Do Jews Think Astrology Is Real?

Astrology has been a part of Jewish thought since ancient times, with numerous references to it in the Talmud. Astrological statements became accepted and debated by Torah scholars, but most Jews use the expression without awareness of its astrological origins or its common usage after the birth of a child. Astrology in Jewish antiquity is the belief that celestial bodies can influence the affairs of individuals and nations upon the planets.

Jewish law cautions against seeking the advice of astrologers, as astrology is not considered “idol worship”. The generic name for “idol worship” is “Avodat Kochavim U’Mazalot”, Worship of the Stars and the Signs of the Stars. Jewish interest in the zodiac can be traced back to the time of the Babylonian exile, as evidenced by the Hebrew names of the constellations.

The use of the zodiac in synagogues from the rabbinic period indicates its symbolic importance in ancient Judaism. The rabbis’ ambivalence towards astrology is evident, as Nahmanides wrote that astrology is a real facet of nature, which astrologers can interpret but not reliably. Jews are forbidden to use astrology and instead required to consult prophets, whose word is always reliable.

Despite the controversies surrounding astrology, Jewish law generally prohibits Jews from engaging in it. Jewish interest in the zodiac can be traced back to the Babylonian exile, and the Rabbis interpret this to mean that the Jewish people are not subject to the rules of astrology. Josephus, however, writes that astrology was common among the Jews in his days and that Jewish misinterpretation of celestial signs was partially responsible for the widespread use of astrology.

What religion is associated with astrology?

Astrology is significant in some major religions, such as Jyotish or Vedic astrology, which is crucial for their customs and decisions. However, in other religions like Islam and Christianity, people have mixed feelings about astrology. Early Christian thinkers were supportive, but later the Church questioned its compatibility with free will, and scholars in Islam debated whether astrology aligns with their teachings.

Is astrology in Kabbalah?

In this text, a rabbi elucidates the profound astrological tradition found in the Kabbalah, the Bible, the Talmud, and the Midrash. The book offers a comprehensive account of the most sophisticated system of astrology known, including over 30 tables and charts for readings and the construction of horoscopes. Additionally, the Sacred Tradition of the Hebrew Sages is incorporated into the discussion.

Do Muslims believe in astrology?

The Hadith, a collection of Islamic religious teachings, is a significant part of the Islamic faith. It outlines the instructions and practices of Muhammad, who criticized the legality and illegality of astrology. According to Abu Dawud, seeking knowledge from the stars is considered witchcraft, which is inherently forbidden in Islam. The Hadith also emphasizes that rain is a blessing bestowed only by Allah, and any belief that rain is a result of other beings is considered disbelief.

The Hadith also mentions the stars, stating that those who suggest rain originates from a star are considered disbelievers in Allah. This concept of astrology and the belief in celestial beings’ influence on anything other than what is enshrined in the Quran and Hadith constitutes shirk (blasphemy) and leads one to leave the fold of the religion.

Second-century Islamic scholar Imam Ali, the fourth caliph of Islam and cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, views astrology as fundamentally forbidden in the Islamic religion. He warns followers not to learn the science of stars except for guidance on land or sea, as it leads to divining and an astrologer is a diviner. This aligns with the Quran, which points to stars and astrology as only a means of navigation.

However, prominent scholars like Ibn Arabi and Ikhwan argue that planets are not considered God but do suggest each prophet with a specific planet/celestial being. Prophet Idris, also known as Enoch, was gifted with great knowledge of the stars and used his gift to meditate upon God’s grandeur and teach others. He believed that the stars and moon contributed to mankind and founded the study of the stars.

Different sects of Islam offer varying perspectives on the concept of astrology.

Is there astrology in Islam?

The earliest Islamic stance against astrology can be traced back to individuals such as Abd al-Jabbar and Abu Ma’shar al-Balkhi, who sought to justify the causal influence of celestial beings on terrestrial life forms. Historical texts like Kitab al-Daraj provide evidence of the presence of astrology in early Islam. However, even before these individuals, historians and theologians like Al Hashimi sought to justify the role of astrology in influencing Islamic adherents’ religion.

Al Hashimi, through philosophers like Masha Allah, explored the possibility of the influence of stars on one’s morality and religion in general. He cited Masha Allah’s idea that the Islamic prophet Muhammad’s birth was a result of a coming together of celestial objects, essentially pointing to the inherent birth of Muhammad as a result of astrological events. Both Masha Allah and Al Hashimi draw upon similarities but draw upon their inherent stance in pointing to the planets, stars, and other celestial beings as the primary means by which divine rule is exercised, i. e., how God emanates control over all life forms.

Early Muslims relied on the sun and moon to determine important things such as the direction of Mecca, fasting times for Ramadan, and the beginning and end of each month. They used astrology and the position of the planets to predict the health and well-being of individuals, with eclipses in Libra, Aquarius, or Gemini being predictions of worldwide plagues, and comets or shooting stars being predictions of famine and sickness.

Many interpretations of the Quran point to astrology as that which goes against the fundamental principles preached by the Islamic religious tradition. Astrology ultimately points to the role of celestial beings in influencing terrestrial life and the everyday lives of individuals, ultimately hindering their destiny. Various excerpts from the Quran are interpreted to disprove this theory, with the Quran in Surah Al-Jinn suggesting that any such presence of extraterrestrial influence on mankind is not plausible and is therefore haram (forbidden) in Islam.

The Hadith, a reference to the instructions and practices of Muhammad, encourages adherents of the Islamic faith to embody the concept of astrology. Muhammad made various claims regarding the legality/illegality of astrology with regards to the Islamic religious tradition, such as the belief that rain is a bounty bestowed only by Allah (God). The Hadith makes specific mention to the stars, suggesting that those who suggest rain originates as a result of a star are a disbeliever in Me (Allah).

