INTERVIEW FOR CSE 2019
All ForumIAS members selected for CSE 2019 Personality Test must submit their details and DAF and register below to receive further instructions and guidance from ForumIAS. Click here to register now
INTERVIEW 2020 CHANNEL
ForumIAS Channel for Interview Preparation is now Active! Please join the channel by clicking here
We are hiring!

Astrology

191012141518

Comments

  • @arindamsarkar

    you have your views based on your outer views of some personal experiences.
    it's true that majority of so called astrologers are fake and exploit people mentally.
    but that does not give us an absolute confidence to question the science itself,especially when we have limited knowledge about it.
    nothing in the world is perfectly sceintific ,including astrology.and yes,it is not solely based on some mumble jumble planetary positions and nor does it claim to be crystal ball for all events.
    we can pass a verdict only when we have delved deep enough and long enough to any subject.
    everyone is free to beleive in anything including god,ghost,soul and cure for cancer and aids.
    but to label something trash based on one's window shopping experiences is far fetched.
  • ^^ It boils down to the power over the minds of people that these people wield.

    I have seen cancer patients lose their will to get treatment after their astrologer told them that fighting the disease was futile and they're going to die. They fulfilled the prophecy by neglecting their treatment.

    I have seen poor people save their meagre earnings to buy magic stones because they were told, you'll die otherwise. Often this money comes out of food or medicines.

    I have seen people giving up education / settle for less because the astrologer told them that they are not expected to shine in life.

    I have seen normal-mildly sick people holding fatalistic attitudes and living on the edge because some astrologer told them that they would have some major disease / accident. Their constant thinking about these things keeps them distracted and contributes to self-fulfilling prophecies.

    On the other hand, they boost morales of random people. They too shine in life because they get that mental boost. People can even be convinced that they would survive tremendous adversities. They do, due to their own grit, but the credit goes to the astrologer.

    What gives them the right to play with people's lives like this? They may base their predictions on astronomy, but the link of celestial effects on humans is wrong. That makes their predictions random.

    All truths are relative. If some unverified doctrine is causing harm in this manner, it is better to relegate it to the dustbin - tradition or no-tradition.

    We've finally arrived at the point where arguments in favour of astrology are fizzling out. Now people are beginning to question the veracity of science itself. The discussion has now come full circle. Just a question - We're you trying to prove that astrology was 'scientific' to begin with?

    I'll call a spade a spade. I don't have to be apologetic about that.
    Hmm.. Wearing a black glass.. and calling a spade a spade.. Good!
  • Ye Dhinchak bhai yaha aag laga ke chale gaye. Aise hi kal pooch rahe the ki Kaaju Katli Rhombus shaped kyu hoti hai, uspe yuddh karwa diya tha :))
    @Armstrong bhai maine kisi aur he intention se khola tha thread. ...
    :P .....mujhe laga koi babaji ayenge aur mera horoscope dekh ke prediction karenge 8-}
  • @ArindamSarkar ji...
    I have no deep knowledge of either astrology or of any personality test as I have not read any enough literature about both. My comment was merely an observation on how people react differently to two things that seem similar to me. It wasn't aimed at you alone.
    However, I hope that people making tall claims in support/opposition of such things have at least read through the requisite literature in original, before presenting their cases. Else its just one blind man leading another, and an inception point of dangerous stereotypes and biases.

    Regarding error rates and claims of accuracy, I'm sure that if one spends enough time on Google one might find such disclosures in ancient astrological scriptures as well. Hinduism is so paradoxically diverse and all encompassing that I wouldn't be surprised if one comes across ancient literature rubbishing astrology juxtaposed next to one extolling it.

    Furthermore, your very strong and passionate opinions seem to have been forged by your personal experiences and observations. But they seem to be founded on people and not on texts. I have seen my share of doctors who recommend unnecessary surgeries to fill up their coffers. I have seen bungling shams who get their diagnoses wrong, prescribe non required tests, medicine courses, and put at risk the lives of patients. I have seen doctors recommend costly drugs instead of cheap alternatives to get commission from the MR. There are wrong people in every right profession. Our opinions should not be coloured because of such people only. There is always another side to a story. And then another.

    I have nothing more to say because I've exhausted all the english i knew... iske aage mai kuch kehne laayak nahi bacha ab... :D
  • Don't interpret my distrust of astrology as a distrust of Hinduism. There is nothing more ridiculously far away. My opposition to astrology can be taken as my homage towards and defence of the highest rational arguments enshrined in Hindu philosophy. I oppose astrology because I am proud of my Hindu rational heritage. I don't want commercial interests to even attempt to malign it. The impetus to speak up against these untruths comes to me from within.

    As far as your diatribe against doctors go, it's besides the point. I am arguing against the very principles of astrology, not merely against a subset made up of charlatans.
  • Yaha log ek galati kar rahe hain.. They are believing in one ideology and trying to judge other ideologies on the basis of theirs.. Ideology is a way of looking at the world.. Rationality is one such way.. It is also just a belief.. that the world runs on the principles of rationality.. It might not be the ultimate truth..

    When science was replacing religion as the dominant ideology of the world, many people like Galileo were ridiculed because others could not understand his science.. Today, science has become dominant and is trying to do the same to others who do not confer to its ideology. Newton ridiculed wave theorists.. Later was found that Newton was incorrect.. Our understanding is not the only truth.. There are multiple versions..

    It might be that there is no truth at all.. Its just our interpretations and we believe in it blindly..
    Hence question should not be if astrology is a science.. No it is not..
    Question should be if it useful or not, or if it is true or not..

    I personally take astrology for fun. Dont know if it is true.. One astrologer told me about my age of 1st job and second job.. Came true.. but about marriage, came false..
    I have also seen sun signs, describing people to a great extent.. My small sample set confirms to it.. It describes only the nature and not the predictions about life..

    It might be that astrology only predicts chances of things to happen. Things might not happen in exactly those ways.. It might just be implying greater chances.. Its not simple back and white.. There is some grey area, that I am not able to understand.. Do not blindly believe in rationality.. There might be other versions of the truth.. Keep your eyes open.. One day even science and rationality would be replaced by something else.. Then it would look foolish to think that people really believed in it..
    1
    its like, we all aspire to achieve success in life but there is no unique way to get it. Difference of opinion helps in building rational arguments and in a way help society to progress. We all want India to progress but vote to different parties, believing our one to be the most appropriate. Idea of Perfection is imperfect.
  • astrology=BC

    mujhe itna hi pata hai is topic pe
  • edited February 2015
    Swami Vivekananda on Astrology - http://sreyasfoundation.org/swami-vivekananda-on-astrology/

    To quote Swami Vivekanada :

    "This I lay down as the first essential in all I teach: anything that brings spiritual, mental, or physical weakness, touch it not with the toes of your feet."
  • itne bade bade posts kyun likh rahe ho bhai log...rona aa raha hai ab...
  • itne bade bade posts kyun likh rahe ho bhai log...rona aa raha hai ab...
    Bade bade forums pe, bade bade post.... You know. ;)
Sign In or Join to comment.

Welcome!

We are a secret self-moderated community for Civil Services preparation. Feel free to join, start a discussion, answer a question or just to say Thank you.

Just dont spread the word ;)

Sign in or join with Facebook or Google