Hmmmmm?
Yes. Hmmmmm. You are trying to undermine the work of a lifetime. Have you no tact?
After doing a little more searching (what ever is wrong with me?) It seems that the Washington school is not accredited, nor does it claim to be. What it does is offer full degrees (Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees) in Astrology - while the Scottsdale school offers courses and programs, but not degrees, and is accredited.
Tact or no, astrology has never been demonstrated to be anything but pure bunk. Check here for a good explanation of the problems.
RIGHT ON!!
I was gonna post the Seattle Weekly article, but Jodi beat me to it. From that article:
Quite true. Scylla, you could open your College of Unethical Business Practices and Scams right here in Washington.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ultrafilter *
**
Excuse me? How dare you say that to the genius who predicted the rise of Hister. Sorry, Hitler.
AMARINTH, I stand corrected. That’s what I get for skimming instead of reading for comprehension. Now who has the Naughty Stick? :: bends over ::
I’ve taken classes in writing fiction (believe it or not) so I don’t see how this is different. the people who believe it’s true are the same ones who thing Penthouse Letters are real.
Penthouse letters aren’t real??? :eek:
I’m not so sure anymore. The more dopefests I go to the more possible they seem.
You know, in my city, there are faculties associated with very prestigious universities, and even entire accredited schools, which teach matters based entirely on ancient mystical systems without a shred of scientific or historical backing, but nevertheless purporting to improve people’s lives and give them insights into their characters.
Dreadful, right?
So let’s close down the United Theological College, the Presbyterian College, the Grand Seminary…
I beg your pardon, but are you seriously arguing that Christian theology has “not a shred of historical backing”? Or are you arguing that astrology constitutes a religion? Do the Presbyterians now charge for a Bible reading the way an astrologer does?
Surely you see the difference between a generalized belief system in a higher power and specialized predictions such as “Capricorns are not compatible wiht you” or “You will meet a handsome stranger, and he will be your soulmate.” Moreover, the efficacy of astrology can be and has been specifically disproven in a way that religious beliefs, no matter how outre, never could be. Do you disagree?
I see no difference, but that’s just me. Go ahead and believe whatever bullshit (or truth, as the case may be) that you feel like beleiving. I would just take issue with the federal funding. That’s truly sickening.
I hope so. One can be objectively disproven, and the other cannot.
I’ve read that there are people similar to palm-readers, but instead of palms they read the, um, fundamental fistula to predict the customer’s future. I guess they have to go to school to learn the intricacies, but what do they hang in their window to attract customers?
(the only time I’ve heard of this practice is in the venmous bio “Brando for Breakfast,” which also alleged Marlon Brando’s patronage of a brothel that put ducks in vices and decapitated them when the customer reached climax.)
From this they make a living?
Christian historiography might; Christian theology certainly doesn’t, unless you can come up with Tacitus saying “and then the heretic was resurrected”. After all, we’re not talking about the Presbyterian Historiographical College here.
Well, ministers and priests eat somehow.
I don’t see the difference between “You will meet a handsome stranger” and “You will be happy and fulfilled by following the teachings of the Bible.”
Ooooo… fundamental fistula. I love it! Sounds vaguely dirty. What is it?
MATT:
Yes, they do. But of course what I asked was “Do the Presbyterians now charge for a Bible reading the way an astrologer does?” I am reposting the question to give you another opportunity to answer it, which you have not yet done.
Well, here’s one to start you off. The former is quantifiable and objectively provable: You will either meet a handsome stranger, or you will not. If you don’t, then the prediction has failed. The latter is not quantifiable nor objectively provable because concepts such as “happiness” and “fulfillment” are purely subjective. Therefore, there is no way to “disprove” the latter except through subjective means (“I wasn’t more fulfilled by following the Bible” – a sentiment immediately countered by shouts of “Well, I was!”) and it therefore cannot really be disproven. But if you’re told that you you’ll meet Mr. Right within the next month and you don’t, you have objective, demonstrable, quantifiable proof that the astrological prediction did not work. Moreover (and, I would have thought, self-evidently), most Christian sects do not “predict” happiness and fulfillment for people who follow them; they provide a faith-based morality for living life, without regard to whether or not it will make you superficially happy. When’s the last time a Presbyterian told you you’d be fulfilled in a month if you’d just follow the teachings of Jesus?
I’ll leave the Pit for ranting, but if anyone wants to have a serious discussion about this subject, I have opened a thread in GD:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=84031
Carry on!
I, for one, would love to go to Astrology school. And take Numerology, Phrenology, Palm Reading, and all the courses of the like that I can get my hands on. And no, I don’t believe in any of these ideas. The systems that humans create to explain/feel in control of their surroundings and future are just fascinating to me (I also collect old wives’ tales, superstitions, etc.). For what it’s worth, I consider organized religions to be more a part of this group than to be factual. And, I’m off to GD!