This works to fundamentally embody the concept of astrology and the consequent belief in the idea that celestial beings have an influence on anything other than what enshrined in the Quran and Hadith as shirk (blasphemy), leading one to leave the fold of the religion.

What religions forbid astrology?

Early Christians and early Jews were strongly opposed to astrology, with some even attributing it to demonic origin. The Church Fathers imposed strong sanctions against astrology to protect their flocks, with mathematician Aquila Ponticus excommunicated from the Church in Rome for astrological heresies in A. D. 120. St. Augustine believed that the determinism of astrology conflicted with Christian doctrines of man’s free will and responsibility, and that God was not the cause of evil. He also grounded his opposition philosophically, citing the failure of astrology to explain twins who behave differently despite being conceived at the same time.

The first astrological book published in Europe was the Liber Planetis et Mundi Climatibus, published between 1010 and 1027 AD. Ptolemy’s second century AD Tetrabiblos was translated into Latin by Plato of Tivoli in 1138. Dominican theologian Thomas Aquinas proposed that the stars ruled the imperfect’sublunary’ body while attempting to reconcile astrology with Christianity by stating that God ruled the soul.

The thirteenth century mathematician Campanus of Novara devised a system of astrological houses, while astronomer Guido Bonatti wrote the Liber Astronomicus, which King Henry VII of England owned at the end of the fifteenth century.

Can Jews use astrology?

Nahmanides believed that astrology is a natural aspect of nature, but not reliable. Jews were forbidden to use astrology and instead relied on prophets. Maimonides, a French philosopher, disagreed with astrology, stating that it should be supported by rational proof, sense evidence, or trustworthy authority. He argued that astrology should not be considered a science and that a man’s fate could depend on constellations, as it would rob life of purpose and make humans slaves of destiny. Isaac ben Joseph ibn Pulgar, a 14th-century Spanish philosopher, also wrote against astrology.

Do Jews believe in constellations?

The Talmud does not debate the validity of astrology, as it is believed that the constellation of one’s birth determines one’s nature. However, there is debate surrounding whether Jewish people are immune from the influence of the stars. Rabbi Chananiah argues that a constellation makes one wise and wealthy, and there is a constellation for the Jewish people that influences them. However, Rabbi Yochanan and Rav Yehuda disagree, stating that there is no constellation for the Jewish people, meaning they can change their destiny.

Rav Yehuda uses the example of Abraham, who was told by G-d that he could not have a son, but G-d gave him one and instructed him to count the stars. The Rabbis interpret this to mean that the Jewish people are not subject to the rules of astrology.

Rabbi Albo, a science teacher, disagrees with astrology and believes that Judaism does not promote nonsense or time-wasting things. He believes that our scientific understanding of the stars has changed since the times of the Talmud, and that this superstition borders on Avodah Zarah.

Is astrology ok in Christianity?

In Matthew 28:18, Jesus asserts that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. This contradicts biblical wisdom, as chasing after false gods is a sin. There is no biblical evidence that God has given authority to stars or astrologists. Pursuing predictions about our destiny or personality is biblically sinful, as it takes power from God and gives it to something other than God. A horoscope cannot change what God has already ordained before we were even created.

Can Jews believe in astrology?

The Hebrew Bible contains the Hebrew word “mazalot”, meaning “constellations”, which is used twice and is connected to the Hebrew word “Kislev”, the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar. The Hebrew word “kesel, kisla” (hope, positiveness), meaning “kesel, kisla” (hope for winter rains), is mentioned three times in the Bible. The prophets scoffed at “star-gazers” in Isaiah 47:13 and Jeremiah 10:2. Astrologers from Babylon were called Kasdim/Kasdin (Chaldeans) in the Book of Daniel. The term Chaldeans later was often used as a synonym with those who practiced astrology in rabbinic literature.

For most of the Second Temple period, discussion of the planets in Jewish literature was extremely rare. Some historians believe that astrology slowly made its way into the Jewish community through syncretism with ancient Hellenistic culture. The Sibylline oracles praise Jewish ancestors who have no concern about the course of the sun’s revolution, moon’s, soothsayers, wizards, enchanters, or astronomers. However, the author of the Encyclopaedia Judaica article on astrology argues that this view is mistaken.

What are the planets in Judaism?

The ancient world was divided into seven planets or spheres, each with its own ruler. These planets were Saturn, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Moon, and Sun. The ancients believed there were only seven primary planets, with the moon and sun being numbered among them. Earth was not numbered among them, as it was central to the rest. Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and other recently discovered planets and satellites were considered trivial.

The star or planet that begins the first diurnal or nocturnal hour of a weekday or weeknight is the same planet that governs that entire day or night. The observance and reckoning of the movements of the 12 constellations are believed to have been learned from Hellenistic culture after being divested of idolatrous influences. God determined that each of the seven planets be subordinate to the twelve constellations of the Zodiac and work in conjunction with them.

For example, the Sun is subservient to the influences from the constellation Leo, while the Moon is subservient to the influences from Cancer. Mars is subservient to the influences from Aries and Scorpio, Venus is subservient to Taurus and Libra, Mercury is subservient to Gemini and Virgo, Saturn is subservient to Capricorn and Aquarius, and Jupiter is directly subordinate to Sagittarius and Pisces.

Is it a sin to read horoscopes?

Horoscopes are used by Christians to predict their future, demonstrating their faith in the stars and their value. This practice is considered idolatry and is considered an abomination to God. Christians should live by faith, not by sight, as it is God’s design. Horoscope reading is an abomination to God, as He has stated that there will be no other God before Him. Divination is the art of foretelling future events or revealing occult knowledge through augury or alleged supernatural agency. Printing horoscopes is considered divination, as it is the supposed diviner’s inspiration.