Re:Young people are flocking to astrology
by lo_zamoyski on Monday July 24, 2023 @08:50AM
(#36847151)
Increased interest in astrology has been noted before in societies with declining traditional religious belief and greater feelings of uncertainty. Whereas a Christian would leave his concerns about things out of his control with God, and a stoic might simply accept his powerlessness, the anxious remainder look for other ways of trying to cope. Astrology has a track record of filling this void with its fatalism, and like all occult practices, it does so by luring people with irrational promises of foreknowledge, control, and power.
[ Parent
| on HN ]
"When men stop believing in God they don't believe in nothing; they believe in anything." (attributed to G. K. Chesterton)
“People like games that offer low-stakes predictions about their personality” has both more explanatory power and is much more parsimonious than the explanation you’ve presented.
Unless we’re prepared to consider consuming Cosmopolitan an “occult practice” as well, of course.
Re:Young people are flocking to astrology
by andrewflnr on Monday July 24, 2023 @10:16AM
(#36848368)
"People like games that xyz" is a conclusion, not an explanation. Why do people like them?
Why do people like cotton candy?
Sugar releases dopamine in the brain.
Why does sugar release dopamine in the brain?
Thus to Cosmopolitan; thus to being told that the celestial bodies will grant you true love.
Re:Young people are flocking to astrology
by JumpCrisscross on Monday July 24, 2023 @09:35AM
(#36847764)
The replacing traditional religion bit makes sense, since they’re both approximately the same. The increasing uncertainty is unfounded, though I suppose even modern traditional religions took hold when their parent empires were falling.
Second part seems dubious. Seems likely that a large portion of people are simply spiritual and go with whatever is socially popular in their circle regardless of circumstance.
Re:Young people are flocking to astrology
by zanellato19 on Monday July 24, 2023 @09:09AM
(#36847391)
That's interesting, do you have any reading material on that?