Astrology and religion (or should I write Religion)

I am not a big fan of astrology unlike my father. Last time I visited India (or should I say first time), we had discussion about it. It started with my sister insisting on getting some prediction form her friend's astrologer. My father knows a bit of astrology himself (actually, he knows a bit of everything). So we started discussing about the astrology. I have had doubts about it. The primary concerns are due to fact that how could different techniques, like hast-rekha, sun signs, moon signs, lead to the predictions. Is it not too obvious that this many solutions to a complex problem, is not possible.

         

My second concern was that how come some of the techniques allow for the solutions of the problem. I mean, some of the so-called astrologers, predict that you have some bad omen waiting for you and also recommend the cure for it. Is it not a paradox in itself ? If he is wrong, then ok. But, if he is true and you are about to face the bad omen and somehow change it by worshiping some deity, the prediction he made is not right. To me, its comparable to time travel in past, where you could kill your grand parents. Then the question is, how is ones present existence possible ?

My third question was about the diffrences in the prediction made by different persons using the same technique for e.g., moon-sign. How could they differ so much.

And lastly, if the predictions are true, then all the persons born at same time should have the same future. My question then was, why don't we have multiple Dhirubhai(s), or Gandhiji(s). In other words, we should be able to divide all the rich people of the world in different groups, with a single group having people born on same time (Yes, it's too much of logic!!!). 

Now heres is the some of the counter arguments made by my 'Popsy'. I would write them according to the points mentioned above.

1. All the different techniques are based on the similar science. Its comparable to a mathematics problem, solved in multiple ways (as I do not have much detailed knowledge about different techniques, I could not discuss more with him on this topic)

2. Most of the people offering solutions are crook (so no more dicsussion here too).

3. For this question, his reply was that most people consider the time of birth as the actual time of birth, where as it should be calculated as nine months from time of conceiving baby. Also, many people use some of the different methods for calculations, leading to differences in prediction.

4. Now this was interesting. Two counter-arguments proposed by him were, most of the people although thought to be born at same time, they are not. There is minor difference in the time of birth. Secondly, astrology only predicts the future in non-absolute terms, i.e. it can only say if one would be happy or rich or have a good married life. It can not predict the absolute value, i.e. how much money he would have. Here he gave me a good example his astrologer guru (whose name, I am not able to remember now). He was  very poor. His wife was mad and so was his son. But then there was a astrologer of same name living in banglore, who was also supposed to be born on the similar time. Interestingly, they both had same name for their house. Also he too had a mad wife and mad son. 

After, all this discussion, I am still not convinced to believe in astrology. Up-till in college in India, I never gave importance to predictions. But now, when my future is full of uncertainties, I was just trying on internet to see how my future looks there :-). Is it not the lack of confidence that leads you to believe in non-logical things ? I think astrology and religion were invented by some very wise person(s) as a psychological cure for people to overcome the difficult times. But again, I can not comment on them with authority with the meager reading on the subject(s). 

Some of the predictions I got today, were not-consistent with my natuare, while some were. But can not forget what my popsy told me, about me. According to him, my laziness has the astrological basis. NO doubt that I have not been able to overcome it !!!

Superstition is to religion what astrology is to astronomy; the mad daughter of a wise mother - Voltaire

I just realized that my  blogs are getting too much longer and importantly I have no ability for suing wit and humor :(. Wonder what my birth-chart says about it :P.

And also re-realized my ability to procrastinate is supreme. I was about to write the lab-report and instead spend 2 hours on astrology and this blog.