I have no theological training. I once tried, unsuccessfully, to quote Scripture. “As the Bible tells us,” I said earnestly in Sunday school, “with great power comes great responsibility.”
Somebody whispered: “Um, Mark, I think that’s a line from ‘Spider-Man.’ ”
OK. I knew that.
In that same group recently we talked about one of the hottest topics of the winter, the zodiac. At issue: Whether people of faith should read horoscopes.
I decided to get more information before I stepped on my tongue again.
Once or twice a year a newspaper article goes viral. It happened a few weeks ago with a report that suggested the sun signs reflected in the daily horoscopes are out of whack. A Minnesota Planetarium Society astronomer noted that because the Earth wobbles on its axis, people who thought they were Scorpios, say, might actually be something else.
That spark of controversy ignited a Roman candle of indignation. Within hours, the story exploded. Some people — who perhaps hadn’t thought about their sun sign for decades — were distraught, as if their personality had been surgically extracted. Here at the Times Free Press, we ran a reaction article on Page A1 with a graphic on the sun-sign shuffle.
Much of the conversation was tongue-in-cheek and happened without much input from people who study the heavens to try to find meaning in daily life — actual astrologers.
I was put in touch with Lilan Laishley, a Chattanooga-area astrologer with a doctorate in religious studies. Laishley teaches college courses in theology and has a counseling practice. She is experienced in plotting astrological charts. Interestingly, she also believes in God.
Laishley explained, as have other astrologers, that:
A. The Earth-wobbling reports are old news to astrologers — like 2,000 years old.
B. Most Western astrologers follow a branch of astrology that tracks the seasons and the sun, not the stars within constellations. Both systems are valid in their own way, she said, sort of like Macs and PCs. At the end of the day, though, nothing much has changed, she said.
What happened as a result of all this chatter, though, is a renewed interest in astrology.
I invited Laishley to meet with me one day to talk about religion and astrology. I assumed they were mutually exclusive beliefs, but she believes differently.
“All religions attempt to help people find their place in the world,” Laishley said. “Religion addresses such issues as: Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going? What is my relationship with the rest of the world? And how can I be in the world with meaning? Astrology addresses these same issues.”
Laishley believes that the Bible actually talks about astrology. She says that the book of Genesis notes the heavens were created “for signs and for seasons.” She also believes the wise men, who followed a star to Bethlehem to see the newborn Jesus, were 1st-century astrologers.
Decide for yourself if these references have meaning. (I’m sure there are Scriptures that point another way, and I expect most of them will be in my e-mail by noon.)
Laishley says that the horoscopes in newspapers are just “the tip of the iceberg” when it comes to astrology. Who really believes that everybody in the world fits neatly into one of 12 personality types, she says.
Real astrological charts take into account not only the date of birth but also the place and time. Using three variables, each person’s astrological chart is complex and unique, she said. She showed me an actual chart that looked like string art.
“The place of each person in the world is literally mapped out in their horoscope ...” she said.
People generally don’t disagree with their charts, she said, which is either proof of the power of persuasion or powerful evidence that the heavens contain messages as part of the intelligent design of the universe.
I’m of two minds about all this.
But then I’m Gemini, sign of the twins.
Kennedy is the content editor of the Times Free Press Life sections and writes the “Life Stories” column. Previously, he was the first Sunday editor of the Times Free Press. Before Chattanooga’s newspapers were merged in 1999, Kennedy was the coordinating editor of the Chattanooga Times, where he had previously been an education reporter, feature writer and team leader. His first newspaper job was as sports editor of the Cleveland (Tenn.) Daily Banner. Kennedy’s human ...
It's amazing that your 'expert' astrologer with a doctorate in religious studies...missed the fact that the star pointed to Jesus' home around 2 years later...and that wasn't at Bethlehem...wonder if she's incorrect on anything else?
She's also incorrect in her assumption that there is a god.
eeeeek and wildman, that is your belief not a fact, as errant as it is.
"nurse" is incorrect also, as my statement is not based on a belief... it's a conclusion based on available facts.
