Is Reading Horoscopes A Mortal Sin?

[Dave]

[quote name='ironmonk' date='Aug 4 2004, 08:33 AM'] Is reading it for "fun", rejecting it?

If we are not against it, we are not rejecting it.

How can something evil be "for fun"?

What good comes of it?

Rejecting it would be not to read it, and when others want to read you your horoscope, we tell them we don't want to hear it because it goes against the teachings of the Church.

As long as people keep reading them for fun, they'll continue to keep printing them in the papers. Kind of funny how the same people who are against the Church often embrace superstitions as such. Superstitions are for the weak minded.

God Bless,
ironmonk [/quote]
Reading what your horoscope says every now and then just for a good laugh (as Cmom said) and to be like "Yeah, right!" isn't the same as reading it and then seeing if whatever was said will happen (very dangerous) or actually expecting it to happen (even more dangerous).

[cmotherofpirl]

"As long as people keep reading them for fun, they'll continue to keep printing them in the papers. Kind of funny how the same people who are against the Church often embrace superstitions as such. Superstitions are for the weak minded."


Explain to me, Ironmonk, how the newspaper knows I'm reading the horoscopes and laughing at them?

[Guest JeffCR07]

If someone who thinks it [i]is[/i] wrong could reply to my previous post, that would be great

[MichaelFilo]

[quote name='JeffCR07' date='Aug 4 2004, 08:26 AM']
Yes it is, provided one use prudence and good judgement. I read all of the Gnostic Gospels (Thomas, Philip, Mary Madgalene, [i]Pistia Sophia[/i], etc) in their entirety in preparation for a couple talks that I gave on the fallicies and falsities of the book [i]The Da'Vinci Code[/i]. These books (or, in some cases, what is left of them) are not only apochryphal, but blatantly heretical. However, in light of the context, I do not believe that it was a mortal sin to read them.

I would like to point out, however, that it is always best to fortify yourself in prayer before reading or watching something that you know to be anti-catholic, and, in cases where it is not necessary/important to read/see such things, do not.

- Your Brother In Christ, Jeff [/quote]
Jeff, you are justifying something intrinsically evil by using an example of something that is not. A heretical gospel, when read for the purpose of defending the faith cannot be considered evil. A horoscope, when read, for defending the faith, cannot be considered evil, however, the second never happens. The point being made is that, weather you read it for "fun" or not, you are still taking in things that are against our faith, and with no intention of refuting them, or making any good come out of them (as nothing good can come from a horoscope).

In regards to everyone else, if you read your horoscope, you may find yourself remembering it throughout the day. Just as pornography, even with no intention of sexual lust (however there are no other reasons to own or look at pornography purposly) will remain in your head. With that said, the fortune telling may come up in your mind as you try to prove it's reality by fitting the things that happen during the day into the horoscope (ie. It says don't go out, and you trip over a hose, you prove the horoscope by the hose). This may happen conciously or not, but the devil never had to work on a human mind on the concious level.

God bless,

Mikey.

[Guest JeffCR07]

[quote]Jeff, you are justifying something intrinsically evil by using an example of something that is not. A heretical gospel, when read for the purpose of defending the faith cannot be considered evil. A horoscope, when read, for defending the faith, cannot be considered evil, however, the second never happens. The point being made is that, weather you read it for "fun" or not, you are still taking in things that are against our faith, and with no intention of refuting them, or making any good come out of them (as nothing good can come from a horoscope). [/quote]

First and foremost, you are misrepresenting what I said. I merely said that it is not always a sin to read a horoscope, [i]not[/i] that it is ok to do so for fun, as can be clearly seen in the last paragraph of my post, which you have quoted.

On the aside, however, you are misconstruing the definition of "intrinsic" evil. Both horoscopes and heretical materials are intrinsically evil, that is, they by their very nature draw people away from the Truths of the Catholic Church. However, our culpability and sin is dependent upon our reaction to those things which are disordered in their nature.

I was not at all saying that one may read such things "with no intention of refuting them." I [i]am[/i] saying that one may read them without incurring mortal or venial sin. I could even go so far as to say that one could read them for fun or pleasure without incurring mortal or venial sin, [i]provided that fun and pleasure is derived exclusively from the mental refutation and defeat of such a thing in the light of Christ's Truth[/i].

I would like to point out again, as I did in my last post, that it is very important to use prudence and wise judgement before doing any such thing, and that it is always important to be bolstered by sincere prayer and meditation.

I hope that clears everything up.

- Your Brother In Christ, Jeff

[qfnol31]

[quote name='thicke' date='Aug 4 2004, 05:50 AM'] Is looking at pornography a sin? [/quote]
Pornography objectifies the woman.

[nikkan_hanil]

If you take it seriously it is. Example: There was a fortune telling game for the NES once. WOuld you believe a computer system when it tells you the exact hour of your death? I didn't think so.

[XIX]

I don't think it is ever a good idea to look at horoscopes. I have looked at them before though, and if they are real, then Satan is not very accurate. There may be a rough correlation, but that's it. I wouldn't say it is defintively sinful...many people look at those things and really don't have any sinful intent.

