Christian view of Astrology and Horoscopes




Astrology and Horoscopes

by John Shepard
January, 2006
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God (Rom 11:33)

Astrology is popular in our modern society: Newspapers print your daily horoscope, and people ask what sign you are. But what does the Christian faith and the Bible teach about astrology?
   Astrology

Astrology doesn't work

  • It is based on false principles. It might seem to work, but it doesn't withstand rigorous scientific investigation. The earth seems to be flat and the sun seems to go around the earth, but both are false.
  • The Bible condemns it. If God says in His revealed Word that it is to be avoided, then it can't possibly be beneficial; just as Adam and Eve did not benefit by eating from the forbidden tree.

Astrology is sorcery

  • Astrology and sorcery are forbidden by the Bible.
  • Astrology is a religious system which originated from satan.

Astrology has no power to save us from our sins

  • It offers a false hope of salvation through the demonic and occult powers of divination.
  • Many people who put their trust in astrology and horoscopes will end up eternally separated from God in hell because they did not put their faith in Jesus, the only one who can save us from our sins.

Faithful Christians should stay away from astrology and horoscopes

  • Christians shouldn't read the daily horoscope in newspapers or magazines because it is against the teachings of the Church and the Bible.
  • Christians shouldn't talk about what sign they are with Christians or non-Christians because it will make people think that astrology is OK and that biblical truth isn't important.

False teachings of astrology

  • That the position of the planets and stars at the instant you are born determines your personality and even your spiritual disposition.
  • That everything that happens in your life is caused by the position of the planets and stars.
  • That God is not in control of what happens on earth — it is predestined by the position of the planets and stars.

Conclusion


The Bible condemns astrology. Those who accept the Bible as the revealed Word of God must therefore stay away from astrology and horoscopes.

Astrology and Horoscopes — Part Two


People in New Age circles often have their personal horoscope charted on a regular basis and accept these "divinations" into the future as trustworthy.
A brief overview of astrology and horoscopes.
Unfortunately, many don't consider the philosophical foundations of Astrology.
The reasons.
Quotes from the Bible and the Church.
Quotes from the Bible.
Questions to ask in a Christian small group study.
If Astrology is true, how does it work? Unfortunately, most people involved with Astrology never ask this question.
The spiritual implications in believing in Astrology.
Some people interpret Biblical passages about "signs in the Heavens" to support the idea that God created the signs of the zodiac to tell the gospel message.
Supporters of Astrology insist that Astrology works. But does ot really work?
Other articles of interest.

False Assumptions of Astrology


  1. That at the instant of birth, the position of the stars and planets determines a person's personality and disposition. This is called the Natal Chart. Several questions rarely considered by serious Astrologers:
    • How does the process of being born result in a permanent imprint of the locations of the stars and planets?
    • Why would this "imprinting" occur at birth? (instead of at conception, for example? Or at some other important life event?)
    • How can the stars and planets determine personality?
  2. That based on the position of the stars and planets at any instant in time, a set of calculations can be done from a person's Natal Chart which results in a "reading." This reading is used (1) to make life decisions, (2) to predict the future, and (3) to understand the true significance of events in the physical and spiritual realms. But how can the stars and planets have so much power that they determine the future for all of life on earth?
  3. That God is merely another aspect of the universe rather than the creator of it. Astrologers rarely consider God to be the power behind the mysterious workings of Astrology (if they even acknowledge God at all). Rather, they consider everything (even God!) to be bound by the laws of Astrology.

Christians should avoid Astrology


Christians should not be involved with astrology or horoscopes. This includes:
  • Reading the horoscope in the newspaper.
  • Talking about what sign you are.
  • Having your chart done.
There are two categories of people who can be harmed
  • Immature Christians who don't know about astrology. If they see you involved with it, they will assume the Bible approves of it. Later they might learn more about astrology and adopt unbiblical views which could shatter their faith.
  • Unbelievers. If they see you involved with astrology it will send a message to them that unbiblical practises and ideas are compatible with the Christian faith. This could interfere with their acceptance of the gospel.
Christians need to be concerned with how their actions affect others.
But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. (1 Corinthians 8:9)
And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? (1 Corinthians 8:11)
Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. (1 Corinthians 8:13)
God commands Christians to stay away from astrology and horoscopes.
Thus says the LORD: "Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the Gentiles are dismayed at them." (Jeremiah 10:2)

Astrology is Unchristian


What does the Bible teach about Astrology? The Old Testament states that divination is an abomination to the Lord.
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. (Deut 18:10-12)
For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you. (Jer 29:8)
What does the Traditional Christian Church teach about Astrology? The Catechism of the Catholic Church indicates that Astrology is a form of divination and that it interferes with our worship of God.
All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to "unveil" the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.
The Bible considers Astrology to be a form of sorcery and indicates that God will judge those who practice it.
Stand now with your enchantments and the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have labored from your youth; perhaps you will be able to profit, perhaps you will prevail. You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels; let now the astrologers, the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from what shall come upon you. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame. (Isaiah 47:12-14)

