This is such a HOT topic in my life now and completely consuming me.  I am getting slammed left and right by someone and would LOVE to hear other points of view on how these two come together.  Thanks!

There is no right answer to this, of course, but I am so curious to hear from others who love astrology as much as I do.

My theory is simple-The Creator gave us a tool to give us guidance, like a roadmap. 

I found the following article by Molly Cliborne at north-node astrology very helpful:

http://www.north-node.com/astrology-articles/astrology-and-the-bible 

Kash, your link didn't work...

let's see if this one does...

I am not sure how these two come together.  But the person who is "slamming you left and right", well, they wouldn't be doing it if they were at peace with what ever it is they believe.  People only freak out and try to make other people believe the same things they do when they are not at peace with their own decisions.  I think this applies in alot of circumstances - for example people who "hate" gays, I am pretty sure they are afraid of their own sexuality. 

I had very religious parents, and I realized they never went around and tried to convince anyone else to think like they do.  They just hung around their fellow parishioners - I admired that about my parents, even if they weren't able to convince me to believe what they did.  But I knew they were at peace with themselves. 

thanks S.F. your link does work. I've read that article so many times...well written and thought-provoking

This topic is very Sagittarian/Piscean in nature, but it seems like a 9th house thing!

they are not mutually exclusive categories inherently, although they may be presented as such.

I think about this a lot.  I'm a Christian with a strong belief in God.  I've also been interested in astrology for more than 10 years. 

To me, there's no doubt that astrology is a roadmap.  I also believe that if you pray with faith "of a mustard seed", without doubt, that he will answer.  So, I pray and have faith through the most challenging aspects for me and my family.  He has given us many miracles, in a very clear way.   I don't talk to anyone I know about this because astrology seems to freak them out.  To me, it's like a gift.

Thanks for posting the question.  

Thank you everyone for posting your thoughts and feelings.  I also feel as it is a roadmap that God has given us.  If God knows all (which I believe He does) then He put us here for a reason ... at this time, in this place, with these guardians.  I think our birthday is the key.  :) 

I'm sorry if there are those who do not agree with me.  Feel free to let me know what you believe.  I'm always open (Libra lol).  None of us will really know until we're dead. 

OH ... how how how do you NOT say anything -- especially those of you who know so much???  Holding your tongue must be the HARDEST thing to do, because I know it is with me.

Ang I hold my tongue because I'm not built for debate, especially not religion vs. astrology. My beliefs are my own private and spiritual language and considering I don't get to invite any friends to come with me when I die, I don't feel compelled to talk to them about what I think the journey ahead looks like.

I also get REALLY annoyed by people who talk about my salvation so I give 'em absolutely no ammo whatsoever. My previous SO was a yoga teacher and even that was horrific to one family member. Letting Satan in and all that. Like, why bother? I just don't. They think X, I think Y, the end.

I don't like to argue so I keep things neutral unless I really know someone (or I'm on this blog). 

I also think everyone needs to find their own path.  This is especially true after studying astrology. I don't feel comfortable trying to change someone's perspective to mine.  It's different, of course, if they start asking questions.

I'm also probably not typical in "Christianity" because I think all religions point to the same thing.  

Ang, did you see the link under 'related posts' here?  I just saw the other discussion going on about "Studying Astrology & Not Mentioning It Much.." 

It's also been interesting to learn that the 9th house is related to a person's spirituality... I have a stellium there in Sag.  

Theres also this article by Kelly Lee Phipps (I haven't read the one from North Node yet.)

 http://www.divineinspirationastrology.com/articles/astrology&bible.htm

The points that kelly made in the article I want to memorize. because I too feel that all religons point to the same direction... but whenever I'm in a room with a "Outragous" Christian, I feel like they are tearing my soul apart and burning me in their presents... Very uncomfortable and I wanna cry. they have no clue how rude they are being. But yeah I wanna familize myself with bible/astro connects so I can wear them a protection blankets and can comfortable lead a "debate" conversation and not let them run me over because I'm not educated enough. Sagittarius= education/religion.