YOU are the ones stating it as a fact... YOU show the proof.
nurse.. I was stating my conclusion. The simplest explanation must be the right one to me.
There are many people claiming the reality of various of gods.. even different versions of the same god.
It is as impossible for me to disprove the existence of a deity as it is impossible to disprove the existence of Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, flying unicorns, demons or leprechauns.
Besides, the burden of proof always lies with the positive claim.
If someone claims something exists, that is a positive claim, it is their responsibility to show evidence which supports the claim.
"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" - Carl Sagan
It is scary that a "nurse" doesn't have critical thinking skills.
eeeeeek, It is true that you can not disprove the existence of God. And the only objective evidence I have is Creation itself. No matter what all of the theories say, there had to be someone or something of divine intellegence to create this magnificent world. Take the human body for example which as a nurse I am very familiar with. The complexity of each and every part is simply amazing. No way this happened without a supreme being. There is much more detail that could be gone in to but I am sure you get the drift. If that is not extraordinary evidence, then I don't know what is.
As for your blatantly illogical claim that I am without critical thinking skills, nothing could be more further from the truth. But rest assured, If I am taking care of you or member of one of your family, whether you are male or female, democrate or republican, straight or gay, believer or atheist, it doesn't matter. I will treat you the same. I will also be praying for you to the almighty God,the awesome creator of this universe and more, when I am treating you.
He is the Almighty God, the Everlasting Father, the King of kings, the Prince of Peace, Emmanuel (God with us), Jesus Christ, with whom I have a very loving relationship. That is the subjective part that can not be refuted.
Wildman, And unfortunately for you, if you don't change your beliefs and accept Jesus Christ as you Savior and Lord, at the end of your life, you will spend an eternity in eternal death separated from God in a place of torment called Hell. That sounds harsh, but so is the fact that you reject the One that actually made you. You have had your life to accept Him and you are not promised tomorrow to change your mind.
Please believe and live.
If there is a hell, I have an assigned seat. With an engraved plaque. According to each religion, there is only one way to heaven. Each thinks only they are correct. None of them have any evidence to back them up. That means that they are probably all wrong.
Mr. Kennedy's column rarely stirs such controversy. I sometimes read him because he puts a friendly face on Christianity. 'nurseforjustice' prefers the vindictive face (My way or no way). Some of us who think about such matters would not wish to spend eternity with a god who punishes good people for not groveling on command. We're not dogs, we're humans. (In the interest of total honesty, I wouldn't treat a dog that way either.)
Well what or who do you call good??? By whom's standards are they good? For the sake of arguement, lets say that you can be good enough to get in to heaven. Would you or anyone be good enough by God's standards, the Ten Commandments? The answer would be a resounding no since no one with the exception of Jesus has ever lived a perfect life.
One of the commands is to "not bear false witness(Lie)". I am sure you have done that so that makes you a liar. Another says "not to steal." And if you think really hard I am sure you can think of a time you stole something, I know I can. So that would make you a thief. Yet another says "not to committ adultery." Jesus said that if you just look at a woman with lust then you have already committed adultery with her. So if that be the case, then that would make you an adulterer. So with just those 3 that makes you/us/me a lying, thieving, adulterer. Now that is just 3 of those commands and we have broken all 3. Not doing so well are we. Well God says He is Holy and Righteous and can not look at sin. But God gave His son Jesus to take our sin for us and if we accept Him then He no longer looks at us and sees sin, but sees us washed clean in the blood of Jesus. Ephesians 2:8-9 says "It is by Grace we are saved, not of ourselves so that no one can boast". We can not do enough good works to get there.
There is a Gorge between us and God of which we can not cross on our own. But Jesus has bridged that gap with His death and resurrection so that one day when THIS life is over, we can spend eternity with Him. That is how much He loves us/you. He gave His one and only Son for you.
