The Bible & Christian View *RandomArticle* In this article 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 Watch video: Astrology: the power behind it Christianity | North Forest Home | Top of page Astrology doesnt work •It is based on false principles. It might seem to work, but it doesnt 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 cant 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. Christians should stay away from astrology and horoscopes •Christians shouldnt read the daily horoscope in newspapers or magazines because it is against the teachings of the Church and the Bible. •Christians shouldnt 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 isnt 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. Christianity | North Forest Home | Top of page Conclusion The Bible condemns astrology. Those who accept the Bible as the revealed Word of God must therefore stay away from astrology and horoscopes. Christianity | North Forest Home | Top of page 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. Overview A brief overview of astrology and horoscopes. False Assumptions of Astrology Unfortunately, many dont consider the philosophical foundations of Astrology. Christians should avoid Astrology The reasons. Astrology is Unchristian Quotes from the Bible and the Church. Astrology is Ineffective Quotes from the Bible. Discussion Topics Questions to ask in a Christian small group study. Scientific Analysis If Astrology is true, how does it work? Unfortunately, most people involved with Astrology never ask this question. Spiritual Analysis The spiritual implications in believing in Astrology. Signs in the Heavens 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. Why Does Astrology Seem to Work? Supporters of Astrology insist that Astrology works. But does it really work? Christianity | North Forest Home | Top of page False Assumptions of Astrology 1.That at the instant of birth, the position of the stars and planets determines a persons 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 persons 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. Christianity | North Forest Home | Top of page 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 dont 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) Christianity | North Forest Home | Top of page 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. (Deuteronomy 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. (Jeremiah 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. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2116 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) Christianity | North Forest Home | Top of page Astrology is Ineffective Astrology doesnt work. Only Daniel, a prophet of God, could answer the kings question. The astrologers could not. The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, There is not a man on earth who can tell the kings matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. (Daniel 2:10) Astrology cant save. When God judges unrighteousness, Astrology is powerless to save from Gods 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) Christianity | North Forest Home | Top of page Discussion Topics •Isnt 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? Christianity | North Forest Home | Top of page 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. Lets 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. Christianity | North Forest Home | Top of page 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 wouldnt 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. Christianity | North Forest Home | Top of page Signs in the Heavens There are some biblical references to the sun and moon and stars as being signs. Ill 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. Christianity | North Forest Home | Top of page 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 it 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 dont control the energies as astrology claims, then it cant 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? Ive 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 its true because we want to believe that it is. But if we change our perspective a little bit and dont want to believe its true, suddenly the horoscopes dont seem to be true any more. The statements in horoscopes are very subjective and that accounts for why they seem to be true.
Posted on: Sat, 05 Jul 2014 05:42:56 +0000
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