Fortune-telling
“Health of soul is obtained only by means of Christ,” says
Armen Abajian, Computer Graphics expert, Designer,
former Astrologist
What is astrology?
In order to describe what astrology is, we should first of
all try to distinguish those who try to tell the fortune by
means of coffee cup, by means of cards, astrologists and
obvious liars as all of them are completely different. What
do astrologists do? Basing on the date of birth of people
and date of various events and with the help of celestial
bodies’ movement tables they prepare maps (horoscope)
and foretell the future. Very often those previsions aren’t
exact and trustworthy but because of superstitious fear and exaggerated facts people create
legends about astrologists. People are interested in astrology especially in their young age as
they wish to receive answers to their questions. There are also people failed in their
profession who being engaged in astrology, suddenly appear in the center of attention.
People ask for their advice, pay them, that is, they are tempted, grow proud which leads to
their downfall. And if they are not baptized, don’t have the feeling of love towards Christ,
they are condemned and they will always remain under the power of evil forces.
After the fall of the Soviet Union various astrological centers were founded in Armenia, and
I was one of the founders. However, after studying astrology for 10 years the number of
questions exciting me increased and I couldn’t find answers to them. The more professional I
became (the majority of my previsions were realized) the more I worried and I often
hesitated about my being useful to the people, I wondered why it isn’t allowed to foretell the
future, why the Church is against astrology. I felt that it is wrong to state that astrology is a
completely mendacious, false science and that’s all. Simply it was necessary to find out what
its danger was. Even if astrologist is warned about astrology being false science, satanism,
nevertheless he/she will insist on the contrary, as he/she knows from experience that it is
possible to foretell the future. And really if there weren’t rational basis in astrology, it
wouldn’t exist so long. Eventually, everything became clear for me when I started studying
Patristics and reading the books of Church Fathers.
Why isn’t allowed to foretell the fortune if it is possible?
First of all, it is necessary to know what is fortune-telling. Fortune-tellers mainly don’t tell
the exact place or time or nature of this or that event. Everyone may make such previsions.
We know that the human being is created in God’s image and likeness, everything in the
nature is interconnected and correlated, and it is not strange that each of us may foretell this
or that event. For instance, all of us know that mother’s heart has the ability of premonition.
It isn’t necessary to turn to the fortune-teller in order to find answer to this or that question.
Christian baptized person should take a completely different way. Foretelling the human
being’s future life contradicts the principle of the human being’s free will. St. Barsegh of
Caesaria in his time has said that it is allowed to foretell the future, but only not the human
being’s life. In difference to the other creatures and phenomena of nature the human being
has soul and free will, and hence various powers and forces of nature make influence on the
body, but they have absolutely no influence on the soul. Making the human being
predictable, we deprive him/her of the freedom of soul, equalize the human being with the
level of tree, grass, powers of nature. The human being interested in material values more
than in spiritual values really becomes predictable. On the other hand, following the
fortune-tellers’ previsions the human beings gradually stops to face the difficulties and
challenges and seeks for false defense. For instance, it is the same case when the sick person,
carefully following the weather forecast, is afraid and takes various defensive steps. Whereas
the weather changes don’t excite the healthy person. It would be wiser for the sick person
first of all to think of recovering and to turn to a good physician. The same is the person
turning to the fortune-teller. He/she tries to be defended by means of fortune-teller, to avoid
obstacles whereas after being healed thanks to Christ he/she would be afraid of nothing and
would easily overcome any difficulty. In fact the person turning to the fortune-tellers proves
that he/she is sick and impious. Besides hoping in the future the present is forgotten, whereas
the future is settled in the present. It isn’t in vain that in the Holy Bible it is written,
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day
has enough trouble of its own." (Mt 6:34). We have turned away from God. God’s image has
been distorted in us, and we should try to restore God’s image. It is known that beasts calmed
down in the presence of saints, hermits, and natural phenomena obeyed them. That means
that Christian’s only way of life is healing the soul, the health of soul is obtained only thanks
to the faith in Christ. In that case no one may foretell the human being’s future and by God’s
will the human being will be the master of his/her future. Let’s remember the following
words of Apostle St. Peter, “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those
who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God - or rather are known by God -
how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to
be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons
and years!” (Gal 4:8-10).
What is the difference between prophecy and fortune-telling?
Ability of prophecy is granted to the human being by God’s will and without his/her wish,
but the human being foretells the future by his/her own will.
After being engaged in astrology for 10 years you turned on the right trial. What was the
society’s attitude towards that phenomenon?
People surrounding me accepted that change negatively. Majority of them were
disappointed, my friends’ number gradually decreased as I had stopped to interest them.
Many people wondered what had happened to me and how I became faithful. Unfortunately
for many people becoming faithful means becoming sectarian. The point is that today
evangelical or other sectarian semi-true sermons and cheerful booklets about the Kingdom of
God don’t satisfy people. Sound and substantial answers to the people’s questions are needed.
