Linda: "My Dad was excommunicated for his practise in astrology - I never knew a more truly 'christian' person. He grew magnificent flowers which he gave each week with grace to all the local churches and which were accepted with no grace whatever by the mob who kicked him out. They thought he was doing a penance. Every bunch of flowers had its stems wrapped in a chart or had a symbol drawn somewhere on the wrapping - Dad got astrology into the church in his own special way!
"He was never bitter despite being a deeply religious man, he encouraged all of us to attend church... He played Mozart to his tomatoes in the 40's long before Supernature popularised talking to plants, was a follower of Steiner and was instrumental in giving all his daughters and son a most peculiar childhood! He taught us levitation, meditation, absent healing... Before he died he said he missed the magical ritual of church services but would not deny a greater god for the sake of conforming to a man made god . When he was dying a hospital priest gave absolution without his permission and he was very disturbed for hours until one of his excommunicated priest friends visited ( another Theosophist) and calmed him. When he was buried 8 excomm. catholic priests attended his funeral. No holds barred christianity really!"
Kt Boehrer: "I know how proud you are of your father by the way you tell his story. This is a beautiful story and I thank you for sharing it with us. I salute your father - he must have been a wonderful person!..
"... the most wonderful christian story of them all is the story of the birth of the Christ Child which was foretold by astrology and heralded by astrology (the Wise Men were astrologers who followed the astrological conjunction of three major planets in order to find and worship the Child.) There atr many other biblical stories that support astrology (King David and his shield on which the six pointed Star of his natal chart was displayed) etc., etc.!
"The Bible provides the basic rules for astrology (the Sun to rule by day, the Moon to rule by night, etc.) It is crammed full of convincing material. Of course, if these are typical fundamentalists just hang it up, you will never convince them even if you introduced them to Jesus Christ himself - they are beyond reason."
Jayj: "Matthew writes of Magi (Persian Astrologer-Priests) seeking he who *has been* born and arriving at a *house* in Bethlehem to see the infant child. The Magi were welcomed with honor and respect by the Jewish Elders (the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem) and by the Holy family. If the Bible were against astrology the 'Wise Men' would have been stoned or crucified, or driven off.
"From Genesis, where God creates the heavens *for* Signs & seasons, through Revelations, where in Heaven the Tree of Life bears 12 kinds of fruit -- one for each *month* of the year, both Testaments are full of positive -- and only positive --references to astrology.
"The complete story of astrology in the Bible, and the best rebuttal against so-called Christians who would substitute their petty prejudices for the words of the Prophets, is "Astrology's Pew in Church" by the Rev. Don Jacobs, aka Moby Dick the Astrologer.
"God made the Heavens for Signs & for seasons. In Job God says that it is He who moves the Zodiac through the sky. Astrology is one of God's greatest works."
Stephen James:"But there a several weaknesses in Chrisitan Culture for astrology. 1. Conspiracy: "The Catholic Church has hidden this from you" (Lots of Xians love this stuff). 2. Revelation Decoding: "astrology can help us understand the End Times" (end times decoding justifies almost anything) 3. Individuality: "God made you unique and wants you to be understood and appreciated as an individual" (works well with Christian women) 4. GODS WORK: (my favorite!) In Matthew 12:22-32, Jesus heals a sick man, and the cynical Pharisees grumble: "He uses the power of the Devil". Jesus' reaction is VERY severe, announcing to the crowd that they have insulted not him, but his Father, for which THERE IS NO FORGIVNESS!
"The bible says that GOD created the stars, and specifically their motion. Not Satan. To suggest that astrology is Satans domain is to insult the creator, an UNPARDONABLE sin!
Jayj: "In dealing with 'Christian Culture' your arguments will carry more weight if you cite chapter & verse. Don't just say 'The Bible says God created the stars' or even 'In Genesis God created the stars for signs' -- say 'In Genesis 1:14 'And God said, "Let there be lights..." Also in Job 38:31-33 God asks "Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the cords of Orion? Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season, or can you guide the Bear with its children? Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on earth? 'Mazzaroth' is the Signs of the Zodiac. You'll even be forgiven if the quote isn't verbatim (translation do vary) as long as you include the numbers.
Eva: "Let people say what they wish about astrology? Anyway, whatever arguments u use they will not listen. I am a Christian Orthodox and on the ouside wall of the local church there is a zodiac painted. In spite of that fact, the priest says astrology is a sin. Let him say whatever he wants, that will not make me feel like a sinner."
Meade: "In regard to Christianity versus astrology: When belief systems differ, there you find war. It is not logical, not that that really matters. It is not a matter of Truth, but of little, self-supported truths. And these kinds of beliefs are born of blindness and the dark, not of inspiration and Light. Any truth in the original issues is lost in the heat of self-righteousness and we are left with bruises and sensitive spots that foster reactivity rather than openness and goodwill. The shame is that, in the end, both sides may be correct, but they ain't right. We have eyes. May we see."