Astrology:Fortune‑Telling by the Stars
Robert C.Newman
Widespreadpopularity & use of astrology: numerous books, astrology columns in mostnewspapers, even horoscope by phone
Origin lost inpast, but already important in Babylonian civilization; there it mostly takesthe form of menologies, i.e., lunar/solar astrology of lucky/unlucky days;mostly for nobility
Conquest ofEast by Alexander the Great (c330 BC) combines Greek science, individualism withBabylonian astrology to produce classic individual astrology using birthhoroscopes, 7 planets, 12 signs of zodiac, 12 houses of sky
This form hashad continuing influence in the West, though both Judaism and Christianitybasically hostile; more or less underground during Medieval period, resurfacesin Renaissance, underground again in Reformation countries, recently resurfacingagain
2. With the oldidea that the earth is the center of the universe, astrology seemed more likelythan now, when we see that the earth is not even the center of our solarsystem. Neither the gravitationalnor magnetic forces exerted by the planets are significant on earth.
3. Most modernastrologers take no account of the fact that we have discovered 3 new planetssince their technique was designed.
4. Likewise,few take into account that the precession of the equinoxes has shifted the sunsigns by about one month each.
6. The zodiacitself is just an arbitrary convention for grouping the stars, having noreality among the stars themselves.
1. The Bibleforbids divination (occult guidance techniques) as an abomination to God (Deut18:9‑13), replacing it with Biblical revelation which is selected &sent by God (Deut 18:14‑22).
Deut 18:9-13 (NIV) When you enter the land the LORD yourGod is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nationsthere. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter inthe fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages inwitchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consultsthe dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, andbecause of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out thosenations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God.
Deut 18:14-22 (NIV) The nations you will dispossesslisten to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORDyour God has not permitted you to do so. 15 The LORD your God will raise up foryou a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. 16For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of theassembly when you said, "Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God norsee this great fire anymore, or we will die." 17 The LORD said to me:"What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like youfrom among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tellthem everything I command him. 19 If anyone does not listen to my words thatthe prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account. 20 But aprophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him tosay, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put todeath." 21 You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a messagehas not been spoken by the LORD?" 22 If what a prophet proclaims in thename of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD hasnot spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.
Isa 47:13 (NIV) All the counsel you have received hasonly worn you out! Let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who makepredictions month by month, let them save you from what is coming upon you. 14Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up.
They cannot even save themselves from the power of theflame. Here are no coals to warm anyone; here is no fire to sit by.