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July 9, 2006
Astrology and the World Cup
We tend to look up to the enlightened Europeans, particularly the French, as we struggle here in the US with tough questions like whether evolution ought to be taught in the schools. Then we learn that Raymond Domenech -- the coach of the French team, which has just lost in the finals of the World Cup -- has a weakness for matters supernatural: 
He has an interest in astrology and has admitted reading tarot cards to learn about players' personalities. He has gone on record as saying he does not like Scorpios and is wary of having too many Leos in his side. Interestingly, no Scorpios were picked for Germany 2006.
Wonder how that sort of thing would go over here. Perhaps acceptable belief systems in this country, beyond frequent knocking on wood, are restricted to those mentioned in one or another of the testaments of the Bible (though the astrology columns do get a large enough readership). Perhaps acceptable belief systems in France are limited to those that aren't mentioned there.
Posted by Mitchell Stephens at July 9, 2006 8:53 PM
Comments
Hi. A friend told me of this coach so I am happy that you mentioned him in your blog. I think the world should be open to all available options to make sense of the crazy world that we live in. There are so many versions of the bible why not that that is not tangible also be a recognised alternative.
Cheers
J
Posted by: Some Chic at July 10, 2006 7:24 AM
When you include nonsense in your "all available options" things get way out of hand. Not that anyone will notice in this world where nonsense is the first opiton in most people's play books.
Wonder how many Scorpios and Leos are on the Italian team?
Posted by: Jay Saul at July 10, 2006 9:25 AM
Got to watch out for Scorpios and Leos probably more; surely the Italian team is full of both ;) But I'm not sure that reading tarot cards or a horoscope on occasion constitutes 'a belief system' exactly, unless one consulted these before one made decisions or went out of the house. Isn't there room for 'available options' in thinking about the world that don't necessarily qualify as 'belief systems' ?
Posted by: JM at July 10, 2006 11:23 AM
How many options are not available? How can we know what our minds do not allow us to perceive?
Human consciousness is mediated, we have no idea what is left out in the process. This is an annoying concept because it makes the uncertainty prinicipal just the tip of the iceburg.
It is very possible, probably even likely, that we know just a small subset of a small subset of a small subset...and on about stuff. Which makes thoughts of god(s) seem quite silly.
Posted by: Jay Saul at July 10, 2006 12:43 PM
Footballers aren't exactly the intellectual elite of Europe.
Posted by: Kristian Z at July 12, 2006 6:19 PM
