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Most people
today like to believe that they are products of the scientific age. We
flatter ourselves with the thought that we are superior to our
ancestors; and indeed we are, we travel by cars, trains, airplanes, men
have gone to the Moon and we have sent robots to Mars, we communicate
with wireless phones, we can talk and even see who we are talking to
hundreds of miles away through the discovery of satellites and internet:
the same has given us access to a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips
and in general we have knowledge of the natural world and the universe
at large that our ancestors could never have conceived. We have come
very far compared with our ancestors who very few had the opportunity to
go to school and learn to read, and because of their illiteracy were
bound by many superstitions. Education, reasoning and scientific
advancement has done away with many superstitions and most people today
will tell you that they are free from all kinds of superstitions. In
fact, they will even go one further and say that they are reluctant to
believe anything that cannot be proven logically or scientifically and
reject what is often referred to as "myth" in religion: myths like man's
creation from nothing, his fall, the promise and the coming of the
Saviour, salvation and life in the world to come. Modern man has been
described as man "come of age", too sophisticated and knowledgeable to
accept these things as literally true. He doubts that the Supreme Being,
whoever He may be, could have any interest in or plan for man and the
rest of creation. He believes man is entirely on his own and has to work
out his own destiny and the meaning of his existence.
Yet, in
spite of modern man's exaggerated ideas about himself, one need only
look around to see that he is lying to himself and that he is just as
superstitious today as his ancestors were in passed centuries. There are
in fact more "psychics" and "mediums", more "seers of the future," more
"fortune tellers," now than at any time in recent centuries. Hundreds of
cheap publications, usually available not only in newspaper and magazine
stores, but even in the super-markets, carry the "predictions" of
self-styled "clairvoyants," tales of the supernatural, accounts of
communication with the dead and experiences with demonology.
One area in
which this fact is most evident is the widespread interest in astrology.
Practically all newspapers and magazines dedicate a considerable amount
of space to the advice of charlatans who pretend to be experts in
reading the stars. It is a million-dollar business, and hundreds of
self-proclaimed astrologers, many of whom would not know one star from
another, have become wealthy on the gullibility of the public.
Wherever you
look there are hundreds of books and pamphlet on the subject. Large
books and pocket size books dealing with what is usually termed as the
science or art of astrology, some dedicated to a general description
while others dedicated to each individual sign of the Zodiac. There is
so much worthless literature about that proves that modern man is still
bound to the same superstitious ideas as he has always been. Education
has not made him free, but rather has made him more curious and possibly
open-minded to the fact that his life can be guided by the planets.
Many people
take astrological predictions very seriously and plan their day's events
according to some astrologer's predictions. Some even have a personal
astrologer who will predict for them what days to do certain things and
which days to stay indoors because something dreadful might happen.
What people
don't seem to realize is that what astrologers say to their readers are
just general things that could be applied to practically everyone. Once
in a while coincidence coincides with prediction and people begin to
think that maybe there is something in it after all.
When I was
preparing this talk, I decided to see what the stars had to say for the
zodiac sign of Taurus according to various astrologers. The first I came
across said: You must make every effort to conserve your resources.
There may be more expenses than you had anticipated for. Learn to manage
your finances so that you do not waste what you receive as a blessing
from destiny. There is every indication that you may find it extremely
hard to manage your expenses. I'm sure with the financial crisis around
the world many people from all the zodiac signs are finding things
extremely tight at the moment. According to this astrologer the things
we have are a blessing from destiny and not from God.
The next
horoscope said something completely the opposite: Splurge on a new
outfit or fun non-essential under the Pisces Moon; you deserve it! The
first said to conserve your resources and the next said to spend, spend,
spend.
Next
horoscope read: There is only one world. We all live in it. We are all a
part of it. It is a big place containing the billions of people on this
planet, plus the countless billions of other planets and stars
throughout the rest of infinite space. So, who is in charge of all this?
Well now, here is a funny thing. Would the universe, even exist if you
weren't in it? We can fairly decisively say it wouldn't. That tells us
something about how important and influential you are. Take heart (and
be inspired by) that thought today. Now I wonder who he can be referring
to? Is it only to a Taurean or to every living person on the planet
earth?
Not only are
the predictions of a general matter, but seeing that astrologers all use
the same astrological charts, they should in theory agree with each
other, but as we have seen from the above samples, they have nothing in
common. And yet, millions of gullible people around the world consult
their horoscope daily and base their day's activities on what the stars
supposedly tell them to do, deceiving themselves into believing that
things turned out just the way the horoscope said.