There are also the kinds that some random author just thinks of off the top of his/her head. Those are purely for humor, because they aren't even slightly based on astrology. But other than that, I wouldn't even want to look at them anymore. For one thing, Satan often works subconsciously. Don't want to get into that, because there's the whole near occasion of sin that you want to avoid. I dunno, I would just try to avoid it at all costs. Heck, sometimes it's completely unavoidable.

If you do read them though, I would recommend doing the opposite of what the horoscope tells you to do. That way, you know you aren't depending on them. Better yet, you can just ask God what to do!

[Madonna]

[quote] Well, then, is it OK to read anti-Catholic material (for pleasure or otherwise) as long as you don't believe it?[/quote]

Yes, for the same reasons Jeff said. I read Jack Chick and Planned Parenthood material to know what we're up against.

[quote]Reading them isn't a sin... however they could be authentic (the Devil does exist contrary to popular belief) and even reading that is dangerous.

Reading them is dangerous, since its sort of opening yourself up for the Devil, so although reading them isn't sinful in itself, its something to avoid.[/quote]

I would like to reiterate this point for those who said they were looking at them just for fun. I always get kind of sketched out when people say they don't believe and are just messing around. I remember dabbling in stupid things (especially at sleepovers) like horoscopes and other horrific stuff that belongs to the occult. The results were not good, even though it was "just for fun."

[quote]In regards to everyone else, if you read your horoscope, you may find yourself remembering it throughout the day. Just as pornography, even with no intention of sexual lust (however there are no other reasons to own or look at pornography purposly) will remain in your head.[/quote]

I'm not sure. In the case of sexually explicit things, yes. But in the case of a movie like Schindler's List? Of course I will remember that nudity forever. But I could never view it as provocative.

[quote] Pornography objectifies the woman.[/quote]

I just want to point out that even though it isn't as common, women look at porn too. Porn objectifies men as well. Porn objectifies people.

[amarkich]

didn't log out

Edited August 4, 2004 by amarkich

[CatholicCrusader]

[quote name='JeffCR07' date='Aug 4 2004, 08:26 AM']
Yes it is, provided one use prudence and good judgement. I read all of the Gnostic Gospels (Thomas, Philip, Mary Madgalene, [i]Pistia Sophia[/i], etc) in their entirety in preparation for a couple talks that I gave on the fallicies and falsities of the book [i]The Da'Vinci Code[/i]. These books (or, in some cases, what is left of them) are not only apochryphal, but blatantly heretical. However, in light of the context, I do not believe that it was a mortal sin to read them.

I would like to point out, however, that it is always best to fortify yourself in prayer before reading or watching something that you know to be anti-catholic, and, in cases where it is not necessary/important to read/see such things, do not.

- Your Brother In Christ, Jeff [/quote]
It is different to read in order to disprove and to read a horoscope. If you read a horoscope and then did what it said not to, then gave a talk on abotu how it didn't come true, that is one thing (a thing that is far from necessary, opposed to the necessity of disproving the Gnostic gospels in this day and age). There is no excuse to read what is mortally sinful for mere pleasure. It is as simple as that. I am amazed to see how many people quote the CCC to reject capital punishment, no salvation outside the Church, etc., yet when the CCC contradicts their personal opinions, they ignore it as if it has no weight (not you, Jeff, but in general).

[thicke]

[quote name='qfnol31' date='Aug 4 2004, 11:57 AM'] Pornography objectifies the woman. [/quote]
Is that the only reason it's sinful to look at pornography though?

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='CatholicCrusader' date='Aug 4 2004, 04:51 PM'] It is different to read in order to disprove and to read a horoscope. If you read a horoscope and then did what it said not to, then gave a talk on abotu how it didn't come true, that is one thing (a thing that is far from necessary, opposed to the necessity of disproving the Gnostic gospels in this day and age). There is no excuse to read what is mortally sinful for mere pleasure. It is as simple as that. I am amazed to see how many people quote the CCC to reject capital punishment, no salvation outside the Church, etc., yet when the CCC contradicts their personal opinions, they ignore it as if it has no weight (not you, Jeff, but in general). [/quote]
2116
All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to "unveil" the future. [u]Consulting [/u]horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation 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 honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone


I am not consulting them or taking them seriously, I am laughing at them.

[CatholicCrusader]

[quote]Is reading it for "fun", rejecting it?

If we are not against it, we are not rejecting it.

How can something evil be "for fun"?[/quote]

I agree with ironmonk... according to the CCC ALL forms ARE TO BE REJECTED. Reading horoscopes, whether or not you believe in them is to not reject them. Furthermore, even if you don't think it's a sin to read "just for fun" (which it is--just as it is a sin to do anything evil "just for laughs/fun"), you must admit it is at least a venial sin of wasting time. However, as I said, it is a mortal sin, as to read it is to not reject it.

[CatholicCrusader]

By the way, consult can be defined: "To take into account; consider"; that is what you are doing, considering what they say by reading them (just another reason why the Church should publish everything in Latin, the word meanings don't change--N.B. the CCC was published in French and translated into Latin...)

Consider: "To form an opinion about; judge" (whether it be positive or negative)...

Edited August 4, 2004 by CatholicCrusader