Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Astrology

There is a science based upon eternal truth called astronomy. The science of astronomy is correct to the degree that is conforms to truth. Abraham, Moses and many other prophets have seen the heavens beyond what mortals usually see. Thereby they learned of the magnificence of God, the smallness of man, and the place of man and this earth in the plan of salvation.

A fanatical offshoot of astronomy is astrology. Small minds lacking the intelligence and revelation necessary to comprehend the heavens produced a counterfeit astronomy. This counterfeit claims that the movements of heavenly bodies determine the actions of men.

Yes, the heavens have been put into place, and heavenly bodies are acted upon. The earth revolves around the sun because of gravity, the moon likewise revolves around the earth. We know that the moon affects the tide. So in this respect, the heavenly bodies affect man. But these heavenly bodies are things acted upon, they don’t have agency. The moon does not decide each day if it will make its revolutions. It is acted upon, and it does what is must. But man was given agency. He can chose what he does within the physical reality, which he exists. The heavenly bodies exist to bring structure to mortality, it is the framework of our existence, but it does not control our choices. The interaction of men, and the choices we make determine our lives. If heavenly bodies determine human behavior we would have no agency, then there could be no sin. If there be no sin there would be no punishment. If there is no sin and punishment, there is no righteousness and reward.

Astrology (as a divination) is contrary to the agency of man. The heavenly bodies are inert matter that makes no judgment of man. They do not decide what we do, they are not our gods. Astrology is a haven for lazy, weak, and diseased minds. Astrology has no value to the seeker of truth.

There is no moral problem for man to organize his study of heavenly bodies into the zodiac or some alternate format. It is the claim of some control over the minds and actions of men that is problematic.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

You see the candy bar.you smell the candy bar.you touch the candy bar.and if you were the least bit hungry you ate it by now.You have not seen you feet for 30 years.you forgot how many toes are on your feet.
Influence,destiney,agency,
Job 38:31 canst thou bind the sweet influence of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

Steve said...

Did not astrology precede astronomy? Are not the stars in the heaven given for signs?


Steve

David Littlefield said...

Steve:

My understanding of things is that as far as we can trace, there was one study of the stars, as this study grew it included both the scientific study that we might call astronomy, and a more occult or speculative study that could be called astrology. In the process of time the discipline split into two separate studies.

-David

Anonymous said...

There shall be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars." - Jesus Christ, Luke 21:25
"Then he (Joseph) had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said, "I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me." When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, "What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?" (Gen. 37:9-11)
“What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the AGE?” (Matt. 24:3)
the one mention of astrologers in the Book of Matthew (i.e. where the astrologers are referred to as Magi) in the New Testament neither condones nor condemns them, but states that they came to worship the Christ child. Note that they were not worshipping the stars, they used them to find the Christ child so they could come and worship Him who they believed was the new Messiah of the Hebrew people.
I find it interesting that the Bible says (in Matthew) that these foreign astrologers travelled a long way to find the baby Jesus and to pay their respects and give gifts; while the political King of his own nation tried to find Jesus to kill him! Later in Christ's life, the Hebrew High Priest in Jerusalem plotted to have the rabbi Jesus killed. The astrologers came to honor Him. Yet some Christians today believe that Astrology is "the work of the devil" - and again I wonder if they have actually read what it says about these astrologers in their own Bible?

Anonymous said...

Since, astrologically speaking, Jupiter stood for many of Smith's own personal ambitions, he probably selected it for that reason. The Jupiter ambitions consisted of "high positions, [having] one's own way," achieving status, and acquiring the "dignity of a natural ruler." Also of interest, is the fact that in Astrology, Thursday is Jupiter's day--and for sixty years Mormon fast meetings were always on Thursdays. So also were the Lodge meetings of the Mormon Masons.
"It carries the sign and image of Jupiter . . . And in some very real and quite mysterious sense, this particular Table of Jupiter was the most appropriate talisman for Joseph Smith to possess. Indeed, it seemed meant for him, because on all levels of interpretation: planetary, mythological, numerological, astrological, mystical cabalism, and talismatic magic, the Prophet was, in every case, appropriately described."
A good catholic Link
http://www.newadvent.org/
cathen/02018e.htm
And a Jewish View
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/
view.jsp?artid=2051&letter=
A&search=astrology

David Littlefield said...

