Does Religion Affect One's Views On Astrology?

The sky is not the limit. Above the clouds and beyond the atmosphere lay the vast universe. Although we may not directly see or notice it, there are constant changes and shifts within astronomical entities including the planets, moons and stars. Many of us may go along our day paying no attention to what’s going on in the cosmos, thinking it has little to no effect on our lives. Whereas many people think about this prospect and perhaps do things in their daily lives according to the works of astrology, using horoscopes, zodiacs, retrogrades and other astrological events to advise them. No matter what beliefs one may have, there are many different variables that could not only affect one’s views on astrology, but may change one’s opinions on

We use religion to decide which beliefs are valid or invalid. Religion is a leading force in instigating a belief in astrology. For example, in the religion of Islam, Christianity and Judaism, using the genuine sciences, like fortune telling, star readings and palm reading was believed to be strictly forbidden. Then, over time, scholars learned that astrology was actually encouraged by their faith. Through deeper analyzation, they came to conclude that their faiths actually wanted them to use astrology to better understand our universe and to inspire further research. In Islamic teachings, Prophet Idris of the Old testament had immense knowledge of the heavenly sciences. His main objective was to spread the knowledge of the cosmos. He was the first to spread the knowledge of astronomy throughout babylonia which then spread to egypt. Through Egypt came the huge fascination with astrology. From there stems the beginning of using the stars to predict the future. The growth of astrologists skyrocketed and strong believers in the art form emerged. They believed in astrology as if it were a religion, paying attention to every little fluctuation, basing every move on how the stars align, should it actually affect them. According to the studies of Ugur Alkan, “Prophet Idris was supposedly known to be the first person to educate mankind that living creatures are under the influence of cosmic ray” (online). Through religious influence, believers of Islam studied astrology and use the heavenly entities to influence their lives on earth. Through a more direct approach to religion affecting astrological beliefs, the zodiac links constellations with 12 different times of the year. Through studies of greek mythology, each of the constellations have