Archive for November, 2009
What does the Bible say about astrology or the Zodiac?
Is astrology something a Christian should study?
The Bible has much to say about the stars. Most basic to our understanding of the stars is that God created them. They show His power and majesty. The heavens are God’s “handiwork” (Psalm 8:3; 19:1). He has all the stars numbered and named (Psalm 147:4).
The Bible also teaches that God arranged the stars into recognizable groups that we call constellations. The Bible mentions three of these: Orion, the Bear (Ursa Major), and “the crooked serpent” (most likely Draco) in Job 9:9; 26:13; 38:31-32; and Amos 5:8. The same passages also reference the star group Pleiades (the Seven Stars). God is the One Who “fastens the bands” of these constellations; He is the One who brings them forth, “each in its season.” In Job 38:32, God also points to the “Mazzaroth,” usually translated “constellations.” This is thought by many to be a reference to the twelve constellations of the zodiac.
The constellations have been tracked and studied for millennia. The Egyptians and Greeks knew of the zodiac and used it to measure the beginning of spring centuries before Christ. Much has been written of the meaning of the zodiacal constellations, including theories that they comprise an ancient display of God’s redemptive plan. For example, the constellation Leo can be seen as a celestial depiction of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5), and Virgo could be a reminder of the virgin who bore Christ. However, the Bible does not indicate any “hidden meaning” for these or other constellations.
The Bible says that stars, along with the sun and moon, were given for “signs” and “seasons” (Genesis 1:14); that is, they were meant to mark time for us. They are also “signs” in the sense of navigational “indicators,” and all through history men have used the stars to chart their courses around the globe.
God used the stars as an illustration of His promise to give Abraham an innumerable seed (Genesis 15:5). Thus, every time Abraham looked up at the night sky, he had a reminder of God’s faithfulness and goodness. The final judgment of the earth will be accompanied by astronomical events relating to the stars (Isaiah 13:9-10; Joel 3:15; Matthew 26:29).
Astrology is the “interpretation” of an assumed influence the stars (and planets) exert on human destiny. This is a false belief. The royal astrologers of the Babylonian court were put to shame by God’s prophet Daniel (Daniel 1:20) and were powerless to interpret the king’s dream (Daniel 2:27). God specifies astrologers as among those who will be burned as stubble in God’s judgment (Isaiah 47:13-14). Astrology as a form of divination is expressly forbidden in Scripture (Deuteronomy 18:10-14). God forbade the children of Israel to worship or serve the “host of heaven” (Deuteronomy 4:19). Several times in their history, however, Israel fell into that very sin (2 Kings 17:16 is one example). Their worship of the stars brought God’s judgment each time.
The stars should awaken wonder at God’s power, wisdom, and infinitude. We should use the stars to keep track of time and place and to remind us of God’s faithful, covenant-keeping nature. All the while, we acknowledge the Creator of the heavens. Our wisdom comes from God, not the stars (James 1:5). The Word of God, the Bible, is our guide through life (Psalm 119:105).
powered by Yahoo Answers
November 28 2009 | Bible | 14 Comments »
I go to a christian school and im on the basketball team. Im looking for a good christian rap song to use when we come out at home games. Any suggestions?
T-Bone, Zane, Montell Jordan – To Da River
Listen to it and see if that’s ok
it’s from the Fighting Temptations movie
it’s pretty fast to warm up to,
and I like it lol
hope I helped some(:
powered by Yahoo Answers
November 28 2009 | Christian | 6 Comments »
Hi there, hope someone can help.
Everytime i click on my internet explorer icon on my desktop, instead of opening it it just creates a shortcut!! Also if i right click on it there is no option to open. I can get it open if i go to start and click on it from there but not from icon.
I have removed the problem hotfix that i found from google, but still problem exists. Hope someone can help!
Download this Microsoft Int Exp fix. See if you click fix it helps you
powered by Yahoo Answers
November 28 2009 | Icon | 1 Comment »
What is the view when a Jew commits suicide? (from a Orthodox perspective)
For instance, my family is Jewish and my grandparents who are in their 80s now told me about some of their relatives who were in the Warsaw Ghetto during WWII, and these relatives obtained poison capsules and killed themselves with it along with their children when the ghetto was being liquidated because they would have rather done it themselves than be killed by the hands of the Nazis. How would this be viewed?
Where would a prohibition against suicide come from? The most obvious place is the sixth commandment: Lo Tirsach (Do not murder)
(The common statement translating it as "Do not kill" is incorrect- that would be would be "Lo Tirhag")
So the question would be, is suicide murder? The answer is yes- since it is pre-meditated killing of a human. However, it is not as simple as that.
In the Tanach Saul kills himself when he sees that he will be captured by the Phillistines. The perushim (Rabbinical commentaries) state there are two aspects to Saul’s suicide that made it legitimate.
1) on a personal note- he was in despair, he saw no future and thus lost reason due to his despair
2) on a national level he feared being taken alive, and then being used as an object of ridicule to attack Bnei Yisrael or even to try and force concessions from them which could have led to idoltary.
So when it comes to suicide, it appears that there are two criteria to go by to make it legitimate- 1) if you are so depressed as to lose reason and 2) if your staying alive could lead to Jews being ridiculed and forced into idol worship.