And still even today we measure time by the revolutions of earth. And that does not negate anything I said. God gave man the order of the universe to measure distance and speed, not for occult divination.

Anonymous said...

the Magi Astrologers read the stars
How? Why?
3 Ne. 1: 21
21 And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word.
Hel. 14: 5, 20
5 And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.
• • •
20 But behold, as I said unto you concerning another sign, a sign of his death, behold, in that day that he shall suffer death the sun shall be darkened and refuse to give his light unto you; and also the moon and the stars; and there shall be no light upon the face of this land, even from the time that he shall suffer death, for the space of three days, to the time that he shall rise again from the dead

Herod's Astrologers also knew a king was to be Born
How? Why?
In fact heaven is the Sun,Moon and Stars
Abr. 3: 2,
Abraham learns about the sun, moon, and stars

Was there a science of the stars and how to read their Influence on Earth events a Little Magnet has unending pull and influence in the universe thru out all the universe.
Some astrologers were learned in the science of Star Gazing not only to Know the Times but the events.
How were did they learn it? Who taught it?
#
Amos 5: 8
8 Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day ddark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his name:
#
Rev. 2: 28
28 And I will give him the morning star.
D&C 128: 23 And let the sun, moon, and the morning stars sing together, and let all the sons of God shout for joy! And let the eternal creations declare his name forever and ever! And again I say, how glorious is the voice we hear from heaven, proclaiming in our ears, glory, and salvation, and honor, and immortality, and eternal life; kingdoms, principalities, and powers!
Do the Sun, Moon and Stars have an effect on our life styles in the times,seasons,earthquakes,Tides,
Metor Showers,Worm Wood,The Sign of the Coming of the Son of Man is the Coming of the Sign of Man, Comets,crops, animals, migrations,solar flares,astroids falling stars... and weather?
Even the host of Heaven are refered to as Morning Stars.

I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Job 38: 7
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
#
Job 38: 31
31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
#
Job 9: 9
9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
Even Lucifer(Light Bringer) is refered to as the Morning Star
Lucifer cast out of heaven for rebellion
D&C 76: 26.
, for the heavens wept over him—he was Lucifer, a son of the morning.
2 Ne. 24: 12
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! Art thou cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thy heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north;
(Venus) the False Sun who is fallen from Heaven, as Venus in the Early Morning rises first giving off a False Impression of the Sun rising.
And if visions of the Future and Past events could be accounted to the Positions of the Stars of the Heavens and Celestrial Events and a science and art was developed and belonged to the Magi

Facsimile No. 2
Fig. 5. Is called in Egyptian Enish-go-on-dosh; this is one of the governing planets also, and is said by the Egyptians to be the Sun, and to borrow its light from Kolob through the medium of Kae-e-vanrash, which is the grand Key, or, in other words, the governing power, which governs fifteen other fixed planets or stars, as also Floeese or the Moon, the Earth and the Sun in their annual revolutions. This planet receives its power through the medium of Kli-flos-is-es, or Hah-ko-kau-beam, the stars represented by numbers 22 and 23, receiving light from the revolutions of Kolob.
#
Ps. 147: 4
4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.
and yes perhaps the science was lost to this Present Ignorance
What exactly was the Star Sign of Jesus Birth?

Anonymous said...

19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

Anonymous said...

Isn't it ironic that people who worship a mythological book of fables...comprised of stories and myth, hijacked from every civilization and culture in the area, as a means to better facilitate assimilation, would cast astrology out of the garden of myth. There is far more statistical, fact based evidence, that planetary movements, not to mention solar and lunar activity, coincide with human activity than there is any proof that Jesus was anything more than a Piscean/Neptunian archetypal figure. If Christians weren't such hypocrits, more people would probably buy into it. Unfortunately, Christians, Mormons, and other fundamentalists are too busy trying to be the intermediatiaries for God. Maybe you should try selling Amway instead...

