Astral Worship

by J.H. Hill

J. H. Hill discusses the beginnings of pagan religions and the beliefs of the magi. He talks about the beliefs in nature and the beginnings of astrology. Hill states, "the votaries of the ancient Astral worship divided into two distinct classes, the Esoterics, or Gnostics; and the Exoterics, or Agnostics; the former comprising those who knew that the Gods were mythical and the scriptures allegorical; and the latter, those who were taught that the Gods were real, and the scriptures historical; or, in other words, it was philosophy for the cultured few, and religion for the ignorant multitude. The initiates into the secrets of these two systems recognized them as the two Gospels; and Paul must have had reference to them in his Epistle to the Galatians ii., 2 where he distinguishes the Gospel which he preached on ordinary occasions from that Gospel which he preached "privately to them which were of reputation." Astral Worship discusses, "the changes to which the creed and scriptures were subjected during the Middle Ages, and at the Reformation in the sixteenth century, through which they assumed the phases as now taught in the theologies, respectively of Catholicism and Orthodox Protestantism. We also present an article relative to Freemasonry and Druidism; for the purpose of showing that primarily they were but different forms of the ancient Astrolatry. We also devote a few pages to the subjects of the Sabbath, and to that of Pious Frauds."

Genres: Astrology, Religion

104 pages, Paperback

Published June 26, 2009

Reviews

[Joshua Kamp · Rating 3 out of 5]

The big picture the book presents is cohesive even if some claims are dubious (featuring a few passing comments here and there coming close to racism/antisemitism, as one may find in this kind of stuff from the late 1800s). It goes from an explanation of ancient astral religion and religious symbolism, and solar-based holiday calendars to a total ROAST of Christianity, which is presented as a corrupted version of this ancient astral worship, tweaked and redesigned to keep the wretched masses controlled and powerless. Toward the end, we get the whole dirty laundry overview: violent crimes of early zealots forcefully spreading the church, evil intentions of Constantine and the Council of Nicaea, burning of ancient libraries and dragging the west into the dark ages and illiteracy to prevent a free-thinking populace. It is passionately anti-Christian and kind of satisfying!

I will say that there is a lot in here that hits close to home in modern America. The author angrily condemns the teaching of an impending Judgment Day as cruel fearmongering predictions that never come true and always harm society... this is 100 years before 90s Christians would stoke up a rapture/end times craze over the coming new millennium. I want to include this part, to show one of many passages still so immediately pertinent to the situation of evangelicalism in the US:

"...the Sunday Sabbath is purely and entirely a human institution, and, being such, we must recognize all Sunday laws as grave encroachments upon constitutional liberty; and it behooves the advocates of individual rights to demand their immediate repeal; for unless a vigilant watch is kept upon the conspirators who secured their enactment, our fair land will soon be cursed by a union of church and State, the tendency in that direction having been indicated by the unprecedented opinion recently handed down by one of the Justices of the United States Supreme Court that this is a 'Christian Government.'"

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting book with plenty of,sources a lot of neat ancient history

[Alan Fuller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good information but a lot of errors, such as the authors original biblical reference to the Sabbath edict.

[Jon]

One of the best books on astrolatry. Brilliant. Ive read it twice & on my 3rd pass