What Is Christian Astrology? Part 2

It's 6:25 PM Eastern on Tuesday evening as I begin to write. I've just finished reviewing last week's entry, What Is Christian Astrology? Part 1. I concluded that entry with a tentative definition: "Christian Astrology, if it is not always a heretical pseudo-scientific oxymoron, refers to the study and practice of astrology in a Christian way for a Christian purpose." What I would like to do in tonight's session is investigate, on a fairly introductory level, the apparent presence of astrologers and astrological symbolism in the New Testament. No, this is biting off more than I can chew. I can perhaps slowly start to look into the seemingly direct reference to astrologers in the Gospel of Matthew from a Dominican perspective (cf. What Exactly was the Star of Bethlehem? #AskAFriar | Aquinas 101), but I won't have time this evening to begin testing the possibility of astrological symbolism in the Gospel of Mark (cf. The Gospel and the Zodiac: Allegorical Astronomy and Astrology in the Gospel of Mark). In fact, the more I think about the situation at hand, the more I realize I need to wait even on the Star of Bethlehem. Instead, I will focus the remainder of this evening's session (it is now 8:03 PM) on the issue of the morning star in Revelation 22.

We are passing through a Jupiter-Venus conjunction that has been dramatically visible before sunrise in the east for three mornings here at my location. Does this have any Christian astrological significance? Venus, the morning star, is taken by some as a reference to Satan in Isaiah 14:12. But the morning star is also unambiguously a reference to Jesus Christ in Revelation 22:16. Let's look at the latter passage for a moment:

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.” Revelation 22:16 (BSB)

Jupiter is symbolic of royalty, and it takes about 12 years to complete its cycle through the tropical zodiac. It is the "king" of the 12 Tribes of Israel. Jupiter forming a conjunction with Venus in the morning before sunrise thus perfectly fits the formula of Revelation 22:16.

Now this seems to me one way that a Christian astrologer might look at the ongoing conjunction - as a celestial sign and promise of the advents of the Messiah. But we must also pay close attention to Revelation 22:15, which warns against magic and pseudo-science:

Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. Revelation 22:15 (NIV)  

With this further strong warning against magic and pseudo-science in place, perhaps I will feel ready to proceed next week to consideration of the magi in the Gospel of Matthew.

Can a Catholic rightly believe in and practice some form of astrology? No, not without a change in Catholic teaching.

Can a non-Catholic Christian rightly believe in and practice some form of astrology? This remains to be seen.