Some Bible-Related Astrology

On Anthropomorphised Star Clusters

Astrology dates before written history. The zodiac is one of the oldest picture-concepts in history. It shows the sun as it passes through 13 constellations over during a year. In other words, it is a lofty, imagined belt that extends 8 degrees on either side of the ecliptic, which contains the 13 zodiacal constellations. The moon and planets appear to move around it too. The belt, or zodiac, is divided into 12 zones of equal length, and called signs of the zodiac. Each is named after the constellation that it once lay in. And constellations are anthropomorphised, or personified as figures or animals.

Egypt had a "star clock" of decans (in the sky) as early as 2,100 BCE, as seen on coffin lids. Each decan contained a set of stars and corresponding divinities throughout the Egyptian year. The very ancient Book of Nut, earlier termed The Fundamentals of the Course of the Stars, covers the subject. The text goes at least back to 2,000 BCE. The work tells of sky and earth deities, such as the star deities and the decans deities. The cycles of the stars and the planets, and time-keeping. (WP, "Nut [goddess]")

The Egyptian concept of decans were in time adapted to later Greek astrology, so that three decans make up one sign. (WP, "Decans")

Views of the Catholic Church

The history of astrology is an important part of the history of the development of civilisation, says the Catholic Encyclopedia (sv. "Astrology"). It holds that Thoth (Djehuti) of Egyptian gods, later converted into Hermes Trismegistus among Greeks, was regarded the earliest teacher of astrology in Egypt. He is reputed to have laid the foundation of astrology in the "Hermetic Books", dividing the zodiac into the twelve signs, and much more.

Ancient Egyptians developed astrology to a condition that varies but little from today. "Astoundingly daring theories of the world found in the Egyptian texts . . . permit us to infer that their authors were even acquainted with the helio-centric conception of the universe." (Ibid.)

For five hundred years astrology governed much public life of Rome, until Emperor Constantine issued an edict threatening all Chaldeans, Magi, and their followers with death. Astrology now disappeared for centuries from the persecuting Christian scene in the Middle Ages, while Arabian and Jewish scholars stood up for astrology. Jews busied themselves with astrological questions, being stimulated to it by the Talmud, their holy scripture. "Sefer Zohar" and "Sefer Yezirah" are two books that appeared in Jewish literature after the time the Talmud was finished. They are full of rules of astrological meanings and calculations.

Up to the time of the Crusades, Arabic learning got a gradually increasing influence on the West, so that theories of astrology got an entrance in the West again. Towards the close of the Middle Ages almost all princes and rulers had court astrologers. One was Angelo Catto, the astrologer of Louis XI of France. Forerunners of Humanism busied themselves with astrology. Emperors and popes became adherents of astrology - Emperors Charles IV and V, and Popes Sixtus IV, Julius II, Leo X, and Paul III. Astrology regulated their official lives. At the papal and imperial courts ambassadors were not received in audience until the court astrologer had been consulted.

Catharine de' Medici made astrology popular in France. She erected an astrological observatory for herself near Paris, and her court astrologer was the celebrated Nostradamus. Another well-known astrologer was Lucas Gauricus, the court astrologer of Popes Leo X and Clement VII.

In Germany, Philip Melanchthon were zealous and distinguished defender of astrology.

In the Renaissance, religion was subordinated to astrology.

(The Catholic Encyclopedia, "Astrology")

Later uses and oddities

Renaissance scholars often practised astrology. Major astronomers who practised as court astrologers included Tycho Brahe in the royal court of Denmark, Johannes Kepler to the Habsburgs and Galileo Galilei to the Medici. Astrology had a popular revival from the 1800s. The psychiatrist Carl Jung developed some concepts reflecting astrological thought. This led to the development of psychological astrology.

Further, the Catechism of the Catholic Church maintains that predictive astrology, is incompatible with modern Catholic fear "we owe to God alone." Either it is true or not true.

This view largely contradicts the respect for astrology as part of religions that the Vatican speak well of in its "Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions. Nostra Aetate" (below) - note it well.

(WP, "Christian views on astrology")

Bible Astrology

- a far-fetched subject it is.

Does the Bible condemn astrology? The answer is yes or no. Some verses seem to approve of astrology, while others - Leviticus 19:26; Isaiah 47:13-14 - seem to condemn it. However, they are not to the point and too inarticulate. Much fluffiness (not being specific, accurate and to the point - hence lacking in useful substance and depth) is a problem with so many Bible verses. Self-contradictions are also found: [128 Bible contradictions]

If you are among those who won't take no for an answer, the obvious answer to "Does the Bible condemn astrology", is "yes" . . . Another question is how primitive they were. They held the earth was unmoving, flat, and on pillars. There's not much that is right there, but is in the Bible. (Isaiah 11:12; Revelation 7:1; Job 38:13; Psalm 104:5; Job 9:6). Better sources of evaluation would be good.

And it is fine to let astrology stand on its own bottom, as a good tub does. Astrological basic theories may be investigated and proved more or less formally, with more or less certainty as to how valid the findings might be.

As for Bible stories, many of them can be interpreted ("understood") this way and that. Also, comparisons are many, but are they too "fluffy" to be good proofs? It matters to ascertain it well. (WP "Astrology in the Bible")

2. Jewish Astrology

The Encyclopaedia Britannica too tells that Biblical astrology was due to influence from Egypt and Babylon.

There is some information on Jewish astrologers and diviners in the bible, especially Joseph and Daniel. Those two are given prominence. The astrologer and diviner Daniel even has his own book in the Old Testament, and is credited with apocalyptic visions and comments that the last book in the bible, Revelation, draws on. (Daniel 5:1-30; 7-12)

And in so far as astrology is a religion (orientation), the Vatican has not banned it. In medieval times it was used by popes too. Astrology has much of a say in Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism too.

Some Jews have lived in Old Testament times, others after the Bible got its final shape and Christianity emerged. Some imagery of the visionary genre is at times interpreted in line with astrology. There is a formerly secret astrology among Jews too, known as Kabbalah, which contains Jewish astrology. The Kabbalah is a school of thought with shielded methods, and it is "proof-lackingly" claimed it originated in Judaism. Historically, Kabbalah emerged from earlier forms of Judaism in Southern France and Spain in the 11-1200s.

To make one Jewish, astro-magical text acceptable, it is said to have been transmitted by the angel Raziel to Adam after he was driven out from Eden. Hope Adam could read at the time - Another famous work, the early Sefer Yetzirah, supposedly dates back to the patriarch Abraham. "Supposedly" is not fit enough as far as evidence goes. (WP, "Kabbalah")

The contemporary Kabbalist Z'ev ben Shimon Halevi claims that the hidden teachings of Judaism are called Kabbalah and that Jesus transmitted Kabbalah, according to Daniel Goleman. To what degree such fancy claims are opinionising or tricks may stand out by this: there seems to be no agreed-on evidence in these matters, but strong claims that are trusted without great and positive evidence. Be that as it may, candid self-observational methods tend to offer help, also in meeting with more or less obscurely rooted astrology. (Goleman, 49-54)

Later Intererst in Astrology

Sir Isaac Newton, Regiomontanus and Johannes Kepler practised astrology. Interest in astrology waned in the 1800s, but interest was renewed in the 1900s. Several of many forms of astrology have been quite popular since.

(WP, "Christianity and astrology".)

Several Astrologies Around