Are Horoscopes and Astrology Evil and Un-Biblical?

[Servant222]

In the Old Testament is this warning:

Deuternonomy 18

10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in [a] the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD,

In historic times, people took astrology seriously, and placed their trust in psychics, instead of God; of course, this is wrong.

But today, I think most people think of horoscopes in a newspaper as being entertainment, and don't take them seriously- I like the bumper sticker that asks "Why Don't Psychics Buy Lottery Tickets?".

So should Christians have nothing to do with horoscopes, astrology, and psychics, or is this issue really nothing that we need to be concerned about?

I would appreciate advice on this- but would ask that you back up your opinion with Bible references, especially New Testament references.

Thanks.

 

[Ave Maria]

No, its not a sin to look at your horoscope for fun. I know of a Catholic priest that does that and he's the most moral person around.

 

[metherion]

I think it is wrong if you take it seriously. OTOH, if you just get a kick out of reading them, or find it fun to let someone read your palm, it's no biggie. After all, if you aren't taking it seriously, then you aren't trusting them instead of God.

Metherion

 

[Solidlyhere]

Servant said: "So should Christians have nothing to do with horoscopes, astrology, and psychics."

Yes, absolutely nothing to do with them.

The Old Testament is FULL of warnings against dealing with horoscopes and psychics.

It is BIG no-no.

God is a jealous god.
All of these horoscope readers, palm readers and animal divinations are using Spiritual "power" other than God.

Today, there are Millions of people who have become "hooked" on their horoscope.
This is looking away from God for guidance in their future.
God, if He chooses, will personally reveal things from our future.
So, for Christians, we should remain faithful to Jesus Christ.

Ronald Reagan had his own horoscopist, Joan.
Each day, President Reagan planned (or re-planned) his daily Schedule, according to her horoscopes.
It used to drive Reagan's aides crazy, with so many last-minute schedule changes.
If the moon was in the 7th house, the Prime Minister of England would have to cancel his meeting, and re-schedule.
I used to shudder, knowing that part of our Country's policy was being controlled by Joan.
President Reagan's TRUST in horoscopes has caused many 1000 Christians to ALSO trust in it. A pity.

PaladinGirl said: "No, it's not a sin to look at your horoscope for fun."
I do not agree.
Participating in an anti-God activity is not something a solid Christian should do.
Beyond its effect on the person who reads it, this can affect his friends, who know that a Christian is doing it.
So, Christians can be spreading this activity to their Christian (and non-Christian) friends.
If even ONE person gets hooked onto horoscopes because of a Christian "dabbling" in it, God has lost another soul to the power of the Dark Side.

 

[Ave Maria]

Servant said: "So should Christians have nothing to do with horoscopes, astrology, and psychics."

Yes, absolutely nothing to do with them.

The Old Testament is FULL of warnings against dealing with horoscopes and psychics.

It is BIG no-no.

God is a jealous god.
All of these horoscope readers, palm readers and animal divinations are using Spiritual "power" other than God.

Today, there are Millions of people who have become "hooked" on their horoscope.
This is looking away from God for guidance in their future.
God, if He chooses, will personally reveal things from our future.
So, for Christians, we should remain faithful to Jesus Christ.

PaladinGirl said: "No, it's not a sin to look at your horoscope for fun."
I do not agree.
Participating in an anti-God activity is not something a solid Christian should do.
Beyond its effect on the person who reads it, this can affect his friends, who know that a Christian is doing it.

I'm sorry but I trust my priest friend much more than I do some random person on the Internet. Also, if the Old Testament is full of warnings against dealing with horoscopes, please provide at least three verses that condemn horoscopes.

 

[Servant222]

I don't know about the horoscopes of today, but there are plenty of passages in both the new and old testament that deal with witchcraft, etc.; here is one

Galatians 5

19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

[MsScarlett]

Un-biblical? Yes.
Evil? Only if you allow it.

 

[]RiSeN[]

I'm sorry but I trust my priest friend much more than I do some random person on the Internet. Also, if the Old Testament is full of warnings against dealing with horoscopes, please provide at least three verses that condemn horoscopes.

You know what? Some Catholic priests also blessed Nazi SS and molest children, so that appeal to authority is out the window.


