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Return to Superstition

Entry 2449, on 2026-07-12 at 18:10:39 (Rating 5, News)

Many years ago, when I was an astronomy educator, I encountered a few awkward moments when people confused astronomy and astrology. Briefly, astronomy is the scientific study of the universe outside of the Earth. It tends to concentrate on individual components (stars, planets, galaxies) rather than the big picture, which is mainly the domain of cosmology. Astrology, in comparison, is the superstitious belief that the position of various bodies in the night sky, mainly the sun and planets, significantly affects life on Earth, people's personalities, and their lives in general.

I have been an amateur astronomer for... wow, it's about 50 years no, how old am I! While I am not a professional and wouldn't really call myself an expert, I do know quite a lot about the subject and have participated in research, education, and administration (well, I was on the local astronomical society's committee for many years).

So when an astronomer is asked a question about astrology it is important to try to be respectful and explain the difference between the two in fair terms.

There are two anecdotes I like to share about astrology. The first superficially seems to support it, and the second shows why the popular version of it at least is pretty silly.

First, there was at least one study which showed that there was a relationship between the time of year a person was born (and therefore their astrological sign: Aquarius, Scorpio, Leo, etc) and their personality. This seems to support astrology, but people tend to act the way they are expected to. If a Leo is supposed to be a leader, for example, maybe a person knowing they are a Leo might be more likely to pursue leadership. It's a cause and effect thing.

Second, a friend of mine (who is allegedly an intelligent doctor, although you might be aware of my somewhat negative opinion of medical profession) got a book about astrology and seemed to be quite convinced by it. I indicated my skepticism but she asked for my birth sign. I said Capricorn and she looked up the description of a person with that sign and claimed it fit me well. I then said "Oops, I meant Scorpius" which kind of shot her down in flames. Basically those descriptions are so vague and general that they can apply to anyone. It's pure superstition.

So maybe you might say that astrology is a bit of harmless fun, and fair enough as long as you don't take it too seriously and base important decisions on it. But calling an astronomer an astrologer is sort of a cross between a joke and an insult.

And you could say the same about the opposite (suggesting that an astrologer is actually an astronomer) which finally brings me to the point of this post.

For those of you in New Zealand you might know that a national holiday, Matariki, occurred a few days back. This is a new holiday invented by our ex prime minister, Jacinda Ardern. It coincides with the Maori new year, which is identified when the star cluster, the Pleiades (Maori name, Matariki) is first visible just before sunrise, and occurs roughly at mid winter (Southern Hemisphere).

Because it is a Maori cultural event the mainstream media are always all over it, telling people what it is, what to do, etc. I guess the massive advertising campaign for it was paid for by taxpayers, but even though that was a huge waste it was likely tiny compared with other government waste, so you know, whatever.

The hero of this event, according to the woke media such as TVNZ and RNZ, is a "renowned Maori astronomer" by the name of Prof Rangi Matamua. OK, so this guy is not an astronomer. He is a clown pursuing one of those stupid subjects which make our universities look like a circus. So, in reality, he is closer to an astrologer than an astronomer.

Here is one of his highly scientific (not) pronouncements: "Matariki sent this message: Like the ocean connects us, the sky connects us, and we are connected to each other. And these are unusual, difficult times for many of us. We need each other more than we probably understand. We are all related, we come from the same place and we actually come from the stars."

To be fair, in some ways, we are all related, and we do come from stars, because all life on Earth has a common ancestor (as far as we know, although that isn't certain) and many of the atoms in the bodies of living things were synthesised in ancient stars. But these are both quite trite points, and we've heard them many times before. They also don't excuse the other nonsense, even if it does superficially sound very positive.

He also says this: "there are three elements to Matariki: remembering those who are no longer with us, celebrating who we are today and then looking to the future". This also doesn't sound much like something an astronomer would say. In fact, amongst all of his inane drivel I didn't hear anything that sounded like it was anything to do with astronomy.

So yet again, Maori get a free pass to spread superstition. Can you imagine a "Christian astronomer" being allowed to tell us all about the star of Bethlehem (which almost certainly didn't exist) and explain its religious significance as if it was a fact associated with astronomy?

I'm not necessarily against the Matariki holiday, although as a semi-retired person, it doesn't really affect me at all: I work about the same on work and non-work days. But I am against my oldest hobby, astronomy, being polluted with what I unkindly call Maori BS. There's far too much of that around already. We don't need a return to superstition.

Comment 1 (9561) by EK on 2026-07-12 at 23:19:56:

I basically agree with your argument about superstitions gaining such unjustified prominence, being even mistaken for science and acquiring undeserved respectability.

What I don't understand is your apparent inconsistency. When I argue that Zionism's claimed entitlement to a patch of land in the Levant is based on the equally superstitious belief of a promise made by a terrible Bronze Age Bedouin deity you dismiss it as anti-Israel dribble (though you used the more polite form of rhetoric) and didn’t give it a further look/thought. In both cases unscientific beliefs on a political level have achieved considerable influence, although on different levels of magnitude and lethality. Please explain to me what in your mind is the difference.

Comment 2 (9562) by OJB on 2026-07-14 at 09:58:43:

I don't defend Israel based on "Zionism" specifically, and I certainly don't support it because of any religious justifications for its actions. I defend it because I think the history is on its side (although I have admitted that is complicated), because it acts fairly morally considering the situation it faces, and because it is not unreasonable to have one tiny part of the Middle East where Jews can have a homeland.

Comment 3 (9563) by EK on 2026-07-14 at 17:17:03:

If it were not for the homeland myth, Jews would be Germans, Poles, Austrians, Hungarians, French, Americans, etc. You are not digging deep enough.

Comment 4 (9564) by OJB on 2026-07-14 at 19:31:52:

But there is good historical evidence they have lived there for centuries (before Islam even existed), which is completely independent from any religious mythology.

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