Is Astrology forbidden in Christianity? Is Astrology compatible with Christianity? Can Christians read their horoscope? In this post, we’ll see what Astrology is from a biblical perspective. We’ll expand on seven reasons why astrology is forbidden for Christians, the evil behind it and why it’s incompatible with Christianity.
…I had to write this post! I used to be an astrology addict before coming to Christ. As a Christian I unfortunately ended up coming back to it -partially and secretly… Not wanting to ask in my church out of shame, this is is the kind of post I wish I had read back then! Through prayer, research and the Bible, God gave me the grace to understand all I’m sharing here. So, I hope it helps someone out there!
Note: Astrology in this post will refer to anything related to the zodiac, horoscope, astral themes, planets alignment, foretelling the future, consulting astrologers, palm astrology (palmistry), etc.
What is Astrology?
Astro-logy: the treating of (logia) the stars (astron) – is the belief that the positioning of the stars and planets influences the way events occur on Earth. More precisely, it is the “calculation and foretelling based on observation of heavenly bodies”.
Astrology for the skeptics is nothing or even a scam. For the amateur, it is attractive and makes sense at times – they are pulled to it, potentially addicted. For the initiated, it is a special knowledge with powers behind it and is to be taken seriously.
The difference between Astrology and Astronomy
Before we dive into the topic, let’s remember that there is absolutely nothing wrong with having an interest or studying what God has made. He has made all things beautiful, including the sun, moon and stars; they are His handiwork (psalm 8:3, 19:1). He made them for signs and seasons (Genesis 1:14), He arranged them into constellations (Job 9:9, 26:13, 38:31-32, Amos 5:8), and used it to speak to Abraham (Genesis 15:5). Looking at the stars at night or even through a telescope should simply inspire us to be amazed at God’s infinitude, His power, His beauty!
Now, learning about the stars isn’t the same as studying and relying on the influence of the stars, a practice forbidden in the Bible, as we will see in this post.
Christians hooked to astrology
From tradition, it should be common knowledge that astrology and Christianity don’t go together, but we’d be surprised to know it’s not that simple for many believers.
In my case, I automatically dropped astrology when I came to Christ, only to find myself pulled to it again later. To me, the zodiac was intriguing, it looked real so why is it wrong after all? If the New Testament doesn’t specifically mention to keep off… I should be fine, right?
The truth is, being hooked to it as a Christian (sort of secretly, telling no one, with some guilt, sensing I shouldn’t) was because of my ignorance of God’s Word. I just didn’t understand what astrology really was. I didn’t even understand properly what sin and rebellion really meant. Somewhere within me, I didn’t want to let go of this special, “secret knowledge”. But I had to grow in understanding… And God opened my eyes and liberated me from this deceit.
Now, if God has forbidden astrology (or any kind of other divination), He knows fully well it isn’t inoffensive to mankind. Even more so to His children. The Lord knows it will be a distraction from His glory, blinding us from trusting Him and worshipping Him as He designed it.
Let us therefore break down from God’s Word 7 reasons why Astrology is sinful and evil for Christians. Those seven points go completely hand-in-hand and are not in order of importance.
#1. Astrology is divination, an abomination to God
Astrology is part of the knowledge branch of the occult. It is a form of divination and it is forbidden by God (Deut 18:9-14):
“When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens (=prognostication), or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium (=clairvoyant, augur, fortuneteller, diviner, horoscopist), or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the Lord your God has not appointed such for you.”
We could stop here by obeying God and just accepting this prohibition! But human nature isn’t that easily submitting so let’s break it down a little.
What is divination?
Let’s look at the following definitions and synonyms from dictionary.com and thesaurus.com:
Divination means 1) the practice of attempting to foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge by occult or supernatural means. 2) augury; prophecy 3) perception by intuition; instinctive foresight.
Synonyms for Divination are augury, horoscopy, occultism, palmistry, prediction, premonition, prognostication, prophecy, soothsaying, and clairvoyance.
Two competing knowledges
Notice this has to do with discovering and handling hidden, “special”, or supernatural knowledge – the very trick of the serpent in the garden of Eden! He attempted – and succeeded – to corrupt mankind with access to forbidden knowledge and cause them to depart from the pure, untainted, and holy knowledge of God. But to the Lord, this is an abomination.
