Jamaican beef patties, and other topics, you can rejoin the fold.)
It’s not that astrology couldn’t be correct a priori:
We can come up with credible hypotheses under which astrology is real and amazing, just as we can with embodied cognition, beauty and sex ratio, ovulation and voting, air rage, ages ending in 9, and all the other Psychological Science / PNAS classics.
It’s just that nothing has come up after years of rigorous research.
And the existing theories aren’t particularly convincing: they’re speculative world models that may be good if the purpose was to describe a real and enduring occurrence, but they’re less so without actual data.
Anyway, if 30% of Americans are willing to believe such nonsense, it’s no surprise that a significant number of influential American psychology professors will have the kind of attitude toward scientific theory and evidence that leads them to have strong beliefs in weak theories with no supporting evidence.
Indeed, not only support for specific weak theories, but support for the fundamental principle that pseudoscientific views should be treated with respect (although, oddly enough, maybe not for astrology itself).
P.S.In defense of the survey respondents (but not of the psychology professors who support ideas like the “critical positivity ratio,” which makes astrology appear positively sane in comparison), belief in astrology (or, for that matter, belief in heaven, gravity, or the square-cube law) is essentially free.
Why not believe these things, or not believe them?
Belief or denial in evolution, climate change, or unconscious bias, on the other hand, can have social or political consequences.
Some opinions are purely personal, while others have a direct impact on policy.
I have less patience for famous academic and media elites who aggressively support junk science by not just expressing their trust in speculative notions supported by no real data, but also attacking those who point out these emperors’ nudity. Furthermore, even a hypothetical tolerant, open-minded supporter of junk sciencethe type of person who might believe in critical positivity ratio but actively support the publication of criticisms of that workcan still cause some harm by contaminating scientific journals and the news media with bad science, and by promoting sloppy work that takes up space that could be used for more careful research.
You know how they say science corrects itself, but only because individuals are willing to correct themselves?
Gresham’s law is also true, but only when people are willing to distribute counterfeit notes or money they think is counterfeit while keeping their lips shut until they can get rid of their wads of worthless stock.
P.P.S.Just to be clear:I don’t think astrology is a waste of time, and it’s possible that Marc Hauser was onto something real, even while faking data (according to the US government, as mentioned on Wikipedia), and the critical positivity ratio, ovulation, voting, and all the rest…
Just because there isn’t enough evidence to support a theory doesn’t mean it’s untrue.
I’m not trying to disprove any of these assertions.
All of it should be published someplace, along with all of the criticism.
My issue with junk science proponents isn’t simply that they advocate science that I and others perceive to be rubbish; they can also be wrong!
However, they consistently avoid, deny, and oppose valid open criticism.
P.P.P.S.Remember that #notallpsychologists.
Of course, the problem of junk research isn’t limited to psychology in any way.
Professors of political science, economics, sociology, and history, to the extent that they believe in astrology, spoon bending, or whatever (that is, belief in “scientific paranormalism as describing some true thing about the natural world, not just a “anthropological recognition that paranormal beliefs can affect the world because people believe in it), this could also sabotage their research.
I suppose it’s not such a big problem if a physicist or chemist believes in these things.
I’m not attempting to shut down study into astrology, embodied cognition, ESP, beauty-and-sex-ratio, endless soup bowls, spoon bending, the Bible Code, air anger, ovulation and voting, subliminal smiley faces, or anything else.
Allow for the blooming of a thousand blooms!
Given that a sizable portion of the populace is willing to believe in scientific-sounding notions that aren’t backed by any good scientific theory or evidence, it should come as no surprise that many professional scientists hold this viewpoint.
The repercussions are especially evident in psychology, which is a vital field of study where theories can be hazy and where there is a long legacy of belief and action based on flimsy data.
That isn’t to say that psychologists are awful people; they’re merely working on difficult challenges in a field with a long history of failures.
This isn’t a critique; it’s just the way things are. Of course, there is a lot of excellent work being done in the field of psychology. You’ll have to work with what you’ve got.
