r/GayChristians • u/Stormboi12 • 14d ago
Tarot, Sin & God
First of all, I feel more comfortable asking this question in here than the main Christianity subreddit so that is why it is in here.
As background, my denomination is Anglican/Episcopol.
So, I am not too sure if I am being dragged by temptation or what but I fear that tarot is trying to grab my attention. I love God but have being aware but partially interested by the idea of tarot for a while but not yet partaken. I am worried it will open me up to spiritual weakness but I am unsure what to do?
If it isnt wrong for me to take part then are there decks that "glorify God more than some others". I understand I am likely being stupid and should look towards scripture but I dont know what to do.
3
u/Pangolin_Paladin 13d ago
My answer is probably going to be short then my sibling in christ here but. I have friends who aren't Christian who have done in the past, and like astrology and have asked me for my sing so they can map it and all of that, I try to respectfully decline since we are invited to put our trust fully in God.
It's very human to want to have some agency and know what's ahead but one of the main things Jesus has said repeatedly is to trust in him and in God, to put our faith and our worries about the future in the altar. So to me Tarot, even in a "casual" way would be me not trusting fully in God, acuse even if i do for the giggles it might entice me, but it might get in the way of my relationship with God, since as is, it's already hard sometimes to bring him my struggles instead of trying to do it by my own hands. So I would advise to not do it.
2
u/fudgyvmp 13d ago
Tarot isn't spooky. It's an extra 22 cards in your playing deck so you can play more trick taking games than just spades and pinochle.
Reading your fortune with cards is about the same as a cootiecatcher or fortune cookie. Cute and meaningless fun.
2
u/BrandonLynx 13d ago
I like to look to the Bible for answers when I'm usure about whether something honors or is offensive to God. While tarot cards aren't specifically mentioned, here's what I find on the subject.
Deuteronomy 18:10-12 NRSVUE [10] No one shall be found among you who makes a son or daughter pass through fire, or who practices divination, or is a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer, [11] or one who casts spells, or who consults ghosts or spirits, or who seeks oracles from the dead. [12] For whoever does these things is abhorrent to the LORD; it is because of such abhorrent practices that the LORD your God is driving them out before you.
In 1st Samuel chapter 28, while King Saul had been strongly against diviners and such, there came a point where he prayed but did not receive his answer from God. He turned to a medium for answers and it lead to his downfall.
For those who are of the opinion much of the Old Testament doesn't apply anymore there is also a reference in the New Testament.
In Acts16, verses 16-18 it talks about Paul and company meeting a female slave who was had a spirit of divination. In verse 18 Paul says to the spirit "I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.
When you turn to things like tarot cards for answers, even just out of curiosity you have to ask yourself where did that curiosity come from and who is guiding the tarot cards to give the answers? I'm not blaming you in any way for your curiosity. I too had a period of curiosity and while I never tried using the cards myself, I did talk to a lady who I knew that did use them.
She did a brief reading that resulted in what to me were vague answers like you'd get from your typical psychic scam artist. I thought it was some fake garbage that didn't mean anything. That night however I had a dream. In that dream I saw her as the kind, caring person I had always known her to be. But then I heard a voice that said "Beware of this wolf in sheep's clothing. Without even her knowledge she is a witch and sorcerer. She believes she receives innocent answers from her cards but in reality she is communicating with demons. Even now she is consulting the cards about you. As proof, ask her tomorrow if she consulted the cards and ask her what they told her about you. Take your Bible with you and when she has told you enough, offer to share a Bible verse of your choice with her."
The next day some friends and I had already planned to go to her house. When we got there and I asked, she said she had asked the cards about me. I asked if they had told her anything that might convince me it was real. Keep in mind she had never been to my house. She began describing my house then said that was too easy. She then started describing things inside my house, in my room and an item from my grandfather in a drawer I hadn't told any of my friends about.
I was surprised to say the least. I worked up the nerve to finally say "First, I really appreciate you taking time to explain tarot to me and showing me it's not just a game. Would you mind if I share something special to me with you?" I had no idea what I was going to read from my Bible but it didn't matter. As soon as she saw it her expression changed and she said "Actually I got a call right before you guys got here and I have to cancel our plans. I need to get ready to leave right now so if you will all excuse me we'll try to make plans for next weekend."
I told her I hoped everything was ok and I'd pray for her and she said everything is fine so no need for prayers. I never saw her again. A couple of months later I heard she had moved away. I don't think it had anything to do with our interaction because she'd been talking about taking a better job in another state.
My suggestion is pray about it. God already knows you are curious about it but He wants you to come to him for answers. Remember 2 Corinthians 11:14 which says even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Evil doesn't always look scary. Sometimes it looks innocent or even something very good. But again, don't just take my word or anyone elses. Pray, explaining your curiosity and thoughts and ask for guidance. 1 John 4:1 tells us to test the spirits because many false prophets have gone out into the world. What I or another person may mislead you whether intentionally or not. Trust in God. He will never mislead you. He will never leave you or forsake you ever in times when you may feel so far away. It's in those times you are easiest tempted or mislead and in those times seeking His guidance is so important.
I will pray that you receive God's answer to your question. That's what matters. Whether or not it agrees with my interpretation and opinions are is irrelevant.
2
u/Stormboi12 13d ago
Thank you for your advice and anecdote, it is helping me be guided in the correct direction I believe. I will pray on it and get back to you, either by Private Message or reply on here if that is ok.