The knowledge of astrology, or any kind of divination, is corrupt. It is an occult, fallen knowledge of darkness. God wants us to desire the pure milk (1 Peter 2:2) of the Word of God. The knowledge of Christ is the sole knowledge God wants us to have: the knowledge of the truth that sets us free (John 8:32). We must grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
Powers of darkness are associated with divination, and those are not ours to use. They are not pure, but occult, corrupt dark powers of rebellion. Choosing to dabble with it is simply to throw oneself in darkness and dwelling in sin – going against the one holy God.
What is an abomination?
Abomination means anything greatly disliked or abhorred, an intense aversion or loathing; or detestation. It is a vile, shameful, or detestable action, condition, or habit – which is especially deplorable, repugnant, sinful, corrupt, or depraved.
Synonyms for Abomination are abhorrence, aversion, curse, detestation, disgust, evil, horror, plague, repulsion, revulsion, shame, torment, crime, offence, wrong.
This passage of scripture (Deut 18:9-14) shows us that not only those practices are an abomination, but also that “all who do these things” are an abomination.
As children of God, we cannot be the rebellious ones, practicing an art that’s an abomination in the eyes of our Father. We are not called to control life, people, or events -which is witchcraft, but to submit to the Lord. He’s in charge, He’s Sovereign. But Astrology goes against the Sovereignty of God.
#2. Astrology is spiritual adultery against God
I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute himself by following them, and I will cut him off from his people. (Leviticus 20:6)
From this verse, consulting mediums, astrologers, or horoscopes is like prostitution and committing adultery against God. We should remember that Jesus Christ is the bridegroom of His bride, the church. He is coming for a Bride without any spots or wrinkles: we must keep ourselves pure.
When we go after other soothsayers, it is like saying that our husband is unsatisfactory and we must seek lovers elsewhere. When a child of God consults his horoscope or contemplates his zodiac sign, it is effectively like he’s “cheating” on Jesus. He wants something else than what Jesus has to offer. John Piper from Desiringgod.org in this article ‘Jesus vs. the Occult’ says “When a Christian peeks at his horoscope, he is treating Jesus the same way a husband treats a wife when he peeks at Playboy to provide the titillation he no longer gets from her.”
#3. Astrology is idolatry
What is idolatry?
Idolatry is defined as “the worship of idols or excessive devotion to, or reverence for some person or thing”. An idol is anything that replaces the one, true God in our life. Idolatry robs God of the glory that belongs to Him alone and is something He will not tolerate (Isaiah 42:8).
See this article What is the definition of idolatry? on Gotquestions.org.
Man is made to worship God and Him only. We are to look to Him, and seek Him for truth, guidance, provision, protection, peace, etc. By practicing astrology, human beings are looking to the stars (creation), not God (the Creator), for those things. Stars and zodiac signs are then been revered, deified, idolised, above God.
Looking to pagan gods
Watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air, or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. (Deuteronomy 4:15-18)
Western astrology with its 12 zodiac signs has its origin in Greek mythology (which itself has its roots in Ancient Babylon). Each zodiac sign is attached to a planet and is associated with a god. Ancient civilizations believed the gods were influencing life on Earth from outer space, which is their realm and abode.
Therefore, by associating yourself with a certain zodiac sign portrayed as a creature, an animal, a figure, you are in effect, identifying youself with the representation of a pagan god with its strengths and influences.
Emphatically, beholding a zodiac sign influencing your personality and the stars influencing your life is a pagan practice. It is even a rejection of God’s works when creating you, and a bondage of your personality. There’s now only little room left for being yourself in how He has fashioned you, and the days he has planned for you. Psalm 139 says :
13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
You might not physically bow down to a zodiac sign or a planet. You may not have a carved idol, nor do you have a shrine… But here you are, “serving their purposes” by following their direction and abiding by their influences. Now, the truth is, you are not technically serving the stars. Stars cannot do anything. But you are serving the one behind this very art of divination, the old serpent, the devil. He’s a crafty being and the master of deceit, with many schemes to captivate lost souls. See 5) Astrology is a Satanic deception.
Your Narcissistic self (ego) at the center
On the other hand, idolatry is also about self, when everything has to turn around for us. And astrology serves this well: it is about “my life, my profile, my personality, my destiny” and what the stars have got for me. What my star sign says about me, this is who I am. What my birth chart says about me, is how my life is.
