IS ASTROLOGY CHRISTIAN?

 

In 1503, during his final voyage to the Americas, Christopher Columbus experienced a shipwreck in Jamaica. The Santa Maria de la Concepcion, ran aground on the northern coast of Jamaica on June 25, 1503. Columbus and his crew were stranded for several months while they awaited rescue.

During this time, relations with the indigenous Taíno population of Jamaica was strained as the crew relied on them for food and provisions. As the goodwill of the Taíno started to diminish due to the constant demands of the stranded crew, Columbus reportedly used his knowledge of an impending lunar eclipse to his advantage. He consulted astronomical tables and predicted a lunar eclipse that occurred on February 29, 1504.

 

Using this knowledge, Columbus warned the Taíno leaders that his Christian god was displeased with their lack of cooperation and would demonstrate his anger by making the moon disappear. When the eclipse occurred as predicted, the Taíno were reportedly astonished and fearful, leading them to agree to resume providing food and assistance to Columbus and his crew.

 

Since, and before that display of trickery by Columbus, some people have used eclipses to gain religious points. Solar eclipses have been used as messages from God or spiritual forces, inducing emotions ranging from dread to wonder. Some Christians even predicted that the recent eclipse in North America was an indication of Christ’s imminent return. But there is no logical basis for this theory.

 

Interestingly, solar eclipses are not as rare as they seem. They seem rare because they affect only the narrow strip of land that falls in the shadow of the moon. According to the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA), there has been an average of 2 ½ eclipses per year over the past 1,000 years. Solar eclipses occur when the moon passes between the earth and the sun and blots out all or some of the sun’s light. When Christians attempt to interpret and associate Bible prophecy with planetary systems, it is tantamount to Astrology, not the scientific discipline called Astronomy. 

 

Astrology is a form of divination – a practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events, or to discover hidden knowledge. According to Hinduism and Buddhism, Astrology offers a system of understanding karma – the force generated by a person’s actions and the effects in ethical consequences. These consequences are determined by performing calculations, based on solar events, both at the moment of birth and throughout one’s life.

 

While Astrology itself is not a religion, the practice is used by some religions. These religions incorporate Astrology into their belief structures. Some religions see Astrology as a predictive science. From this perspective, they use Astrology to interpret prophecy. For instance, Astrology is deeply ingrained in Hindu religious texts, providing guidance on opportune timings for various ceremonies and life events. In Islam, some Sufi mystics have explored the symbolic meanings of the zodiac, interpreting it as a reflection of divine attributes and cosmic harmony.

In Eastern philosophies such as Taoism and Confucianism, the cosmic order and the movement of celestial bodies are integral to their understanding of life. Chinese astrology, deeply rooted in Taoist principles, uses the zodiac to guide individuals in matters of destiny, personality traits, and relationships. Similarly, in Japanese Shintoism, the alignment of celestial bodies is seen as a reflection of the divine energy present in the natural world.

In general, Christians have rejected astrology for numerous reasons, such as: it conflicts with the biblical prohibition against divination; has no basis in empirical observation; attributes to celestial forces some actions that should be attributed to providence; and seeks to find God’s hidden will in the movement of the stars.

In his article on Astrology (Christianity.com., 2022), Greg Grandchamp contends that the fascination with astrology, the Zodiac, and horoscopes, is a direct reflection of people's desire to find the direction for their future, as they seek wisdom beyond their own. In other words, astrology is one more source of divination — no better or different than a Ouija board, tarot cards, or a fortune-teller. The Lord never intended the stars to be a source for mankind to discover his will for our lives.

 

Astrology is an attempt by humans to find God’s divine will through means other than what God has appointed and — and attempts to attribute to the stars and planets power that belongs to God alone.