There should not be found in you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, anyone who employs divination, a practicer of magic or anyone who looks for omens or a sorcerer, or one who binds others with a spell or anyone who consults a spirit medium or a professional foreteller of events or anyone who inquires of the dead. For everybody doing these things is something detestable to Jehovah, and on account of these detestable things Jehovah your God is driving them away from before you. You should prove yourself faultless with Jehovah your God. - Deut 18:10-13


"Look! To obey is better than a sacrifice, to pay attention than the fat of rams; for rebelliousness is the same as the sin of divination, and pushing ahead presumptuously the same as [using] uncanny power and teraphim." 1Sam 15:22-23

"and they continued to make their sons and their daughters pass through the fire and to practice divination and to look for omens, and they kept selling themselves to do what was bad in the eyes of Jehovah, to offend him;" - 2Kings 17:17

"And he himself made his own sons pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hin′nom, and practiced magic and used divination and practiced sorcery and made spiritistic mediums and professional foretellers of events. He did on a grand scale what was bad in the eyes of Jehovah, to offend him." 2Chr 33:6

I've got plenty more.

 

[Solidlyhere]

PaladinGirl asks me to "provide at least three verses that condemn horoscopes."

Well, if you really want it, I will look-it-up in detail for you on Tuesday.

I will point out Isaiah 47:13,14 first: "All of the counsel [horoscope advice] you have received has only worn you out! Let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month ... Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up."

Then, Jeremiah 10:2 discusses them: "Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky ... for the customs of the peoples are worthless."

And, in Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar had horoscopists. They couldn't interpret his dreams ... but God did (and revealed them to Daniel).

In the OP's quote, Deuteronomy condemns anyone who "practices divination."
Divination means: Using a non-God method to predict the future, including horoscopists.

Read Isaiah 8:19 to tell us only to get our future predictions from God.

And Jeremiah 14:14 is on-point: "They are prophesying to you ... divinations ... I [God] did not send them ... So I will throw you out of this land [Israel]" because of it."

- - - - - - - - - - - -

And she said: "I'm sorry but I trust my priest friend much more than I do some random person on the Internet."

I agree with you completely.

Please contact your local Catholic Diocese.
Ask to speak to the Canon Law priest.
He will happily explain to you about the Church's stance on horoscopes (and reading them, even for Fun).

 

[NHB_MMA]

It's wrong to actually put in faith it them.

 

[Servant222]

Well, Solidlyhere, I would say you are solidly there!

 

[icedtea]

I used to be an astrologer and i can tell you it is evil and demonic.
And why do people want to know things that aren't knowable? "Shall not a people inquire of their God?"

 

[Ave Maria]

I used to be an astrologer and i can tell you it is evil and demonic.
And why do people want to know things that aren't knowable? "Shall not a people inquire of their God?"

There is nothing wrong with reading your horoscope for fun. It is when people take it seriously that it is wrong.

 

[Solidlyhere]

PaladinGirl, are you a practicing Methodist?

If so, why do you get your is-it-a-Sin advice from a priest?

You can contact your local Methodist Bishop.
In the SF Bay Area, she is named Bishop Beverly J Shamana ... at (916) 374-1510
I don't know where you are located, but if you tell me the state you live in, I will get you the name and address (or, ask your local Pastor).

Your Bishop will be able to explain the blasphemy that reading horoscopes is to God.
Then, I hope you will discontinue making your Methodist Church look bad by advocating dabbling with other gods.

 

[Speculative]

No, its not a sin to look at your horoscope for fun. I know of a Catholic priest that does that and he's the most moral person around.

I think it is wrong if you take it seriously. OTOH, if you just get a kick out of reading them, or find it fun to let someone read your palm, it's no biggie. After all, if you aren't taking it seriously, then you aren't trusting them instead of God.

Metherion

I agree with these posts--but I don't even think it's very fun, so I avoid it

 

[dayhiker]

One can read a horoscope w/o sinning. But one can also read the horoscope and give it the place of God in their life. Its God who is suppose to be directing our life. Besides, I've not seem a mecanism by which planats can direct ones life. I don't think planets have any conciousness, love for and plans for people. So why would one want this? A loving God would be much beter in my mind. That's why I seek Jesus and ask the Holy Spirit to guide me.

dayhiker

 

[ContentInHim]

There is nothing wrong with reading your horoscope for fun. It is when people take it seriously that it is wrong.

Lots of stuff is fun but not good for you - pornography comes to mind.

 

[Servant222]

Lots of stuff is fun but not good for you - pornography comes to mind.

And that is the naked truth!

 

[Celticflower]

I used to read my horoscope -- but the day after so I could laugh at all the stuff that didn't happen.

Whether or not it is evil, I now find it to just be a waste of time. I think the space could be better used for more comics.

 

[Citanul]

I used to read my horoscope -- but the day after so I could laugh at all the stuff that didn't happen.

I know someone who recorded horoscopes for a phone-in service, and according to her they just used the same horoscopes for each star sign, just in a different order.