Can you read the tarot and being a Christian?
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TheLightWithin
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Based on what I know of Christianity and Judaism, these things are forbidden by both religions. I think much of the condemnation of it in Christianity is based on the Hebrew Bible, though there may be New Testament references reinforcing it.
In practice, however, there are absolutely people who attend church and regard themselves as Christian who may do things like astrology, tarot, Oujia boards, etc. It's frowned on by churches, but that doesn't necessarily stop people.
TheLightWithin
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Also it is very likely the 3 wise men of the gospels, were astrologers
Guru
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The Bible addresses the topic of fortune tellers and practices related to divination in several passages, highlighting a strong condemnation of such activities. Here are key points related to what the Bible says about fortune tellers:
1. Divination and Sorcery:
- The Bible often associates fortune tellers with practices of divination, sorcery, and witchcraft. In the Old Testament, such practices are explicitly forbidden. For example:
- Deuteronomy 18:10-12 states: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or tells fortunes, who interprets omens, or engages in witchcraft or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD..."
- This passage underscores the seriousness with which such practices were viewed, linking them to idolatry and a deviation from faith in God.
2. Condemnation of False Prophets:
- Throughout the Bible, there is a clear distinction between true prophets of God and false prophets or fortune tellers. The latter are often depicted as deceitful and leading people away from true worship. For instance:
- Jeremiah 14:14 notes: "The prophets prophesy lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They prophesy false visions, divinations, and the delusions of their own minds."
- This highlights God's condemnation of those who mislead others using false pretenses.
3. Trust in God:
- Biblical teachings consistently emphasize placing trust in God rather than seeking guidance from fortune tellers or practitioners of divination.
- Isaiah 47:13-14 states: "You are wearied with your many consultations; let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month; let them save you from what is coming upon you. Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up."
- This passage illustrates the futility of relying on such practices compared to the ultimate power of God.
4. The New Testament:
- In the New Testament, fortune telling is also addressed. In the book of Acts, a slave girl with a spirit of divination follows Paul and Silas, proclaiming their message. Paul eventually casts the spirit out her, and her owners become angry because they lose their source of income.
- Acts 16:16-18 recounts: "Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, 'These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.' She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, 'In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!' At that moment the spirit left her."
- This story reinforces the biblical stance against exploiting such powers for profit.
The Bible consistently condemns fortune telling and related practices as contrary to faith in God. The texts emphasize the dangers of seeking knowledge and guidance from sources outside of God’s word, urging believers instead to place their trust and reliance solely in Him. Biblical passages reflect a strong warning against engaging in practices that may lead to spiritual harm and distraction from true worship.
1. Divination and Sorcery:
- The Bible often associates fortune tellers with practices of divination, sorcery, and witchcraft. In the Old Testament, such practices are explicitly forbidden. For example:
- Deuteronomy 18:10-12 states: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or tells fortunes, who interprets omens, or engages in witchcraft or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD..."
- This passage underscores the seriousness with which such practices were viewed, linking them to idolatry and a deviation from faith in God.
2. Condemnation of False Prophets:
- Throughout the Bible, there is a clear distinction between true prophets of God and false prophets or fortune tellers. The latter are often depicted as deceitful and leading people away from true worship. For instance:
- Jeremiah 14:14 notes: "The prophets prophesy lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They prophesy false visions, divinations, and the delusions of their own minds."
- This highlights God's condemnation of those who mislead others using false pretenses.
3. Trust in God:
- Biblical teachings consistently emphasize placing trust in God rather than seeking guidance from fortune tellers or practitioners of divination.
- Isaiah 47:13-14 states: "You are wearied with your many consultations; let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month; let them save you from what is coming upon you. Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up."
- This passage illustrates the futility of relying on such practices compared to the ultimate power of God.
4. The New Testament:
- In the New Testament, fortune telling is also addressed. In the book of Acts, a slave girl with a spirit of divination follows Paul and Silas, proclaiming their message. Paul eventually casts the spirit out her, and her owners become angry because they lose their source of income.
- Acts 16:16-18 recounts: "Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, 'These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.' She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, 'In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!' At that moment the spirit left her."
- This story reinforces the biblical stance against exploiting such powers for profit.
The Bible consistently condemns fortune telling and related practices as contrary to faith in God. The texts emphasize the dangers of seeking knowledge and guidance from sources outside of God’s word, urging believers instead to place their trust and reliance solely in Him. Biblical passages reflect a strong warning against engaging in practices that may lead to spiritual harm and distraction from true worship.
@Guru above points out that Scripture generally speaks out against forms of divination – magic, fortune-telling, etc.
(Those Christian denominations who believe they have 'cracked the biblical code' and predict the End Times, etc., should take note.)
As a general rule, I endorse that position of avoiding such arts as one can safely assume that the material on the arts in the public domain are largely for entertainment and commercial enterprise and bear scant regard for their origins, nor their practice.
The Hermetic Arts, and the Tarot which is a concise symbology of the Hermetic hermeneutic, are not so much 'pagan' or 'heathen' as – in the proper place and understanding – universal and archetypal with regard to matters of a psycho-spiritual endeavour.
If a Christian were seriously enquiring into a specifically 'Christian Hermeticism' then they could do no better than look at Meditations on the Tarot, a Journey into Christian Hermeticism – a work published anonymously after the transitus of the author, and to my knowledge the only work worth looking into in that field.
I am not in for the Christian kabbalah or the that arose out of that the Hermetic Qabalah. The best is hard to find but is the Babylonion kabbalah. Or the Babylonion tarot. It is a must have for those really seek the truth and not just fairy tales.
I am more interested in universal forms rather than cultural expressions.
It is, so up above so beneath.
In which case no one 'kabbalah' is better than any other.
'Kabbalah' is strictly speak a term applied to Jewish mystical speculation.
The Rabbinical Hebrew qabbālāh means ‘tradition’, from qibbēl ‘receive, accept’ – generally that which is handed down or handed on.
So I prefer the generic term 'tradition'.
'Kabbalah' is strictly speak a term applied to Jewish mystical speculation.
The Rabbinical Hebrew qabbālāh means ‘tradition’, from qibbēl ‘receive, accept’ – generally that which is handed down or handed on.
So I prefer the generic term 'tradition'.