ABSTRACT
This chapter considers whether the belief in the paranormal revealed by opinion polls has indeed operated to retard or reverse the processes of secularization in western Europe and North America or will do so in the future. It approaches these questions by looking at just a single paranormal belief, namely astrology, and also offers some predictions as to what the future of astrology may be in the light of the analysis. More directly relevant to the secularization thesis is the nature and extent of the use of astrology within social institutions. If, therefore, astrology has substantively permeated social institutions, it seems reasonable to expect to find it widely utilized in the field of personnel selection. More generally, the basing of decisions on astrology may attract adverse legal consequences. In many legal jurisdictions, it seems that astrological evidence would be excluded under the rules governing expert and scientific testimony.