Others read
their horoscope daily but claim that its only an innocent pastime, just
a bit of fun, after all what harm is there in reading horoscopes if you
don't really take them seriously like some people do.
Astrology
claims that our characters and personalities are defined by the time and
date we are born. A typical Taurean for example is considered to be
Strong, dependable, reliable, stable and conservative, patient, but also
stubborn, faithful, generous, having a great capacity for affection,
hard working, a lover of material gains, highly creative and thoroughly
enjoys making things with his own hands. In theory then, twins born on
the same day and within minutes of each other should have the same
personalities, yet most of us know that most twins are in fact the
opposites of each other. The question arises: Why is there such a
diversity in the life of twins, in their actions, fortunes, deeds,
callings, honours, and all such things pertaining to human life; is this
a result of a few minutes difference of time, even though they were
conceived in the same moment?" In some things they will no doubt be the
same, but these are not due to the stars, but rather to family standing
and circumstances. If someone is born to be a king is it because his
star caused it to be so? What then of someone born into slavery born at
exactly the same time, shouldn't the same star also cause him to be a
king also?
There are
people who take the astrological signs and their supposed characters so
seriously that before dating someone they have to know what sign the
person is to see if they are compatible. If the person doesn't have the
right sign, he/she is passed over in spite of the fact that he/she might
have all the other qualities to be the right partner.
Many so
called Christians and even Orthodox Christians see nothing wrong with
astrology or that it is contradictory to the Christian faith. What they
do not realize is that Astrology is an ancient religion which the
Church, the Bible, the canons and writings of the fathers all condemn.
Astrology
was an occult religion which came from Babylonia over 4,000 years ago
and later learnt by the Greeks. The Chaldeans of the Babylonian Empire
observed the influence of the sun and moon on the earth. They concluded
that the planets were powerful gods who controlled the life and destiny
of man, but whose decrees could be changed through supplication and
liturgy. They believed that the stars depicted divine will (like a road
map) and their prime purpose was to inform the king of coming events.
Today's astrologers generally deny that their "art" or "science" has
anything to do with religion, yet modern astrology is nothing more that
a disguised ancient pagan religion.
What is
certain is that today's zodiacs do not coincide with the ancient
zodiacs. The Babylonian astronomical system was based on the belief that
the sun revolves around the earth, not the earth revolving around the
sun. The year was divided into 12 months, 6 having 30 days, and 6 twenty
nine days, thus making 354 days. So once in a while, they would add a
13th month. This and the fact that the earth and planets have shifted
means that the constellations today rise at different times of the year
than they did centuries ago. Also modern astrologers do not take into
account that calendars have changed. In 46BC Julius Caesar introduced a
calendar which varied in days from the Babylonian and Judaic calendars
which were based on the lunar month and in 1582 Pope Gregory XIII
introduced our modern civil calendar which has a difference of 13 days
with the Julian calendar. Thus the present astrological charts are not
in agreement with the characteristics of each star sign for the months
they were originally assigned to. It is calculated that there is at
least a 30 day difference between our modern calendar and the Babylonian
calendar which means for example that modern horoscopes for a person
born in April being Aries or Taurus should be for Pisces and Aquarius.
For those
Christians who will not take what the Church teaches as Gospel and need
to see in black and white that the Bible strictly forbids astrology
let's look at the passages of scripture that deal with this matter.
The first
Biblical reference does not specifically mention astrology, but it is a
very strong possibility that the events were a result of people's
beliefs in the heavenly planets. Chapter 11 of the Book of Genesis,
describes how the people at the time began to build a tower with the
intention of reaching up to heaven. The purpose of the tower could have
been to yet closer to God, but in all probability it was so that they
could survey the sky, seeking to discover their 'destiny' in the stars
rather than trust in the will of God. Otherwise why would God have been
moved to confound their language and scatter them abroad upon the face
of the earth? (Genesis 11: 1-9)
When the
children of Israel were about to enter the Promised Land, God commanded
that no one was to imitate the ways of the nations there. He commanded
them saying: "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, (meaning astrology) 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. Thou shalt be perfect with
the LORD thy God. For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened
unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD
thy God hath not suffered thee so to do" (Deut. 18: 10-14)
The Prophet
Isaiah, lamenting for the Babylonians said, "Let
now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand
up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. 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)
The Prophet
Jeremiah writes: "Thus saith the Lord, Learn not
the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for
the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain
…". (Jer 10:2-3)
The Prophet Daniel when called to interpret a dream of the Babylonian
king Nebuchadnezzar said, "The secret which the
king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians,
the soothsayers, shew unto the king; But there is a God in heaven that
revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what
shall be in the latter days." (Dan 2:27-28)
In the New
Testament St. Paul admonishes the Galatians after some who had become
Christians were still holding on to their former practices:
"Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did
service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye
have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the
weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you,
lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain." (Galatians 4:
8-11)
The Church
in accordance with the Bible has always condemned astrology along with
other practices associated with demonic origin. The 36th canon of the
Council of Laodicea of Phrygia held in 364AD states: "They who are of
the priesthood, or of the clergy, shall not be magicians, enchanters,
mathematicians, astrologers; nor shall they make what are called
amulets, which are chains for there own souls. And those who wear such,
we command to be cast out of the Church." Here mathematicians does not
mean the teachers of maths. They were people who held the belief that
the celestial bodies rule the universe and that all earthly things are
ruled by their influence. In fact just another branch of astrology, but
with the difference that astrologers are the people who predict through
the stars or rather through the demons and place their trust in them.