What are the symptoms that don’t get along?
According to an astrologer, the most incompatible zodiac signs should never, ever date.
- CANCER AND ARIES. Aries is a fast-paced sign who thrives on the thrill of the moment.
- SCORPIO AND GEMINI
- SAGITTARIUS AND CAPRICORN.
- AQUARIUS AND TAURUS.
Why are Aries so skeptical about astrology?
Aries: Has no knowledge of astrology but believes in it because they are inquisitive and enjoy learning new things about themselves.
Taurus: Although astrology may creep them out, they still enjoy it since they enjoy imagining. What they don’t realize is that astrology is a science, not a mystical practice. However, don’t tell them since they will despise you.
Gemini is the sign of the fish “I adore astrology omg but I feel like all Geminis are stereotyped and everyone judges us ewww we’re not bad we’re just misunderstood and it hurts my emotions:((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((
Cancer is a disease that…
They’re probably obsessed with astrology, as well as everything else. Does astrology fan art and has most likely published an astrology book “ASTROLOGY IS EVERYTHINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG BUT WE’RE NOT CRYBABIES, BITCH, AND IF YOU CROSS ME, I’LL SNAP YOUR NECK IN A MINUTE:3 I adore anime as wellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
What zodiac has trouble with trust?
Cancer. Cancers are infamous for suppressing their emotions since they do not trust easily. This is a sign that they will never tell you about their trust problems.
What are the signs of the zodiac that are suspicious?
“Scorpios are skeptical by nature,” says astrologer Cindy Mckean to Elite Daily. “Some people enjoy it. They don’t mind waiting and observing you as a fixed indicator before they can fully trust you. They may even put you to the test without your knowledge.”
What are the symptoms that someone is more narcissistic?
Narcissists also believe they are superior to others, and this is what narcissism at its best looks like. When you speak to them or try to converse with them, they will try to persuade you that they are correct and that what they know is the best. We are here to assist you if you want to be prepared before speaking with a narcissist. The following are the four zodiac signs that are most likely to be narcissists.
Who is it that believes in astrology?
Despite reasoning claiming that the movements of stars and their relative locations cannot influence human behavior, scientists have periodically put astrology to the test during the past several decades. To date, everyone has come to the same conclusion: the idea is rubbish. Despite this, millions of people all around the world believe it to be actual science. The researchers began by noticing that believing in astrology has increased in recent years, presumably as a result of stressors such as the COVID-19 pandemic. They then set out to see if there were any characteristics that people who were willing to believe in a pseudoscience with no evidence of its use shared.
They devised an online questionnaire to determine personality traits, which they then put to a shortened version of the Belief in Astrology Inventory evaluation, which was created by a pair of academics at Rovira I Virgili University in 2006. A quick IQ test was also included. They then used Facebook to recruit 264 English-speaking persons to participate in their survey.
The researchers discovered that persons who claimed to believe in astrology’s powers scored higher than normal on narcissistic tests and performed badly on the IQ exam. They claim that those who believe in astrology are more self-centered than the ordinary person, seeing themselves as unique individuals with natural leadership abilities who also happen to be less intelligent than the typical person. They discovered that the greater a volunteer’s IQ score, the less likely they were to believe in astrology.
Who is the originator of astrology?
Jones stated, “This is possibly older than any other known case.” “It’s also older than any of the written-down horoscopes from the Greco-Roman period,” he said, adding, “we have a number of horoscopes written down as a kind of document on papyrus or on a wall, but none of them as old as this.”
The discovery was presented in the most recent edition of the Journal for the History of Astronomy by Jones and StaoForenbaher, a researcher at the Institute for Anthropological Research in Zagreb.
Forenbaher told LiveScience that the crew was working near the entrance of a Croatian cave in 1999, a site well known to archaeologists and residents of the surrounding hamlet of Nakovana who simply named it “Spila,” which means “the cave.”
