So then - if the process can't be comprehended.. it isn't really 'knowledge'. You didn't say that, but you imply it.

But I'm sure you, like me, have known religious people who were *otherwise* pretty smart, or even "wise". Thing is, you seem to be able to distinguish that wisdom from their religiosity... So why do you refuse to do the same with these not-organised-religion superstitions?!?

It is you who deny their [OK call it wisdom] - since *whatever imaginable connection* twixt "the stars" and a homo-sap ?? appears so: unprovable. No?

I do not say that this connection *exists*. Say simply that - an inability to demonstrate that it does - is NOT 'proof' (a heavily misused word like 'causality') that there is NONE. I am not sure if such a proof is possible, even if it is conceivable. It sure as hell ain't 'physics'.

I suggest that very much which goes on in life - is in similar limbo: either because we do not know (enough) or because our methods (statistical analysis, say?) are themselves crude, mostly mathematically-oriented and are frequently - a kind of overlay we place over whatever Reality is in our attempts to grok WTF we're doing here.

"Mathematically oriented" example: the very concept of proof! - and its purest form is 'mathematical proof': and THAT, within rigidly constrained axioms of our own invention. Move from math and the concept becomes fuzzier and fuzzier - especially where ANY homo-sap is involved in the matter being examined.

I am "certain enough" too - that the vast majority of 'Astrologers' today are more or less incompetents / frauds or both. As with founders of new religions - like Bernie Schwartz (or whoever 'Werner Erhardt' was before he changed his name). Founding religions is EZ - ask those who knew L. Ron, when he used to speak of just-That, as the most lucrative bizness to get into.

As to older religions - before the $US was invented, fear was enough incentive to hire an 'intercessor' for protection against things that go bump.. yada yada. Lightning sure looked.. a lot like an Angry Thor. Plague sure looked like.. Gawd's Little Acher (sorry)

So: nope, I don't claim causality between celestial objects and human personality. I do claim that we haven't the foggiest means for demonstrating that 'Astrology' *was* (merely and obviously)

[What you said]

To try for KISS: I go with Hamlet, to Horatio: There are more things between *heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy

* let's leave the Christian concept with golden harps and Thrones and no sex and ... out of it, please; let's say that Will S. likely meant er Providence or The Unknown and Unknowable or ... OK? (Will was maybe the least superstitious gent of his time, though he knew what symbols were effective. IMhO natch)

Sorry but - 'wisdom' lies also in grokking *when* one doesn't know Shit about this or that Question as comes up. If I hadn't met Bennett, I'd likely continue to imagine I Knew it was all BS. Too. Then we'd agree just now.

But I'd still be Wrong, thinking I Knew (!) What I'll grant is: Yes, today it is *most often BS*, like the 'Other' kind mentioned.

HTH


Ashton