The Bible teaches us that astrology, the belief in the alignment of celestial bodies influencing human events and personality, is not aligned with Christianity. Astrology began as a form of fortune telling, which the Bible considers an occult and sometimes useless practice. It is based on the use of stars and planets to “read into” a person’s past, present, and future.
The Bible has much to say about the stars, as they are fundamentally created by God and show His power and majesty. Astrological signs have been used to classify people and even predict future events, and many still rely on the stars to make decisions. However, there are questions about the meaning behind the movements of the stars and the relationship between astrology and Christianity.
The Hebrew word for astrology literally means “divining the heavens”, and divination is the act of foretelling future events or revealing secrets. Astrology deals with divination and evil spirits, which is forbidden. The Lord does love numbers and uses them frequently.
The Bible offers valuable wisdom on the topic, but it is not a Christian thing. Astrology is a false belief that wisdom comes from the stars, as our wisdom comes from God alone (James 1:5). Horoscopes and the belief in astrological signs teach that we are born into a zodiac sign, and it is not a sin for Christians to believe in zodiac signs.
📹 What does the Bible say about astrology and the zodiac? | GotQuestions.org
What does the Bible say about astrology? Is it ok for Christians to read their horoscope? Does the Zodiac have any influence on …
What is the true meaning of horoscopes?
A horoscope is a tool that predicts a person’s future based on the position of the planets at their birth hour. It is a prediction of their traits and circumstances, while others enjoy reading it for fun. The word horoscope comes from the Greek words hōroskopos, meaning “time or hour”, and skopos, meaning “observer or watching”. It can be a diagram of the planets and zodiac signs at a specific time and place, or a drawing explaining the workings of something.
Is it okay for Christians 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.
What is the meaning of astrology in the Bible?
Astrology aims to determine God’s will through various methods, including His Son, Holy Scriptures, and stargazers. These individuals are responsible for predicting the omens of the new moon and are known as’stargazers’. The worship of the heavenly bodies is a form of idolatry that the Israelites were most likely to follow. Astrology is a valuable tool for understanding and pursuing salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Is there any truth to horoscopes?
Astrology predictions have never been more accurate than those expected by chance alone, and blind experimentation has been used to test astrology quantitatively. Michel Gauquelin, a renowned astrologer and psychologist, in 1955 found positive correlations between the diurnal positions of planets and success in professions, such as doctors, scientists, athletes, actors, writers, and painters. This is known as the “Mars effect”.
A study by seven French scientists attempted to replicate this claim, but found no statistical evidence. They attributed the effect to selective bias on Gauquelin’s part. Geoffrey Dean suggests that the effect may be caused by self-reporting of birth dates by parents, rather than any issue with Gauquelin’s study. A small subset of parents may have changed birth times to be consistent with better astrological charts for a related profession.
The sample group was taken from a time where belief in astrology was more common, and Gauquelin had failed to find the Mars effect in more recent populations. The number of births under astrologically undesirable conditions was also lower, indicating more evidence that parents choose dates and times to suit their beliefs.
What did the Prophet say about 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.
What does the Bible say about horoscopes?
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.
Is there horoscope in Christianity?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that divination, including predictive astrology, is incompatible with modern Catholic beliefs, such as free will. It rejects all forms of divination, including horoscopes, palm reading, omen interpretation, clairvoyance, and mediums, which conceal a desire for power over time, history, and other human beings. These practices contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear owed to God alone.
Astrology and science, Christian mysticism, Christianity and paganism, Esoteric Christianity, Jesus Christ in comparative mythology, Jewish views on astrology, Muslim views on astrology, and William Lilly’s book Christian Astrology are all considered incompatible with modern Catholic beliefs.
Is it okay for Christians to believe in luck?
As Christians, we are guided by the will of God, who is omniscient and omnipotent and whose plans for our lives are not dependent on luck or serendipity. As the creator and sustainer of all things, God is aware of our existence even before we are born.
Why are horoscopes not true?
Astrology is a belief system that suggests a connection between astronomical phenomena and human events or personality descriptions. However, it has been criticized by the scientific community for lacking explanatory power and scientific testing has found no evidence to support its premises or effects. The most famous test, led by Shawn Carlson, concluded that natal astrology performed no better than chance. Astrology has not demonstrated its effectiveness in controlled studies and has no scientific validity, making it regarded as pseudoscience.
There is no proposed mechanism by which stars and planets’ positions and motions could affect people and events on Earth in the way astrologers claim, which contradicts well-understood aspects of biology and physics. Modern scientific inquiry into astrology focuses on the correlation between astrological traditions and the influence of seasonal birth in humans.
Are horoscopes good or bad?
Psychologists refer to this phenomenon as “confirmation bias”, where people focus on sections of a horoscope that support their beliefs, ignoring the rest. While reading a horoscope can provide a sense of order or meaning to life, it lacks scientific basis, making it unsuitable for acting on. Sandbek, a psychic, believes that people who regularly consult horoscopes seek guidance rather than comfort.
He believes most people seek information about themselves or what to do. Holmes, for example, pays special attention to her horoscope when curious or experiencing changes, as it helps explain what’s happening.
Why do people believe in horoscopes?
Astrology is a popular coping mechanism for people experiencing life’s complexity. It helps people make sense of their lives and provides comfort during challenging times. Interest in astrology has been increasing during tumultuous times, such as the Great Depression and the coronavirus pandemic. This is due to the lack of meaning maps provided by traditional institutions and the welcoming nature of astrology, unlike other institutions that have failed to do so. Astrology has become a tool for comfort and understanding during challenging times.
📹 What Does The Bible Say About Astrology? | Episode 7
Ever wonder what Christians are supposed to do when it comes to Astrology, The Zodiac and Horoscopes? We break it down for …
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