The Mechaber (literally the author- Rav Yosef Karo) comments on this in the Shulchan Aruch (a codification of the Jewish law used to help arrive at decisions since it takes into account the Talmud and past Talmudic Rabbinical precedents) that we should always try to declare a suicide to be ill or to be in despair like Saul. In the modern era, the vast majority of Jewish communities follow the ruling first stated by HaRav Moshe Feinstein that suicide is generally a result of a depression, either medically or temporary, that push people into the level of despair felt by Saul; thus we declare most suicides to be as a result of depression or temporary insanity and do not act treat the person any differently to any other deceased.
In the case of the martyrs of the holocaust, there is no question they could have been said to have been at the same level of despair as King Saul. No one can besmirch the memory of those that could not face the degradation, abuse and daily living with the fear that on this day they might well be tortured or killed. The people who died in the holocaust, whether by their own hands or at the hands of the Nazis are all righteous martyrs whose memories will be blessed in the world to come.
powered by Yahoo Answers
November 25 2009 | Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
The hypocrisy of the evangelical community as they accuse catholics of this or that kind of annoys me, as well as their extreme adherence to emotions (though of course not all of them). Catholicism is at least based on centuries of theology and intellect. I’m not saying Catholicism or any sect of Christianity is the true way, but I feel like I would be better off as a Catholic.
I was an evangelical (Moravian) for 50 years and a minister for 25 years before becoming Catholic. The transition from evangelicalism to Catholicism is a natural transition for one seeking the fullness of truth and desiring to be obedient to God’s will. When one matures in faith one is drawn to Catholic Christianity. The mature Christian cannot be satisfied by any other church but the Church founded by Jesus and the disciples which has endured from its founding for 2000 years. By coming to Catholic Christianity you are coming into God’s will and being obedient to His last prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane that we all be one in His Church as He and the Father are one. Welcome home, you will never be closer to our Lord and His teaching. God bless!
In Christ
Fr. Joseph
powered by Yahoo Answers
November 25 2009 | Catholic | 10 Comments »
My friend is applying for teaching jobs in Universities which require a christian mission statement. She is not a Christian. Do you think she stands any chance of even getting through? If so what should she write in such a statement.
Ask her to write something from the heart. I’ve met two non-christian people working within christian missionaries in my life’s journey, and what you believe is only a small part of being a christian. A larger part is how you live your life. You can be christian in nature, without holding their beliefs. Likewise, you can claim to be a christian, pray each day, go to church and still be selfish and unloving. As long as she has an understanding of the christian nature, writing a statement should be easy. Hope this helps…
powered by Yahoo Answers
November 25 2009 | Christian | 3 Comments »
I am a junior and this is my first year doing cross country. I absolutely loved it but I regret not doing it sooner. My first race time (3 miles) was 24:50 but by the last race I ran 22:10. I have really high expectations for next year and I wanted to know how I can be even better. Also any other tips cross country related would be great.
Thanks.
miles in the summer. theres no other way.
if you expect yourself to run a sub 20, 19, 18, 17, 16 minute 5k (3.1 miles) you have to run im the summer, consistently.
i did about 300 miles this summer and went from a 17:30 to a 16:19 5K.
anything is possible you just have to push yourself
powered by Yahoo Answers
November 25 2009 | Cross | 6 Comments »
The Church which Protestants -of whom are many Sola Scripturists- claim is invisible. How can the Church be invisible if we are also to go to it to settle our disputes?
They ask for scriptural proof while completely overlooking the fact that the bible gave the authority over to the Church, not itself.
2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Revelation 22:18-19
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
powered by Yahoo Answers
November 23 2009 | Bible | 15 Comments »
I have a final to complete and I need some good comparisons between hindu and the eastern orthodox religion.
For a start; Eastern Orthodox is a Christian religion.
Why don’t you Google & check Wikipedia or Yahoo!?
2/3 the world population make up the 4 major religions:
1 billion Catholics, 1 billion Protestants, 1 billion muslims, &
1 billion Hindus; which is the oldest living religion.
Eastern Orthodox are a tiny fragment, like Judaism.
powered by Yahoo Answers
November 23 2009 | Uncategorized | 5 Comments »
I’m not a Christian but I enjoy going in and out around Catholic churches to do some sketch work. I would like to own one and live in one as if it was a regular house.
You don’t need to be a Christan to enjoy the architecture, the beautiful art or the beautiful windows! Even if you aren’t Christian, it would be right to be respectful, but it does not need to be a sacriledge to live in a "retired" church. The original intent of the archetecture was to inspire and to enlighten and artistic souls can’t help but to feel those feelings! I love visiting old churches too. I get a real sense of peace and inspiration when I visit.
If you would eventually like to live in one, that is awesome! In the books by Trevanian (Eiger sanction, Loo santion, etc), the main character lived in a church. In a cruciform shaped church (shaped like a cross) I think it would be great to have a bedroom in the choir loft overlooking the "nave" (main part of the building) which I would make into an living room/art gallery. The "transept" (arms) I would make into an office and and guest room. The bathrooms are outside in the lobby and the litchen in the room that is behind the altar.
Good Luck!
powered by Yahoo Answers
November 23 2009 | Catholic | 6 Comments »
Next »