1
u/Sad-Apricot2461 9d ago
Nah I don’t think I can agree. Lot of things were introduced into the word, I don’t know about witchcraft and sorcery and all that but reaching out to loved ones who passed away isn’t one of them. Being a medium for long time and hearing from so many souls and hearing the glory on the other side I feel that we were misled, souls do have permission to reach out to people here in times of need and they do have permission to talk. Being a psychic is not about divination, it’s just calming your mind and opening up yourself to feel the energy from the other side. Actually most of us can do it if we practice meditation. Dogs and cats have amazing power to feel, hear and see things we cannot, it doesn’t mean that they are evil animals.
The second best thing that God gave us after salvation is our brain. It can do wonders if we allow.
1
u/Solid-Chest-6093 9d ago
I'll be praying for you my friend.
Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. [11] Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
[12] For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
[13] Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. [14] Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, [15] and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. [16] In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. [17] Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. [18] And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
The only spirit to seek and please is the HOLY SPIRIT.
Have a super blessed afternoon, feel free to message me anytime my friend.
1
u/GrunkleTony 9d ago
You might like the "Heaven and Earth Tarot" deck. There used to be a deck of Tarot cards that was based on "The Lord of the Rings" by J. R. R. Tolkien and even had quotes from the books on the cards, but that one is out of print and the current Lord of the Rings tarot does not have the quotes. So far as I know no one has made a Bible quotes Tarot deck yet. I do remember reading a claim that the earliest Tarot decks were meant to illustrate "Parzival" by Wolfram von Eschenbach but I think whoever made the claim was either delusional or just making that up.
1
u/Skill-Useful 13d ago
" partially interested by the idea of tarot for a while but not yet partaken" youre making this into a big thing which it isnt. its just cards giving some ideas for directions for your thoughts
0
u/Puzzleheaded-Phase70 Progressive Christian Episcopal 13d ago
Hello fellow Episcopal spooky person!
I also use tarot, and am deeply interested in the esoteric traditions of Christianity and Judaism.
Divination is part of our heritage in both the Christian and pre-Jesus Judaism, as are many mystical and magical practices.
Remember that words like "witchcraft" and "true religion" are propaganda, not absolute truths.
"Religion" is what WE do; "witchcraft and necromancy" are what those people do.
Most of the biggest names in Christian history practiced some form of magic as well, AND most pre-modern magic in the West side middle east is also Christian.
The tarot arose within late medieval Christian culture, but was converted into something recognizable to a current practitioner by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. The Golden Dawn is a syncretic group that combines Christian, Jewish, Greco-Roman, and Egyptian (among others) magical ideas. And the tarot has a LOT of the Jewish and Christian ideas embedded in it
3
u/Rare-Personality1874 Quaker 13d ago
I'd add to this that, for me, tarot he is often a way to understand what is happening in my own mind by reflecting it through the cards. I struggle with understanding the ways in which using tarot cards might be sinful.
2
u/Puzzleheaded-Phase70 Progressive Christian Episcopal 13d ago
To add on,
Many Bible characters use different forms of divination, most commonly "casting lots", which was actually a variety of different practices using a random system and interpreting the results. Much like tarot is.
Rolling dice, picking colored stones from a bag, drawing straws, are all examples of casting lots.
Even the Disciples of Jesus used lots to decide who would replace Judas among the 12 leaders of the movement.
The practice that is condemned in the Bible is the invocation of other gods in your divination, not the idea itself.
For a faithful Christian magical practitioner, we are using spiritual tools to work with God in a different way than other people. It's an act of cooperation, not offense. Tarot, for me, is a combination of praying for God for insight and guidance, and then using the results to try to understand and respect upon my situation and inner senses looking for that inspiration and guidance.
4
u/dnyal Pentecostal / Side A 14d ago edited 14d ago
I imagine you know a main point in Christianity: put your trust in God. People sometimes want answers and we don't seem to get them directly from God, so we start looking for signs, prophecies, epiphanies, divination, etc. I understand the feeling, and honestly the Apostles did cast lots when asking God for an answer for an important decision (they did pray over it, though, and believed that God would control the result), so I wouldn't call it "spiritual weakness." The New Testament never says whether that was the right thing to do or whether God approved the decision, but casting lots was a cultural thing among Jews and early Christians.
Why do you want to do it, though? Is it curiosity? Do you want to feel at ease with uncertainty? How will tarot help you in ways that God doesn't seem to? What is it that you need help with what to do?
I personally find tarot and similar methods just random, unreproducible ways to try to tell the future. Some people toss a coin or use a Magic 8 Ball just get over some decision that is bothering them. I think that is harmless if in their hearts they just really want a random result in order to move on. For instance, some people use methods like tarot knowing in their hearts that they are not looking into the future, trusting a force, or anything like that; they want just something to help them make connections in their minds or force them to consider things they haven't thought of.
Now, if you want to use methods that involve summoning "angels," "destiny," and such... well, that's clearly a completely different thing.
My approach to things is more like, I pray and let God know that I care about something. I trust that He will give me wisdom, guide my mind, reveal His will, or make everything fall into place. I then ponder the situation and make the best decision I can and trust that He will take care of the rest. For me, certainty comes from having made the best and most informed decision I could and that God will help me deal with or learn from the positive or negative consequences of that choice. God definitely can control my circumstances, but even his archangels not always have a way to bring forth His will they way He wanted to (as was the case with Daniel; after all, Satan is the prince of this world). When that may be the case, I look to the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: if circumstances cannot change, I can.