A 2021 study conducted by psychologists from Lund University in Sweden concluded that narcissism was the strongest predictor for belief in astrology. The higher the narcissism, the higher the belief in astrology.
Now, even though the study is said to have its limitations, it is clear that there is indeed a very strong self-focused perspective at the core of astrology. Is it a quest for answers, a desire for reassurance, a need for protection? Or just self-love?
Let us not be swallowed up with ourselves, which it the sin nature, but look to the Lord. We have all fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23) and need a Redeemer. There is nothing within us or about us that’s so grand that we need stars to reveal it to us.
#4. Astrology is worldly, not godly
As seen in the first three points, it’s obious astrology isn’t from God, neither His will. But let’s develop : astrology and all forms of divination are not part of God’s Kingdom and belong to the world’s system.
These occult practices are intertwined with the ancient, mystical eastern religions of the world and have nothing to do with Christ. Originally from Babylon, Astrology has evolved in the East and the West into various Egyptian astrology, Chinese astrology, Greek astrology… It is the Mesopotamian system, which emerged in ancient Babylon (modern-day Iraq) around 5,000 years ago, which forms the basis of the astrology that is used in the West today.
We know that ancient Babylon was the centre of idolatry, where the Lord called Abraham from. In the Bible, Babylon represents the anti-christ system of the world under the influence of Satan, in opposition to the Kingdom of God.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life -is not from the Father but is from the world.” 1 John 2:15-16.
The love of the world isn’t limited to material things but also concepts, beliefs, ways of life, and spiritual activities. Astrology is one of those things that belongs to the world. Consulting stars for our benefit is a desire and work of the flesh.
Christ liberated us from the elements of this world, from the kingdom of darkness, and from all ungodly belief systems. We are born again into another kingdom. Our lives shouldn’t conform to the patterns, behavior, and customs of this world. Our lives should show a separation from the practices of the world. We are called to change and renew our thinking according to the will of God.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2.
Astrology, divination, and all esoteric and occult traditions are not our kingdom heritage but are destined to the pit.
#5. Astrology is a satanic deception
Given that Babylon, from which astrology stems, is a system of the world under the influence of Satan, we can inevitably conclude that Astrology is satanic!
“Satanic” simply means “considered to be caused by or influenced by Satan, or extremely wicked and evil” (as per Collins dictionary). In other words, it is something opposed to God, his holiness, his kingdom, Christ.
Astrology is one of the devil’s props of deception. And if astrology doesn’t seem harmful to anyone in appearance, it is to our utmost detriment and corruption (as would any other form of divination). Practising astrology is like playing with the devil’s toys, and is emphatically praticising a form of satanism. Dabbling in satanism doesn’t necessarily mean going to a satanic church or worship Lucifer openly.
But “astrology works”…
You may think (as I used to): “but, it works”. “the description of my star sign is so true”, “the horoscopes were right”, “I truly get on better with people of this or that star sign”, “my astral theme is so spot on”, “the astrologer told me something that happened”…
And I believe you: it may have worked… or it seemed to. Some predictions might have been correct! But let’s not fool ourselves – that’s how deception works and you have been seduced. Deception works in disguise as truth, and there must be just a nugget of truth to lure you in (the bait), with the aim to bamboozle you in lies when it isn’t noticeable.
None of those predictions will ever lead you to the real Truth (Jesus Christ) and real peace that only God can give you. Divination is a an extremely crafty thing.
The Apostle James tells us that God’s word can be compared to the divine mirror in which to obverse ourselves to be able to continue in the law of liberty (James 1:22-25).
In the same manner, Astrology is just like a magnetising, corrupt mirror in which our image and all knowledge is distorted. Yet, we get so fascinated by what we see that we can’t take our eyes away. And whatever we see in there is a mix of lies and distorted truth. All is an illusion.
Empowered by demonic powers
In The Second Coming of the New Age, Steven Bancarz and Josh Peck say this about divination -which includes astrology and any other divinatory practices:
“…the Bible says these practises are real and function through the agency of demons. This does not mean that every New Ager who attempts to dabble in sorcery or divination actually makes contact with demonic power. It does, however, mean that when practiced to its full extent, it is accomplished through cooperation with demons. God’s Word affirms that these practices produce real effect in reality with the assistance of satanic power.”
