A three-session course titled “They Followed a Star: Astrology and Christianity as Allies on the Journey” is being taught at St. Andrew’s Church in Seattle this month. The first session is scheduled to be held tonight.
The course is being taught by Dan Keusal, a licensed counselor and astrologer in private practice in Seattle. Mr. Keusal holds a degree in theology from the University of Notre Dame and worked for years as a parish and campus minister.
In a brief description of the course located on an internet website he maintains, Mr. Keusal describes his workshop as a way to “look at how astrology can support and deepen our journeys as men and women of faith.” The course was mentioned in the December issue of Episcopal Voice, the newspaper of the Diocese of Olympia and in the calendar section of the diocesan website. The course is also listed on the parish website.
“Just as the Magi followed a star to find Jesus, we can look to the stars for help in discerning ‘Spirit’s’ plan for us,” Mr. Keusal writes on his website. “Drawing on biblical theology, psychology, music, poetry, and more, we’ll explore the connections between astrology and Christianity, and look at how astrology can support and deepen our journeys as men and women seeking meaning and purpose for our lives.”
Mr. Keusal describes his practice as “evolutionary astrology.” This type of astrology “offers valuable guidance, yet always respects the power of your own freedom, consciousness, imagination, and will to shape your life’s path,” Mr. Keusal notes on his website.
Evolutionary astrology “begins with the premise that each person is a soul that is in the process of progressive evolution and eventually toward reconnection with the ‘Divine’,” said Scott Wolfram a certified consultant of evolutionary astrology. “In order to recreate or set up the conditions and dynamics needed to fulfill ones past karma in this life, the soul chooses one’s family and early childhood experiences. Over the course of one’s life one experiences different circumstances and as well as an evolving inner development that supports the soul’s intent in this lifetime.”
The course is being presented as part of The Center at St. Andrew’s. The parish’s website describes the center as space for healing, community, and lifelong learning. The center intends to “expand this ministry into a number of new and exciting areas.”
Robert R. Chapman, Jr.
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3 Comments
First, although there is undoubtedly interesting historical information to pursue concerning the Three Wise Men, I can't see how one can make any serious link between the Biblical text and an argument for bringing astrology into the Church. I do recall astrology having never been accepted as a legitimate exploration for Christians - this is a matter of both Scripture and tradition. Any type of spirituality which encourages people to know the future is nothing other than fatalism in soft disguise, and such fatalism is, quite frankly, dangerous. Astrology abandons not just trust in God and the openness to the possibility of the miraculous - Christianity, after all, is not predicated upon an abstraction, but upon the real, incarnate event of God interrupting the normal flow of things; astrology also abandons the rather mundane but crucial task of self-consciously reflecting upon how one is living one's life and how one ought to live one's life. Simply put, astrology - like any form of fatalism - is a cop-out which can make a real mess of one's life, especially because stars do not signify the future! The future is known only to God the Father, and it is best for us to be at peace with this fact.
Second, in terms of practical application, what will the priests of this parish do, for example, when people want to get married - encourage them to consult the stars? How can the created order tell people what to do? How can the created order tell two love-struck persons that their relationship will "work out"? Astrology will be a pastoral disaster if it is pursued, for rather than encouraging such people to do the hard work of learning whether or not they are compatible or whether or not they have the same values, astrology encourages them to throw everything to the wind - or, for that matter, the stars - and expect that it will all work out. Such fatalism does not encourage the hard work of love, and it further discourages the most important thing of all: the hard work of genuine discipleship, which is the pursuit of becoming Christ-like. Why run the race like St. Paul exhorts us to if the outcome is simply based upon the stars?
Lastly, the idea that "each person is a soul that is in the process of progressive evolution and eventually toward reconnection with the 'Divine'" is absolutely un-Christian. We are not merely souls, we are bodies as well, and it is the union of these things that makes us a whole self (1662 BCP: "We offer and present unto thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and our bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice unto thee"). Furthermore, not ever soul-and-body is evolving towards God - many are not, and the claim that everyone's nature is already being sanctified/deified is not just contrary to Christian doctrine, but contrary to both the most cursory readings of history and the most casual observations of human nature. Not only, then, is discipleship potentially cast out by way of astrological fatalism, but with the idea that we are all evolving towards God, the very need for conversion and baptism (in which we are made regenerate) is cast out as well.
If we believe the best about this situation - and we have no choice but to believe that this workshop is well intentioned - then it is best to say that this seems like a theologically erroneous, pastorally dangerous and potentially disastrous misstep on the parts of the parish's and the diocese's leadership. Lord have mercy!
Please pray for me, a sinner.
Astrology is a form of divination, and as such is strictly forbidden by Scripture. Seattle's attempt to deceive its parishioners needs to be exposed and both the parish priest and Vestry need to be held accountable. But then, its an Episcopal Church where only sound doctrine is punished.
Keep your eyes on the Christ Child, not on the star. Lucifer was God's Light Bearer. Its easy to get distracted if you aren't aware of the Truth. Peace and a Holy Advent to all.
Nothing surprises me any more when it comes to the Episcopal Church, so I should not be surprised that an Episcopal parish is offering an apologetics for astrology.
However, there are a number of problems with astrology (Let us not confuse astrology with the science of Astronomy. They are two entirely different things). I will sight just two thoughts that hit me when reading the article.
1. The star led the Magi to Herod. When Herod gathered all the priests and scribes to ascertain where the Christ child was to be born, they consulted the SCRIPTURES. It was the scriptures that told them the Christ child was to be born - NOT the Star. Astrology led the Magi to the King of Death, Herod. The Scriptures led the Magi to Christ.
2. Second thought. Wasn't it this sort of "stuff" that got King Saul into trouble - consulting a median?
Pax,
Fr. Russell A. Griffin, SSC