Astrology is Ineffective


Astrology doesn't work. Only Daniel, a prophet of God, could answer the king's question. The astrologers could not.
The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, "There is not a man on earth who can tell the king's matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean." (Daniel 2:10)
Astrology can't save. When God judges unrighteousness, Astrology is powerless to save from God's wrath.
You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels; Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from what shall come upon you. Behold, they shall be as stubble, the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame. (Isaiah 47:13-14)

Discussion Topics


  • Isn't astrology harmless? What harm is there in reading the astrology section in the newspaper?
  • What should I tell someone who asks what sign I am?
  • How should I respond when Christians talk approvingly about astrology?

Scientific Analysis


In order for astrology to be true there would have to be a causal linkage between the positions of the stars and planets and the various aspects of human-ness that astrology claims can be affected by the heavenly bodies — personality, volition, the timing of events, etc.
Let's limit our discussion to personality traits since this is the simplest. Whatever it is that specifies our personality traits (some sort of wiring of the brain), there would need to be a way in which the stars can affect that. But in considering the natural laws and their possible effects we see that astrology is incapable of doing this. The gravitational influence of stars and planets get lost in the gravitational "noise" of the earth, and the light from stars get drowned out by the light from the sun and moon.
So whatever mechanism is that allows astrology to control personality, it must be outside of the physical universe. It must be spiritual.

Spiritual Analysis


In order for astrology to be true there would have to be a spiritual force that has influence on the development of the brain. And God would have had to create this spiritual force. But in the Bible God condemns astrology so it seems farfetched that He would have created it.
Also, when we look in the Bible at how the spirit realm works we see that it is inhabited by spiritual beings, angels and others, that have personhood much as humans do, and that they have free will. God does His work in the spirit realm through angels. God commands them and they either obey or disobey. The obedient angels wouldn't affect the spiritual realm to make astrology be true because we already know that God is against it. Since it is the angels who are the force behind astrology, then it must be a result of the fallen, disobedient angels. And if they are the source of astrology, why would we want to follow it since they are disobedient to God?
The new age movement has the idea that there are spiritual laws and principles which have power in the physical world. They would claim that astrology is one of these spiritual principles. But since God created everything including the spiritual realms (and including the angels) why would He have created something that He disapproves of? In the final analysis it is sufficient to discover through the Bible what God thinks about astrology. If He is against it we should reject it — it is as simple as that.

Signs in the Heavens


There are some biblical references to the sun and moon and stars as being signs. I'll discuss them briefly:
And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years." (Genesis 1:14)
The signs are so man can know about the seasons and are not astrological. There is no reference to astrology.
This is what the LORD says: "Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them." (Jeremiah 10:2)
If this passage refers to astrology then God is telling the people not to follow astrology.
There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. (Luke 21:25)
Certainly not referring to astrology.

Why Does Astrology Seem to Work?


A few things to consider when it seems like astrology gives correct results:
(1) Can you depend on it being true? Is is always true or is it sometimes false?
(2) Can the "truth" be accounted for by the generality or fuzziness of the information? To illustrate the point, a statement such as "you will have a good day" will be true often and the statements of astrology are often of this type — they will be true a certain percentage of the time anyway.
An experiment to try
For a predefined period of time:
  • Each day read the horoscope and log whether it is true or not.
  • Then write down the horoscope on a note card and file it away.
  • After the time is up shuffle the cards — this is your deck.
  • Each day "draw" one card from the deck and this becomes your randomized horoscope for the day. Log whether it is true or not.
  • After all the cards are used up compare how many horoscopes were true for each method.
Another experiment
Try the same experiment but this time pretend that you were born at some different day, year, time and location. See if it is true as often.
(3) Is the mechanism that drives astrology true? If the planets really don't control the energies as astrology claims, then it can't be true.
(4) False religious systems are controlled by demons who have access to certain information. A Bible reference to demonstrate this:
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (1 Timothy 4:1)
(5) How can you explain the different systems of astrology in which the readings give totally different results? I've never heard someone who believed in astrology ever consider this a problem, but I see it as a fatal problem.
(6) What are the criteria we use in judging whether or not the horoscope is true? Is it highly subjective? If so, we might think it's true because we want to believe that it is. But if we change our perspective a little bit and don't want to believe it's true, suddenly the horoscopes don't seem to be true any more. The statements in horoscopes are very subjective and that accounts for why they seem to be true.

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