Wildman, it would take forever to tell you all the things I have done wrong, and yes I did and do need forgiveness for those sins past, present and future. What I am wondering is if we sat in the same sermons and heard the same things, how can you NOT believe? No matter what you have done, if you still have a breath in your lungs, it is not too late to ask for His forgiveness and give your life to Him. He is begging for you to. He even died for you to live with Him.
lkeith,
still praying for you as I know your children do. I know you know the truth.
Actually, my children accept my unbelief without question. They know that faith and belief is totally an individual activity, not subject to influence from outside (or above). I appreciate the thought, but I have little use for an activity that rewards belief above all else, to which works and integrity take a back seat. Although I recognize that people act nobly from a position of faith, many also act nobly from a position of simply being human. I have many reasons not to believe, and not a single one to believe. If there is a god, and he judges us on the life we live taking into account that we are human, I'll be alright. If there is a god that judges us on manipulating others, discriminating against or condemning others, denying evidence, putting unquestioning obedience before using our magnificent evolved brains, and operating from a position of arrogance and certainty, then I am already doomed and would rather be in hell with all the interesting folks.
lkeith,
That is one of the sadest statements I have ever read. Regardless, I will still pray for you.
There is nothing "sad" about what I wrote. These things are sad: People teaching their children to hate and fear those that are different (whether based on religion or not) People dying of hunger and disease anywhere on earth in the 21st century. People made to choose between their church and their true selves because they are gay, even though being gay hurts no one. People denying that bad things have happened in the past, or excusing them as "consistent with the society and time in which they occurred". Children being born unwanted and in poverty and ignorance in this, the greatest country to ever exist in the history of the earth. Churches building huge buildings and TV studios because God wants them to show prosperity is the reward for godliness, and then convincing the elderly to send them money. Our beautiful earth being slowly destroyed by all countries while their inhabitants pursue the almighty dollar/euro/yen/whatever. Women being raped, imprisoned, and made to suffer in silence because the men in their lives are taught by clerics that this is not only acceptable but the only way that women have to reach heaven. And yes, this happens here in the US, and not just by those following Islam.
These are far more important than whether or not one middle-aged woman believes in a god.
The sad part is that you don't believe in your creator and the one who would rather die than to live without you. I would dare say that no one has ever loved you more. Yes those other things you mentioned are sad, but you are responsible for your actions, not everyone elses.
lk, all I want to do is show you the LOVE OF GOD. I hope you understand that.
Do you suppose that the "love of god" is as condescending and judgmental as you are?
It must be nice to feel sorry for those of us who are going to burn for all eternity because we don't believe in your magical guy in the sky. You all choose to go for this "I'm praying for you because you just don't understand what you are doing," approach. Here's the truth, most who have opted out of your belief system know more about what we are doing than you do about what you are doing.
It's like the old saying, "Figure out why you don't believe in thousands of other gods and you'll figure out why I don't believe in yours."
I don't "believe" in much. Perhaps in the goodness (overall) in my neighbors, in my spouse's loyalty, in my dog's devotion, in my ability to handle most of what life sends my way. The rest of my existence has been acceptance, not belief. Acceptance that the world is imperfect, that life can change direction suddenly, the people get sick and die with no apparent cause, that statistics don't really help when you are dealing with individuals, that you can take good care of your body but luck and genes also determine how healthy you are and how long you live. Acceptance that I am a primate, evolved from an earlier forefather that I share with other apes, and whose brain by a couple of lucky accidents evolved into something pretty remarkable. I accept that religion is a human activity that brings great comfort and cohesion to communities worldwide and takes many different forms. I don't accept the existence of the supernatural, because there is zero physical evidence to support it. I accept that when I die, I simply die. I will not live on, but return to the state that I was before I was born: non-being. Because of this I intend to make the best of every day and every encounter I have with other human beings. In the end, each person who feels loved, accepted and valued is more likely to pass that on. You don't need religion to do this. If there is legacy each of us can leave, this is it: to leave the world at the end of your life just a little bit better than when you arrived. For my own selfish desire I want to learn everything I can about the physical world, and would like to visit as many places as I can. (my bucket list is huge)
I'm sure you are a very kind person, nurse, but save your prayers for someone who can appreciate them.
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