If I haven't said it enough yet, I've got a 2 stelliums, Sagg and Pisces. ;)

This is tangential, but...

We have a HUGE Christian group that comes to our coffee shop on tuesday nights. 

A guy asked his friend if he had seen the zen garden in the bathroom, his friend replied "yeah, but I don't believe in that stuff, so to me its just a ... garden."

It reminded me of the response I get from a lot of people to astrology.  "Oh I don't believe in that stuff"   Haha, I always thought of it as a bunch of abstractions, nothing you could call "Stuff." 

WOW! Sounds like my kind of coffee shop. Do you have any pictures of it?

http://www.myspace.com/artsixcoffee

BelovedMoon, Wow.  Thanks for the link... this is priceless.  When I read your post, too,  I thought, "Ahhh..."  I'm a pisces with pisces rising, along with the stellium in the 9th in sag. 

Notatirem, I love your posts, too.  And how do I start that coffee shop here in Austin?   Awesome.

I'm a "cradle Catholic" who's studied and used astrology for 20 years.  Like Shell, I use it as a tool for guidance.

I really don't understand people who are looking for the Devil's influence anywhere they can (Jupiter-ruled 8th & 9th houses).  What would they say about the Three Wise Men who came to honor the Baby Jesus?  They were astrologers, after all!  So I definitely don't believe that "astrology is a mortal sin" nonsense.

Didn't the Magi find the Christ Child using the stars? When I ask bible-bangers this question, they usually stammer and quit trying to convert me...

Another way to stump the staunch ones is ask them what happened to Lillith. Inevitably they ask, "Who was Lillith?" I answer them with Biblical truthiness... "She was Adam's first wife." It was removed from the Bible along with reincarnation and other beliefs that didn't fit the agenda of the kings and popes.

Astrology and religion are both easily used to control human behavior, so of course they're at odds.

Most of the astrologers I've read were religious.  It might not have been strictly conventional Christianity but most mentioned Jesus and God.  Grant Lewi, Gloria Starr, Linda Goodman, Isabel Hickey, etc...

I also believe in Jesus as the son of God.  I just don't think he was the only son of God

brizo, may be coincidence but all of those astrologers are of an earlier generation where most everyone grew up with religion.

*Sighs*  Here's my past comming back to haunt me.

I agree with goddess and belle..... organized religion is not exclusive from astrology. There happends to be alot of people with some strange ideas about what is / is not religion.

Years ago I used to be involved with a group who were hard-core bible thumpers. My observation is this group was completely different from those you see preaching-n-yelling on the street corners. I find this group very credible because they kept to the basics , and focused on getting the group as a whole to become "teachers". Anyway..... after awhile what they expected just was beyond my ability.  So we parted ways on amicable terms.

Since then I've found astrology and it's been a facinating experience ever since. I've enjoyed writting charts for people (obviously not very many) , and certainly seems like a promising..... something more than a hobby , less than full-time job.  Hmmm.... maybe I'll look into getting NCGR certification.

You've definitely got a point there Elsa.  I was pretty surprised to find so much belief when I started reading about astrology.  I haven't read very many modern astrologers so I don't know if the mindset has changed. 

I've always wondered how much "heretical" stuff was removed from the Bible in the 2000+ years it's been around.

Glenn- I wouldn't say organized religion is especially compatible with Astrology. It's religion in general, i.e. more personal spirituality that includes God.

I tend to forget this as i'm not currently immersed in the culture of organized religion, but had a conversation recently that smacked me with it. The bible isn't very kind to Astrologers,  mediums, or those or use divination.

as someone who left my family's religion and had significant contact with others who left the same religion, i know many do to maintain certain aspects of their former faiths while breaking away other places. the parts they keep and the parts they toss are not predictable from my observation.