Nobody realized at the time, however, that the cave featured a part that had been locked for over 2,000 years. Forenbaher’s girlfriend (now his wife) dug under the rubble and discovered a broad, low passageway that ran for over 33 feet in the dark (10 meters). “The unique King Tut experience, arriving to a spot where nobody has been for a couple of thousand years,” Forenbaher said of passing down the corridor.
When Forenbaher entered the cavern, “there was a very thin limestone crust on the surface that was splitting under your boots,” indicating that “nobody had gone there in a very, very, long time,” he added.
The researchers eventually discovered that it had been blocked off in the first century B.C., presumably as a result of a Roman military effort against the locals.
The archaeologists discovered a phallic-shaped stalagmite, as well as countless drinking containers deposited over hundreds of years and something more. “These very small bits and pieces of ivory came out in the course of that dig,” Forenbaher explained, “and we didn’t even recognize what we had at the time.”
The group got to work. “It took years to piece them together, find more bits and pieces, and figure out what they were,” Forenbaher explained. They ended there staring at the ruins of the world’s oldest known astrologer’s board.
Archaeologists aren’t sure how the board got inside the cave or where it came from. The Babylonians developed their own version of horoscopes around 2,400 years ago, which is where astrology began in antiquity.
Then, around 2,100 years ago, astrology went to the eastern Mediterranean, where it became popular in Egypt, which was ruled by a dynasty of Greek monarchs at the time.
Jones explained, “It gets transformed very much into what we think of as the Greek style of astrology, which is really the present type of astrology.” “The Greek style of astrology is the foundation of astrology that spans the Middle Ages, modern Europe, modern India, and beyond.”
The ivory used to produce the zodiac images dates back to 2,200 years, just before the advent of this new kind of astrology, according to radiocarbon dating.
The location of the board’s manufacture is unknown, though Egypt is a possibility. They believe the ivory came from an elephant that was slain or died in the area around that period. Because ivory is such a valuable commodity, it would have been preserved for decades, if not a century, before being utilized to make the zodiac. These signs would have been adhered to a flat (probably wooden) surface to form the board, which could have featured other features that did not survive.
It could have been loaded onto a ship sailing through the Adriatic Sea, a vital trade route that the cave overlooks. Illyrians were the people who resided in Croatia at the time. Despite the fact that ancient writers had a negative view of them, archaeological evidence reveals that they interacted with surrounding Greek colonies and were a vital part of the Mediterranean civilization.
An astrologer from one of the Greek colonies may have visited the cave to make a prediction. A consultation in the cavern’s flickering light would have been a powerful experience, if not particularly convenient for the astrologer.
Jones commented, “It doesn’t sound like a very practical site for performing horoscope homework like calculating planetary placements.”
Another hypothesis is that the Illyrians acquired or stole the astrological board without fully comprehending its use. The board, along with the drinking containers, would have been presented as an offering to an unknown deity worshipped in the cave.
“This astrologer’s board could have shown up as an offering along with other exceptional items that were either bought or robbed from a passing ship,” Forenbaher speculated. He noted that the drinking cups discovered in the cave had been chosen with care. They were made in another country, and only a few cruder amphora storage vessels were discovered with them.
“It nearly appears that someone was bringing out wine there, pouring it, and then discarding the amphora away because they weren’t good enough for the gods, or to be deposited in the shrine,” Forenbaher said.
The phallic-shaped stalagmite, which may have formed naturally on the site, appears to have served as a focal point for these offerings and rituals held in the cavern. Forenbaher cautioned that all stalagmites appear phallic in some way, and it’s difficult to know what significance it had to the cave’s inhabitants. “It had to mean something significant,” he said.
“This is a spot where goods of local importance were deposited with some type of supernatural power, transcendental being, or whatever.”
What are the telltale indications of a toxic relationship?
Aries and Taurus are two star signs that are naturally abrasive and obstinate. Both indications are arrogant and will never come down from their pedestals to have a serious dialogue. If they get into an argument, they will wait for the other to apologize first, and if none of them does, a filthy fight will ensue, with both sides suffering. Aries and Taurus are one of the most poisonous zodiac sign couples due to their lack of communication abilities.