Astrology and Popular Religion in the Modern West

Nicholas Campion is Associate Professor in Cosmology and Culture and Principal Lecturer in Faculty of Humanities and the Performing Arts at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. He is programme director of the MA in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology.

• 1 Introduction: a million-dollar business?2 Cosmic liberation: the pursuit of the millennium3 The shock of the new: the age of Aquarius4 Celestial enlightenment: the new age5 End times: the new age and the age of Aquarius6 The writing of heaven: new age astrology7 Oracles to the vulgar: sun-sign astrology8 An evolutionary paradox: the survival of belief in astrology9 Salvation and the stars: astrology, religion and belief10 Superstitious times: the extent of belief in astrology11 Belief in astrology: a public survey12 In their own words: the astrologers' universe of discord13 With their own voices: interviews with astrologers14 Conclusion: modernity and normality

'This is a wonderful book, which has a lot of important things to say, not just about astrology, but about the nature of modern Western society.' Ronald Hutton, University of Bristol, UK 'Not concerned with the truth of its claims, Campion establishes a foundation for sociological inquiry to close a lacuna in understanding astrology's cultural status in contemporary Anglo-American society. To this end, he examines apocalyptic millenarianism, the New Age movement, Christian and "scientistic" rivalry in relation to the persistent fascination with the language of zodiac signs and the "judicial" astrological industry that has arisen from it. Campion's comprehensive approach ranges from fortune telling, media popularity and the complex skills involved with the discipline to philosophical and theological concerns with ethics.' Michael York, Cherry Hill Seminary, USA and Co-director London Academy for Cultural and Educational Studies