I watched a great TV programme last night about superstition, presented by one of my heros, eminent evolutionary biologist, Richard Dawkins. He was speaking to various spiritually involved folks such as tarot readers, psychics, mediums, water-dowsers, astrologers et cetera about their work. I have to admit, I'm very sceptical of all of these professions (I'm generally sceptical anyway, so this isn't really extraordinary for me). I just see it all as a bit of fun really. For instance, I really like watching Derren Brown and even though I can't figure how he does some of the things he does, I still know there is a valid explanantion for it all - I don't believe he can contact the 'spirit world.'
I know others take all of this very seriously though and I guess this is the point that Richard Dawkins was trying to make last night... It seems that everyone, including myself at times, is increasingly willing to believe in make-believe whilst ignoring experimentally derived fact. For instance, Dr. Gillian McKeith, presenter of You Are What You Eat, makes a very entertaining program but her dietary advise is utter bunkum! She's not even a real doctor and was taken to court recently and forced to drop her Dr. title.
Proper science appears to be thoroughly out of fashion at the moment - University departments are closing down as we speak, which is a terrible shame. Afterall, it is the advancements in physics, chemistry and mathematics that have catapaulted us into the 21st century; what have star signs ever done for us?