This is an interesting question.  You are quite right in noting that it would be sinful (a type of idolatry or apostasy) to place our trust in the stars.  But what about "harmless" agreement with what a horoscope or zodiac signs say?  Well, I guess that depends if the agreement is totally harmless.  Here are some ways that, I think, astrology could be harmful to faith.

      First, if one uses the language of astrology to describe oneself--"I am really a Pisces"--then one might cause scandal or mislead others that astrology is an acceptable part of Christian belief.  Others, hearing the use of star charts, might go off and be misled by them.  So, how your "witness" about yourself is received is something to consider.

     Second, what is the real reliability of astrology?  As you said, you can see parts of your personality in all 12 zodiac signs.  So what if your sign comes up with a quality you have; it might very well list qualities you don't have.  The deep danger here is that people so much want to believe that they will latch onto anything that is true BUT disregard all the things that are wrong in these descriptions.  Or, worse yet, someone who is not so self-confident may desire to fit into a star sign that they deceive themselves into seeing in their person something that is truly not there BUT which the star sign says is.  Such possible self-deceit is never really good.

     Third, St. Augustine goes to great lengths to debunk the mistaken myth that we are determined by the time of our birth.  He notes that twins (even identical ones), born so close together in time can be miles apart in personality.  Also, the scripture scholars note that the detail in Genesis 1 that "God placed the stars in the sky" was a rebuttal to those who believed that the stars controlled our lives and were gods in themselves.

     Lastly, following up on that scripture citation, why not use the scriptures to describe yourself?  I mean, what does it gain you in delving into the mystery of the gift that you are to God and the world to use something like astrology, which seems hit or miss and, at its worst, cannot do justice to the uniqueness of each person by lumping them all together by monthly star signs.  Are not the scriptures which, unlike star charts or biorhythms, we hold to be divinely inspired a better description of human beings?

     On that note, think of the witness of faith it would be to say, "Yeah, I really am a 'temple of the Holy Spirit,' or 'a treasure in a field,' or 'dead to sin,' or living by the 'fruits of the Spirit.'"  And the list could go on and on.

     I guess I would sum up by saying, "Don't take the easy way out and let someone who does not even know you tell you who you are.  Dig into the rich field of your soul and find the treasure of the kingdom hidden there within."

I do hope this helps.

Grace and Peace,

Fr. Chris

View all questions