The Church
Fathers also speak out loudly against astrology. St Epiphanius states
that a certain Aquila, a translator of the divine scriptures was
expelled from the Church because he was engaged in the practice of
consulting the stars for horoscopes for everyone.
St. Cyril of
Jerusalem wrote: "For it is not according to the date of your birth that
you sin, nor is it by the power of chance that you commit fornication,
nor, as some idly say, do the conjunctions of the stars compel you to
give yourself to wantonness. Why dost thou shrink from confessing your
own evil deeds, and ascribe the blame to the innocent stars? Give no
more heed to astrologers; for of these the divine Scripture says, Let
the stargazers of the heaven stand up and save thee, and what follows:
Behold, they all shall be consumed as stubble on the fire, and shall not
deliver their soul from the flame. (Catachetical Lecture IV, 18)
St. Gregory
the Theologian speaks of "Chaldaean astronomy and horoscopes, comparing
our lives with the movements of the heavenly bodies, which cannot know
even what they are themselves, or shall be. (Oration XXXIX, v)
St. John
Chrysostom speaks of how the faith of the Christians of his time had
been weakened by the revival of this pagan practice: "And in fact a deep
night oppresses the whole world. This is what we have to dispel and
dissolve. It is night not among heretics and among Greeks (pagans) only,
but also in the multitude on our side, in respect of doctrines and of
life. For many entirely disbelieve the resurrection; many fortify
themselves with their horoscope; many adhere to superstitious
observances, and to omens, and auguries, and presages. And some likewise
employ amulets and charms." But to these also we will speak afterwards,
when we have finished what we have to say to the Greeks. (Homilies on
First Corinthians, iv, 11)
Chrysostom
also sees belief in astrology as a foolish disbelief against God's
omnipotence and creativity, which implies that God is subject to the
power of the stars. He also points out that if we are directed by the
stars then there is no such thing as good or evil, because we do what we
do under the direction and influence of the stars. "This means that
God's commandments, that man shall not sin or that man shall do good,
comes down to nothing but foolishness.
St. John of
Damascus writing on the creation of heaven, the sun, moon, the planets
and stars gives a detailed account of their movements and how they
affect the seasons on earth. He then continues saying: "Now the Greeks
(pagans) declare that all our affairs are controlled by the rising and
setting and collision of these stars, the sun and moon: for it is with
these matters that astrology has to do. But we hold that we get from
them signs of rain and drought, cold and heat, moisture and dryness, and
of the various winds, and so forth, but no sign whatever as to our
actions. For we have been created with free wills by our Creator and are
masters over our own actions. Indeed, if all our actions depend on the
courses of the stars, all we do is done of necessity (in other words
fate): and necessity precludes either virtue or vice. But if we possess
neither virtue nor vice, we do not deserve praise or punishment, and
God, too, will turn out to be unjust, since He gives good things to some
and afflicts others. Nay, He will no longer continue to guide or provide
for His own creatures, if all things are carried and swept along in the
grip of necessity. And the faculty of reason will be superfluous to us:
for if we are not masters of any of our actions, deliberation is quite
superfluous. Reason, indeed, is granted to us solely that we might take
counsel, and hence all reason implies freedom of will. And, therefore,
we hold that the stars are not the causes of the things that occur, nor
of the origin of things that come to pass, nor of the destruction of
those things that perish. They are rather signs of showers and changes
of air. But, perhaps, some one may say that though they are not the
causes of wars, yet they are signs of them. And, in truth, the quality
of the air which is produced by sun, and moon, and stars, produces in
various ways different temperaments, and habits, and dispositions. But
the habits are amongst the things that we have in our own hands, for it
is reason that rules, and directs, and changes them." (The Exact
Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, Book II, Chap. vii)
It is not
only the Church and the Fathers that speak against astrology. The Roman
historians Tacitus writing in the early 2nd century and Dio Cassius in
the early 3rd century tell us that even the heathen hated astrologers
and that was why they were banished from Rome.