David Littlefield said...

ANON:

Thank you for your insights.

I will take your career advise under consideration.

-David

Anonymous said...

The BIBLE is all astrological... The strory about the three kings folowing the brightest star (sirius) to witness the new born sun/son(christ), its all astrological, there are 3bright stars called the 3kings(by ancient babylonians) diagonaly point at the brightest star(SIRIUS) pointing where the new sun/son will rise/be born... on Dec 22 the sun dies/falls for 3days, and at that time its known to be the time of death because its cold and ancient egyptians believed that by the winter times plants die n there is no harvest. therefore on Dec 25 the sun/son rises one degree upward north, even the USA military devices will show you that since the 22nd of Dec the sun rose up on the same degree for three days then rose 1degree upward on the 25th of Dec. That is why we celebrate the birth of christ on Dec 25 every year... Therefore astrology plays a huge role in religion, just that people confuse and personify the symbolism n mythology in the ''scriptures''... There was no moses, abram, jesus christ or noah... Its all mythology like Zeus n herculese... and now we are entering or have already entered the age(aeon) of Aquarius(the house of a man holding the water pitcher) pisces was the age of Christ (the two fishes) the sign of self sacrifice. Taurus was when the isralites were worshiping the golden ox.



In conclusion I would like to add that the BIBLE/quoran/Book Of Mormon or any other book used for religious purposes are not actual history happenings. They are just made-up stories/myths and when a myth is taken as truth its dangerous to human, it erases human responsibility, and it segregates mankind. Nowadays There are many many many religious institutions... FOR WHAT??... I also wanna know, because even in the BIBLE where all ''CHRISTIANS'' read, it states in Luke 17:26, the kingdom of GOD is WITHIN you... No man should be looking for ''God'' in TEMPLES, CHURCHES (any hand made buildings) because he is in US!! even your saviour ''Jesus'' said he will destroy these hand made buildings and rebuild them in three days, for they have no use in worshiping this GOD of yours. Only if man knew that the Scriptures point to US to be our own saviours, there would be peace on earth. there is so much blood in the hands of all religion and yet it is meant for peace and trinquility. all the churches have lied to societies and have brainwashed the masses, and it is a sad sight to witness, while the churches gain lots n lots of tax-free monies, on the other side the mass is dying of hunger, claiming they're building the kingdom of GOD on earth, which is useless because the kingdom of God is not man made. It it within all of us. And that my friends it is the real truth. Peace!!

artothebeat said...

This is a very interesting article you have written here. From what I can tell, is that there is a sense of fear of fear of the unknown. It is like saying that a person who has dreams that come true is false, even if it is directed by God. All that I am saying is to now push things away because you do not know, but to only accept all of Gods creations in the universe. God did shine the star of David to show where Jesus was. Astrology could be a tool he uses to speak with us on our individuality.

Just sayin.......

mormonsareweird said...

It is interesting to say that Astrology is a haven for the lazy and it is followed by those with diseased minds when your Church does not follow basic Christianity and is perceived by many as the same. The pot can't call the kettle black. You have no authority to talk about what astrology is and isn't, probably because you have never practiced it. Therefore, how do you know it is evil? You don't. So I guess Kepler, Corpernicus, Galileo, Shakespeare, Newton, Ptolemy, St. Thomas Aquinas all had diseased minds, huh? For all of them believed in Astrology. Your arguments hold no water. Before you think about calling something evil (which much of your racist, sexist LDS history is ), you should examine and not promote ignorant comments.

Ankita Malhotra said...

Astrology is characterized as, "the divination of the alleged impacts of the stars and planets on human undertakings and earthly occasions by their positions and perspectives." There's a well-known axiom that things are "written in the stars," and for adherents of astrology,


Famous Astrologer in Mumbai