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| What Is Christian Astrology? |
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Christian Astrology is simply the study and practice of astrology within a Christian framework, adhering to the teachings
of Christ in particular and Scripture in general. It continually reminds the practitioner to be humble before God, who of
His own will, reveals Himself and His love to us.
"Christian Astrology" is also the name of an astrological textbook by William Lilly. This site is not about that book (nor does the book
concern itself with Christianity much beyond the introduction), though I can direct you to a copy and information about it if you desire.
Many well-known and well-educated Christian theologians today argue
vehemently that 'Christian Astrology' can not happen. The two are simply incompatible with each other. While that may be
the case as of the last couple hundred years, astrology and Christianity are certainly not strangers to one another. Let's take
a look at both Christian Scripture and Christian tradition to see the full story.
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| Christianity and Scripture |
Scripture is full of exhortative warnings against astrology. Do a Google search for "christian astrology" and certainly you will
find exemplary lists of Scripture used to attack astrological practice. Here are just a few of them:
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)
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)
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) [By the way, the next line lumps the merchants in here - “those with whom you have trafficked since birth”]
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)
Any Christian who is looking into astrological work must not ignore these warnings; they are in place for a reason. However, it is not sufficient
to merely read these lines and make a blanket condemnation. You must know why Scripture says what it says. Surely, as Christians, we have no trouble wearing
clothing made of two kinds of thread? (Leviticus 19:19) Who among us would claim that only women who have gone through childbirth are saved (1 Timothy 2:15)
or that they must all wear head coverings and men can't pray while wearing a hat? ( 1 Corinthians 11:3-16) In the same way, we must look at why astrology is
condemned in Scripture to understand how and under what circumstances a Christian can or should approach astrology, or any divinatory practice for that matter.
Without going into long, drawn-out detail (though I encourage the reader to do this homework herself), the problem with astrology in Scripture is idolatry
- in several different forms. First, most astrologers in Biblical times were from polytheistic cultures; they worshipped many gods and goddesses. Sometimes,
the planets were considered gods and goddesses themselves. This is the most obvious idolatrous practice - the worship of deities above or alongside Israel's God (YHWH).
On a deeper level, though, the idolatry is the idolatry of self. It is the main problem of the Tower of Babel and the Garden of Eden - humans trying to be God.
Thus even professed monotheistic astrologers face the sin of pride. Who are we to step out of place and usurp the knowledge of God Himself?
A little bit of thinking will reveal that this is not a problem unique to astrology or divination. Recent advances in genetic manipulation - cloning and mapping
the human genome - are pushing the boundaries and abilities of humans similarly into places we have never been able to do before. How far is too far?
What is the line of "playing God?" How do we remain humble in the face of increasing knowledge and capability? These are real, important questions
that the Christian individual must wrestle with.
As Paul write in Romans 14, let us 'resolve to never put a stumbling block in the path of a brother (or sister)". Many issues in the past - marriage to unbelievers,
the eating of meat, baptism by immersion or sprinkling, etc - have unnecessarily caused faiths to falter and families to fracture. If knowledge such as that offered
by astrology or divination offends your concept of humanity's righteousness ('proper place') before God, then I certainly do not wish to force the issue. Astrology
is by no means necessary for a proper Christian faith. Millions of people have lived exemplary Christian lives for hundreds and hundreds of years without. If, however,
you are like myself and find that God is in the business of constantly revealing Himself and His Creation to us, then let us dig a little bit deeper.
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 and to mark seasons and days and years." (Genesis 1:14)
From the heavens the stars, too, fought; from their courses they fought against Sisera. The Wadi Kishon swept them away... (Judges 5:20-21)
[apparently the stars affected the nearby river? A little confusing, but a definite astrological reference]
Have you fitted a curb to the Pleiades or loosened the bonds of Orion? Can you bring forth the Mazzaroth* in their season, or guide the Bear with its train?
Do you know the ordinances of the heavens; can you put into effect their plan on the earth? (Job 38:31-32) [*Hebrew term for the signs of the Zodiac]
Matthew 2:1-12. The whole thing. Many will argue that the astrology led them to Herod who was evil and thus astrology leads to evil not to Christ.
While this is admittedly a clever analogy, it fails to address a simple point - if you were looking for a newborn king, wouldn't you start with the palace? The Magi
correctly identified Jesus' status by their art alone. They needed Scripture to finish the picture but that does not negate the feat thus far. A better analogy here,
and one that any Christian involved with astrology should remember, is that divination on its own is amoral (without morals as opposed to immoral which is opposed to morality).
It has no inherent sense of right and wrong, much like science and art. It can be used to 'love one another' or to harm one another and is on its own insufficient
to save souls or give meaning to life. We must look to God for these latter things.
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)
The first creature was like a lion, the second was an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was flying like an eagle. (Rev. 4:7 and Ezekiel 1:10) [The ox, Taurus.
The lion, Leo. The man, Aquarius. The eagle, Scorpio – an early alternate to the scorpion. These are the four Fixed Signs that the prophets see surrounding the Creator and
worshiping Him. See the picture above of the 'Wheel of Fortune' tarot card depicting these creatures in the various corners.]