From what
has been said it is clear that Christians should not practice astrology
nor consult horoscopes because it puts faith in created things rather
than in the Creator; it thus undermines faith in God and His redeeming
plan for mankind. Believing in the stars denies our freewill and
attributes all that happens to fate; it relieves man of the
responsibility for his sins; it weakens and finally replaces, however
subtly, the faith of the Church, which is the doctrine of Christ, with a
pagan philosophy or religion.
The Church
Fathers, like the Ancient Greeks, felt that there were "many wonders in
the universe, but none more wonderful than man." Man is God's special
creation created in his image. Psalm 8 says: "What
is man, that Thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that Thou
visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; Thou hast
crowned him with glory and honour, and set him over the works of Thy
hands. Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet."
Thus St. Gregory the Theologian writes: "Man was not made for the stars,
but rather the stars for man; and if a star can be called the ruler of
man, then man must be considered the slave of his own servants." God did
not create the planets and stars with the intention that they would
dominate man, but that they, like other creatures, should obey and serve
him.
Christ came
into the world to reveal to man the truth and to destroy the futile
faith people had in the stars and planets. The Orthodox hymn for the
Nativity of Christ says: "Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, has shone upon
the world with the light of knowledge: for thereby they who adored the
stars through a star were taught to worship Thee, the Sun of
Righteousness, and to know Thee the Dayspring from on high. O Lord,
glory to Thee." They who adored the stars refers to the Magi who came
from the East. Some say they were Kings while others High Priests. They
were very educated men and were well learned in astrology which they
probably used in their religious practices. As stargazers they knew the
position of the stars very well and anything unusual was interpreted as
a good or bad omen, for example the rising of a comet was a sign of the
death of a king. But in the case of the Nativity story they observed a
star which was very different from anything else they had seen before
and come to the conclusion that it meant the birth of a new and divine
King. The star went before them and showed them the way until they
reached Jerusalem. It was indeed a strange star which moved in various
directions, at times stood still and appeared and disappeared at will.
The hymn says they adored the stars, but through a star were taught to
worship the one true God. God used the object of their worship to bring
them to the truth.
We also
should listen to the truth. When we allow the stars of heaven to guide
our actions and not God, who created the stars, then we are sinning.
When we run to the newspapers to look up our horoscopes and our futures,
and do not seek wisdom and learning from the Bible, then we are sinning.
Christ said we should not worry of what the future might bring, we
should not be concerned with where we will find the money for food and
drink, for clothing and anything else that concerns our life. These
things he said are what the pagans seek for, but we should seek first
the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all the necessities of
life will be provided by God the Father. (Math. 6:25-34) We do not need
to know what lies ahead of us in time if we have trust in God.
In many
circles, people introduce themselves by their zodiac sign, Hi I'm a
Taurean you look like a Scorpion, no, no wait a minute your a
Sagittarian. Rarely do people introduce themselves and say Hi I'm a
Christian. Isn't it strange that people would rather be named after
stars and their constellations, than after God, the Creator and Source
of Life? We are not Taureans, Aquarians, Pisceans or Capricorns, we are
not sons and daughters of stars; we are not children of horoscopes: we
are men and women, sons and daughters of God. We are God's children who
pray "Thy will be done".
As a last
thought, the stupidity of astrology is summed up by Shakespeare in his
play King Lear: although I will give a modern English rendering to make
it understandable: "This is a classic example of the idiocy of the
world: when we’re down and out—often because of our own excesses —we put
all the blame on the sun, the moon, and the stars, as if they forced us
to be bad, or the heavens compelled us to be villainous or stupid. As if
we become thieves and traitors according to astrological signs or obey
planetary influences to become drunks, liars, and adulterers! As if some
universal power pushed us into evil deeds! What a sneaky trick it is for
lustful mankind to blame our horniness on some star! My father and
mother coupled when the demonic moon was descending, and I was born
under the Big Dipper, so it’s inevitable that I’m rude and oversexed.
Christ! I would have been what I am even if the most virginal star in
the heavens had twinkled at my conception."
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