Lies from the father of lies
So, astrology can “work”… But not the way God intends it. In reality, it is built on lies :
“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44.
Astrology is no bearer of truth. The wisdom of God is not in it.
It seeks to make us live by another, dark, knowledge than the knowledge of Christ. It presents us with false truths, distorted realities, and false hopes leading to nowhere. There is no salvation, no washing of sins, no protection, and no possible sanctification in Astrology.
All that we need to ever know about our life, events, and whatever else, all the knowledge we should gain, thirst for, and live by comes through God and his Word. Our times, our destiny is in God’s hands, not in the stars (Psalm 31:15).
#6. Astrology keeps you in bondage
If you choose to dabble in the forbidden territory of the occult, it is not without its consequences.
I may talk more of personal experience here, having been there: astrology creates a mental and spiritual bondage. It keeps wanting you to be hooked to it but cannot offer you anything. It’s simply addictive and never truly fulfilling. It is a yoke.
You will see life through a very subjective filter. There’s a great chance to dissociate from reality because every action and every decision will need to be a calculated event. This can unknowingly only increase anxiety (even depression), and make you dependent on more esoterism, more divination, and more occult practices in order to be in control. You may also live with fear, a sense of fatality or on the contrary, an inflated image of yourself and a false assurance of who you are.
Needless to say this will affect every area of your life: health, relationships, family, work, finances, etc. You are at the mercy of the stars!
But this is not the portion of a redeemed child of God who is free in Christ. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. We trust God for our lives, not stars that keep us in bondage. The yoke of Jesus is easy and his burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).
#7. Astrology is heresy
What heresy means will be defined differently depending on who believes what. Technically, any group or individual who differs from another group can be called heretical. Now, in terms of Christianity, heresy can be defined as:
- a false choice that endangers the salvation of the soul
- any belief or practice that denies the teaching of Jesus Christ and His work on the cross
Astrology doesn’t appear to have penetrated Christian teachings (not yet, at least!), so it isn’t that kind of subtle theological heresy. But it is a false choice that endangers the salvation of the soul (it doesn’t save), and it is a practice that denies the teaching of Jesus Christ (by completely overlooking it). Indeed, it wants to compete with the truth of God’s Word: looking to a horoscope and studying the stars for direction, answers, fulfilment, fortune, etc, WILL NEVER point to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Great Shepherd of our soul. The horoscope will never point to sin, nor lead to repentance -in fact, it CANNOT, since it is a sinful satanic activity in itself.
To sum up, astrology is a heresy that leads people astray. It is a false teaching contrary to God’s truth (the gospel of salvation) and God’s Sovereignty (in the affairs on Earth and human lives).
The Bible has much to say about heresy and false teachings (1 Cor 11:19, Titus 3:10, 2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 4:1-6; 1 Timothy 1:3-6, 2 Timothy 1:13-14, and Jude 1). The call on believers in the New Testament is to be discerning and sound in doctrine.
Historically speaking, astrology was explicitly condemned as heresy by the early church at the Council of Laodicea in A.D. 364. As astrology has come back and forth as heresy or an accepted belief through the ages in the Western world, the standpoint of true Orthodox Christianity remains the same: astrology goes against the teaching of Christ.
Check my other article for more on the history of Astrology ,its origins, its acceptance or rejection as heresy through the ages, Astrology: from Babylon to today’s New Age
So, Is Astrology forbidden in Christianity?
We must remember that we are on the narrow path (Matthew 7:13-14). Whatever isn’t from God, and forbidden in his Word should not be our hobby, our profession, our practice, or our interest. Astrology is one of the many things on the road to perdition.
So, to answer the question “Is Astrology forbidden in Christianity”, the answers is a big yes! Astrology and all kind of divination are not God’s will for our lives. Ultimately, it is for our good that He has commanded us not to practice it. His command is a protection from evil. Why? Because He loves us! He wants to keep us pure.
Now, if you do have dabbled in it, the Lord is merciful. There’s enough grace for you to repent and ask the Lord for forgiveness. God forgives a repentant sinner!
As Christians, we are not perfect, we do many things out of ignorance. We can struggle against our own flesh and addictions. But as we seek God, study and understand His Word, he sanctifies us by His Word, he cleanses us and liberates us. We are then able to drop what’s not from Him, such as astrology.