Other Jewish literature states that each standard of the 12 Tribes had a zodiacal symbol on it. See Gen. 49:1-27, and to a lesser extent,
Deut. 33 for astrological archetypal themes and symbols pronounced as blessings on each tribe.
Furthermore, Joseph and Daniel interpreted dreams – a form of divination. Daniel may have been an astrologer as well. He was probably taught,
but we have no proof that he ever used it. The casting of lots (basically dice), determined at least one king (Saul) and the 13th Apostle (Matthias).
See also Proverbs 16:33 and 18:18 for the propriety of determining divine will by lot-casting. More divination. Let's not forget Gideon's sheepskin
and Joshua's choosing of an army by the way the men drank river water; non-standard divinations, but divinations nonetheless. Then there are the
Prophets – enough said. Clearly astrology and divination in general played more than a minor role in the Judeo-Christian hitory.
For a unique look at the Zodiac as Scripture itself - the bearer of the Salvation story - see the document at right.
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| Astrology and the Church |
The section is much shorter and less intellectually intensive. I congratulate you on wading through everything up to this point.
Let us first note that while astrology has been fought against by the Church for much of the Church's life, there were certainly a large
number of Popes who used astrology, as given here (Catholic Encyclopedia, 1907, Volume II, pp 18-25, Article on Astrology):
"Emperors and popes became votaries of astrology— Charles IV avd V and Popes Sixtus IV, Julius II, Leo X and Paul III. When these rulers lived
astrology was, so to say, the regulator of official life; it is a fact characteristic of the age, that at the papal and imperial courts
ambassadors were not received in audience until the court astrologer had been consulted. Regiomontanus, the distinguished Bavarian mathematician
practised astrology, which from that time on assumed the character of a bread-winning profession, and as such was not beneath the dignity of so lofty
an intellect as Kepler . Thus had astrology once more become the foster-mother of all astronomers. In the judgment of the men of the Renaissance—and
this was the age of a Nicholas Copernicus —the most profound astronomical researches and theories were only profitable insofar as they aided in the
development of astrology. Among the zealous patrons of the art were the Medici. Catherine de'Medici made astrology popular in France. She erected an
astrological observatory for herself near Paris, and her court astrologer was the celebrated "magician" Michel de Notredame (Nostradamus) who in 1555
published his principal work on astrology—a work still regarded as authoritative among the followers of his art. Another well-known man was Lucas
Gauricus the court astrologer of Popes Leo X and Clement VII who published a large number of astrological treatises."
More than a few famous astrological minds throughout history claimed Christianity as their faith. One list is found .
Furthermore, Thomas Aquinas in his Summa Theologica, spends a surprising amount of time discussing the possible validity of astrology
(go for the text) saying that it is useful and lawful for determining
the weather and certain bodily ailments but eventually describes it as being detrimental insofar as it encourages men to follow their baser instincts
and interferes with God-given free will. This is another valid argument the Christian should consider as it relates to the earlier statement about astrology being amoral.
It is also useful for the Christian to consider how much outside influence the Church and our faith has retained and merely changed around. Christianity is very good at
absorbing outside stuff and repackaging it for its own use. Not the least of which is the date of Christmas, aligned with the winter solstice and rebirth of a pagan sun
god as well as the interminlging of local myths and the stories of Cathloic patron saints. But consider more recent developments.
A) Rock 'n roll was “Satan's Music” in the 1950's. Now? Thousand Foot Krutch. Hawk Nelson. Petra. Reliant K. Even KJ-52, Boneyard, and DC Talk made 'gangsta rap' OK for Christians.
B) The martial arts were basically 'eastern voodoo' when the movie 'Billy Jack' came out. No Christian got mixed up with all that. Enter the Power Team circa 1978,
breaking boards and praising Jesus. Now? People teach martial arts out of church basements.
C) Dungeons and Dragons. Few words struck such fear in the heart of religious parents in the 1980's. Now? DragonRaid – a Christian RPG. There are Christian gaming societies.
Video games like Catechumen, a first person shooter a la “Doom” where the enemies are still demons, but now you have the Sword of the Spirit instead of the BFG. Really, what's the difference?
And don't even START me on the Warcraft/Dawn of War ripoff, “Left Behind: the Video Game.” Churches have HALO parties. I rest my case.
In short, a thorough look at Christian history shows us that much of our culture is simply what happens around us with the name "Jesus" attached.
This is a good thing insofar as it advances the Kingdom of God ("I have become all things to all men so that in every way some may be saved." 1 Corinthians 9:22),
but we must remember that we have 'borrowed' for a reason and not just because such-and-such practice was arbitrarily deemed "OK."
In closing, I want to share with you a few sites that are on the edge of mystic Christian practice. 'Contemporary worship' became big in the late 1980's and 1990's
with secular-sound music and leesened liturgies and is being superseded now by 'experiential worship' that focus on the Sacraments, personal testimonies and meditative silences
in which to hear God personally. The next wave is mystic and these places are just showing it now:
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