During the period of soviet rule intellectuals were consistently forced to become impious and
atheist, they kept away from true spiritual values. Whereas it is the intellectuals that should
read and study the Church Fathers’ works in order to know and to admit Christ and help the
people to be communion with true spiritual values. Such was one of my friends who
supported me in the difficult period of my life. In order to understand the Holy Bible it is
necessary to read the Church Fathers’ works and interpretations with repenting and humble
soul. People’s own interpretations may lead them into pride and make them sectarians.
Whereas true faithful is the normal, patriotic, spiritually and mentally calm and balanced
person. All these features may not be noticed in outward appearance. After turning on the
right trial I began to live a peaceful life, there was peace in my family. However, I was jobless
for about 3 years and appeared in a serious financial crisis, as before that I earned money by
means of astrology. Nevertheless, those three years wee the happiest years of my life.
Fortune-telling
“Forgetting about the Greatest Consoler
people search for other ways,” says
Acolyte Taron Arakelian, 5th grade student
of Kevorkian Theological Seminary of the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
What is fortune-telling?
There are various types of fortune-telling.
Presently astrology is more wide-spread.
God rejects all types of fortune-telling.
Let’s discuss the consequences of fortune-telling. Astrologists have the principle of
suggesting, but not obliging. That is nonsense, as everyone may suppose. Incredibility of
fortune-telling may be proved by the fact that the astral system is long ago changed.
Astrologists don’t have even a corrected map. And predictions about the future are not
acceptable and not real as all types of fortune-telling are disgusting for God. We shouldn’t
confuse fortune-telling with prophecies, which were God-granted revelations to be
conveyed to the people. By means of the Coming of Christ prophecies came to end. We have
trusted our life to God and we should always repent and wait for the Second Coming of
Christ at any moment. Therefore, we don’t need the prediction of the next day. If it is
possible to predict the future then we should accept the fate as reality, which doesn’t exist.
The human being has free will and he/she is the master of his/her life.
Thus, for instance, according to the astrologist it is not recommended to make financial
investments this or that day, as there will be a failure. Whereas for imitating each work we
should ask for God’s blessing. If we are sure that God will bless our financial investments, we
will succeed. And we should share our property either by means of offering one tenth of our
profit or giving alms.
Besides astrologists there are also fortune–tellers who say that God conveys them
information. May this be true?
It is clear that it isn’t God’s voice as God hates fortune-telling and fortune-tellers. According
to the Holy Bible acting under the name of God is inadmissible. Satan is mighty and it is
called the prince of the world and it may make great wonders. Let’s remember the story of
Simon from the Old Testament, who was a magus and people thought that he acted thanks to
the God-granted might, as presently people believe by mistake in the modern fortune-tellers.
Satan may appear to the human being in the appearance of God and persuade that it is God
and may predict. It is clear that Satan has no idea of the future. Those who visit fortune-
tellers will state that it is true. Fortune-tellers tell their visitors such things which may seem
miracle, they may tell the name, age, events happened to him/her and many other things in
order to win the trust of the visitor. Then they ask questions. Satan begins to prompt the
fortune teller lies and the visitor involuntarily becomes dependent on Satan.
Presently the so-called witchery is wide-spread. People use witchery as if not for doing evil,
but for educating. What is your opinion about witchery?
Witchery or such things have no influence on the faithful Christian. Witchery may have
influence if the human being believes in it. As a matter of fact it is a note or something
picked up from the magic world or a heap of colored threads. The human being imagines the
spiritual world with difficulty. The witch tells the place where to put the witchery. By
means of someone the witch carefully warns about the witchery, the goal of which is arising
distrust in God. When people are deprived of God’s blessing, they become unprotected and
vulnerable by the devil forces, so they may be subject to mishaps and temptations.
Many people keep in their homes such books as “Interpretation of dreams”, “Ephemeris”, etc.
and consider them as important as the Holy Bible. May people use those books?
People shouldn’t use the book “Interpretation of dreams”, although many people may say
that in the Holy Bible there are examples of dreams’ interpretation. Dreams may be of 3
types – warnings by God, messages by Satan which tries to divert the human beings and to
lead them into temptation or evil, and some events or persons stamped in the human being’s
sub-consciousness. It is my advice not to believe in dreams, as true Christian should be sure
that God will express His Will. Before His Ascension Christ said, “But the Counselor, the
Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will
remind you of everything I have said to you.” (Jn 14:26). If people wish to know about the
future, they should get closer to God and by means of our conscience - the Holy Spirit, God
will tell about the future deeds. Naturally, there won’t be the need of fortune-tellers. In
comparison with the eternal life our earthly life lasting 70 or 80 days is nothing. This life is
granted to us for thinking about the salvation of our souls. Whereas we constantly strive for
material values and do nothing in order to purify our souls and get closer to God. We
worship a singer or actor and become happy when there is a chance to meet him/her
personally. We have the chance to be the Sons of the Creator of this world. So, having the
right of God’s Son, we may ask from the Father and He will give us whatever we wish. And
leaving aside that great miracle we try to gain insignificant values. Whereas nothing can
substitute spiritual peace, the feeling of God’s presence. Forgetting about the Greatest
Consoler people search for other ways.