Horoscopes

[OwNeD_byGoD]

is reading horoscopes a sin?

i do know that there are a variety of horoscopes out there like

1. be nice today
2. burn a candle for goodluck
3. stay out of hallways

those are like three diff kinds, and i was talking to people and a youth group leader said that horoscopes can be sinful, and the church priest said that it was not, so do you guys believe yes or no, and why?

[Kilroy the Ninja]

I think that if one's faith is solid, reading horoscopes for grins and giggles can be a comedic point in one's day.

However, the moment one takes stock in a horoscope it ceases to be funny and becomes a sin.

The future is not ours to see.

The best way to deal with horoscopes is not to. They are realitively easy to avoid. Just don't read them.

[Ellenita]

From the Catechism:

[quote]2116  All forms of divination are to be rejected.......consulting [b]horoscopes[/b], astrology, palm reading, interpretations of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honour, respect and loving fear that we owe to God alone.[/quote] (My bold)

That seems fairly conclusive doesn't it?

Personally I think people start out reading them as fun and then before you know it, you have to read them, and then it's only one step on to saying 'hey there is something in this.....' and you're hooked.

[Oik]

It's a sin, so now you know. Why, read Ellenita's post. If you still don't understand, think of it like this, it is putting you in the situation of the near occasion of sin. Also, why read horoscopes?

[crusader1234]

My view is that reading horroscopes can be possibly good - as in entertainment - as in wow this is retarded who believes this carp. However, even if you are reading them for the sheer idiocy, theres always the chance you might 'knock on wood to win the lottery' based on a nice sounding horroscope.

Be very careful with divination, its tricky. It seems innocent, but truthfully, this power comes from the devil. Some forms of fortune telling and horroscopes do work, in the same way that ouija boards and psychics can work... so be careful.

Try to avoid these at all costs... its like opening yourself up to the devil saying Take Me!

[Justified Saint]

Astrology and horoscopes have historically had Godly purposes. I am currently reading "Kepler's Witch" which discusses the widespread use of astrological science up to the time of Newton. Kepler, a devout Lutheran himself, was often called upon to read signs and make horoscopes. The cosmos and stars were all works of God too and studying them could give further and deeper insight into the mind of God especially since it was reasoned that the stars where closer to the "heavenly realms". Kepler didn't see it as harvesting dark magic or anything but he understood the danger too in trying to predict certain events in time. The reasoning behind astrology may be faulty but it has often been driven by a desire to learn more about God. Certainly astrology today has very little resemblance to the astrology of Kepler's time.

[jmjtina]

And so Harry Potter comes and tea leaves are read, doom is foretold, magic spells are cast, ppl change into warewolfs and here is [i]entertainment [/i] for our children.

Is the origin of astrology to learn more about God or to be like God?

[Lil Red]

good point tina.

are we trying to be godly or trying to be equal to (with powers like God's)

[Sojourner]

I think this is another area in which we've seen a twisting and distorting of something that was once very good.

I mean, the magi who came to visit Jesus saw his star in the East -- in other words, God proclaimed the good news of the arrival of his Son in the stars, and people of the time knew it was true. King Herod even trusted in the wise men's interpretations of the stars, which tells me that this is an area in which people at one time could see truth.

Like anything that is good, astrology can be twisted to evil and sinister purposes. I'd say the popular astrology that we see today is something like pornography: both have their roots in something God created that was beautiful and good and true, but have fallen prey to the sinful natures of humans.

Of course, I have no backing on this ... all my own opinion.

[Livin_the_MASS]

[quote]is reading horoscopes a sin? [/quote]


YES

[qfnol31]

Augustine dealt with horoscopes and was an astrologer. He writes about it in Book IV of Confessions. I don't think it's a sin necessarily. I think it can be funny to hear one occassionally. The other day my boss told me hers and I thought about it, it fit her everyday, so obviously the horoscope was wrong (it was for that day only). I don't believe in any way that the stars predict who I am and what I'll be. I have free will. However, I do believe it to be a sin if a person will tend towards believing it. But if a person realizes what he is doing and does it in moderation, and doesn't believe what he reads, I have a hard time thinking that's a sin.

[cmotherofpirl]

As long as you dopn't take them seriously they are entertaining.

[Livin_the_MASS]

DANGEROUS AND SINFUL ENTERTAINMENT!!!!

[Kilroy the Ninja]

Sounds to me like too many people are confusing astrology with astronomy...

[Enda]

I remember on the day I broke my ankle my horoscope said "Today's your big day, go out there, and break a leg!" Anyway, on occasion I read them, but not often. It's my belief that they're perfectly ok, as long as you don't actually believe them, they're ok to read for entertainment. I mean, should we boycott the Ford Tarus on the basis it's a zodiac sign?