Pontiff Says People Aren't Governed by the Stars

Zenit ^ | VATICAN CITY, JAN. 7, 2009

[GonzoII]

Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-24710?l=english

Pontiff Says People Aren't Governed by the Stars

Reiterates Galileo's Thought on Cosmos

VATICAN CITY, JAN. 7, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The universe is not governed by a blind force, but by love, and people are not slaves to the cosmos, Benedict XVI says.

The Pope affirmed this Tuesday during a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica that celebrated the magi of the east, who arrived to Bethlehem following a star. During his homily he spoke of Galileo's idea that love governs the cosmos.

The Holy Father noted that 2009 marks the 400th anniversary of Galileo's first observations by telescope. This anniversary motivated UNESCO to proclaim '09 an International Year of Astronomy.

The Pontiff spoke of a "new flourishing" in this field of science, "thanks to the passion and the faith of many scientists, who following the steps of Galileo, renounce neither reason nor faith. What's more, they deeply value both, in their reciprocal fruitfulness."

Benedict XVI explained that "Christian thought compares the cosmos to a 'book,' -- Galileo himself said this -- considering it as a work of an Author."

According to this book, he said, "divine love, incarnated in Christ is the fundamental and universal law of creation. This should not be understood in a poetic, but in a real sense."

Dante also understood it this way, the Pope said, noting how the author concludes "Paradise" with a definition of God as "the love that moves the sun and the other stars."

"This means that the stars, the planets [and] the entire universe are not governed by a blind force, [and] do not obey only the dynamics of matter," he said. "Therefore, cosmic elements shouldn't be divinized, but on the contrary, in everything and above everything, there is a personal will, the Spirit of God, who in Christ revealed himself as love."

Hence, the Bishop of Rome affirmed, people are not slaves of cosmic elements, "but are free, that is, they are capable of relating themselves with the creative liberty of God."

"He is at the origin of everything and governs everything," the Pope said, "not as a cold or anonymous motor, but as a Father, Spouse, Friend, Brother, as Logos, 'Word-Reason,' who has united himself to our mortal flesh once and for all and has fully shared our condition, manifesting the superabundant power of his grace."

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[GonzoII]

""He is at the origin of everything and governs everything," the Pope said, "not as a cold or anonymous motor, but as a Father, Spouse, Friend, Brother, as Logos, 'Word-Reason,' who has united himself to our mortal flesh once and for all and has fully shared our condition, manifesting the superabundant power of his grace."

Amen. Holy Father.

[Kimmers]

As far as I am concerned the Pope is stating the obvious. I am always surprised by people who believe in astrology.....I find it interesting but worthless in my life.

I am not Catholic but I am liking this Pope. He clearly has a great love for the Lord...

I also like his statement you quoted.

[Eye of Unk]

Hillary Clinton relies heavily on her astrological forecast.

[livius]

A beautiful statement by the Pope.

[SampleMan]

Does anyone else notice that you never hear atheists getting upset about astrology? How many times have you read about a law suit demanding the removal of astrological symbols from public places?

[livius]

I am always amazed at the people who fall for astrology. I worked in an office once where the most popular section of the paper was the astrology forecast, and everybody from the head honcho on down ran to consult it first thing in the morning. The bizarre thing was that if it was not favorable, they really lived in fear that some awful thing was going to happen to them.

Christ sets us free from those fears. I think many Christians don’t realize how pagan peoples were surrounded by fears (and modern pagans still are) and what a great relief it was to them, upon their converstion to Christianity, to be able to throw off these fears and trust in the love of God.

[Red in Blue PA]

Re: Christ sets us free from those fears

I would argue that common sense set us free from those fears.

[Always Right]

As far as I am concerned the Pope is stating the obvious. I am always surprised by people who believe in astrology.....

Although he said some elogant things, I agree, the main theme was obvious.

[Eye of Unk]

Its a dangerous situation that Obama has to fall upon his Islamic teaching in times of crisis.

We are in for some deep poo-doo.

[pgyanke]

Does anyone else notice that you never hear atheists getting upset about astrology? How many times have you read about a law suit demanding the removal of astrological symbols from public places?

G.K. Chesterton made an observation that touches on this phenomenon. It regards blasphemy. I'll try to quote... but it's from memory so consider it a paraphrase:

"Blasphemy demonstrates belief. It is an active rejection of a sacred truth. Need proof? Blaspheme Thor. It is a ridiculous proposition because whatever one might say would be more comedy than blasphemy."

We are made in the image and likeness of God. Our being reflects our Creator. Therefore, we recognize when we are blaspheming the sacred.

[DieHard the Hunter]

Goodonya, Holy Father! Well said!

Common-bloody-sense told exactly like it needed telling by a very good Pope who doesn’t mind telling things like it is. I love how this Pontiff never shies away from telling the Truth, even if it is a Truth that some people won’t like.

I really like this Pope. He is someone very special. A man for these uncertain times.

[frogjerk]

I would argue that common sense set us free from those fears.

The author of common sense is God.

[GL of Sector 2814]

Does anyone else notice that you never hear atheists getting upset about astrology?

I see atheists getting upset about astrology quite frequently...but I also subscribe to the magazines The Skeptical Inquirer and Skeptic.

[Kimmers]

excellent point

[dangus]

Read it more carefully. He’s attacking not only astrology, but nihilistic cosmology.

[dangus]

I think you need to make a distinction between people being frustrated in an academic sense, and people taking political action. Cold, hard fact: If two libraries in two communities on opposite ends of the same state put up two statues on their state-funded property, one of Zeus and one of Christ, only one would get sued.

[SampleMan]

I see atheists getting upset about astrology quite frequently...but I also subscribe to the magazines The Skeptical Inquirer and Skeptic.

Where are the lawsuits?

[GunRunner]

Does anyone else notice that you never hear atheists getting upset about astrology?

If it was taught in public school science classes, I guarantee you they would.

[SampleMan]

If it was taught in public school science classes, I guarantee you they would.

I'm unaware of any public schools that teach Christianity, although some do cast doubt that theories are facts. Yet, while a teacher saying "We should all thank God..." will send some atheists into a tizzy, "Thank your lucky stars." or "I'm a Libra and Libras love peace." appears not to bring on their ire.

You find the astrological symbols all over universities, etc. No one complains. I'm also unaware of any lawsuits concerning references treating our planet as a type of living god, which do appear in public school teachings.

[GunRunner]

I'm unaware of any public schools that teach Christianity, although some do cast doubt that theories are facts. Yet, while a teacher saying "We should all thank God..." will send some atheists into a tizzy, "Thank your lucky stars." or "I'm a Libra and Libras love peace." appears not to bring on their ire.

I think the difference is that astrology is not a religion. It's similar to alchemy in that it is an ancient pseudoscience; mankind's first stab at astronomy mixed with a little philosophy.