St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430 CE): The Church Father Who Rejected Astrology
How Augustine’s struggle with fate, free will, and the stars shaped Christian teaching for centuries.
Fast Facts
- Full Name: Aurelius Augustinus (St. Augustine of Hippo)
- Born: November 13, 354 CE — Thagaste, North Africa (modern Souk Ahras, Algeria)
- Died: August 28, 430 CE — Hippo Regius, North Africa
- Known for: Influential Church Father; author of Confessions, The City of God, On Christian Doctrine
- Legacy: Shaped Western Christianity’s views on sin, grace, free will, and fate
Early Life & Astrology’s Appeal
Augustine grew up in a culture where astrology was mainstream. His mother, Monica, was a devout Christian, but Augustine himself was restless, drawn to philosophy and worldly pursuits. In Confessions, he admitted that he once believed in astrology and even consulted astrologers during his youth:
“I was deceived, seduced, and enslaved by them; but my God, by Your mercy, You rescued my soul from their strong teeth.”
— Confessions, Book VII
His personal brush with astrology gave his later rejection of it a sharp edge. He knew firsthand how compelling it could seem — and how dangerous he thought it was to Christian faith.
Augustine’s Critique of Astrology
In Confessions and other works, Augustine argued against astrology on several grounds:
1) Free Will vs. Fate
He believed astrology undermined human freedom. If the stars determined behavior, then people could not be held accountable for their sins. For Augustine, free will was essential to Christian teaching.
“If anyone commits adultery because Venus compelled him, why is he punished by the law?”
— City of God, Book V
2) The Problem of Twins
Augustine famously used the example of twins: born under the same stars, yet often living completely different lives. This, to him, disproved astrology’s determinism.
“What can astrology say when two twins are born at the same time, yet one is rich, the other poor; one honored, the other despised?”
— City of God, Book V
3) Demonic Deception
Augustine warned that astrologers often trafficked with demons, cloaking their practices in pseudo-science. He urged Christians to reject their counsel entirely.
Scripture, Stars, and Symbolism
Although Augustine rejected astrology, he did not ignore the stars. In his writings, he often spoke of the heavens as symbols of God’s order and beauty. For him, Psalm 19 (“the heavens declare the glory of God”) was a hymn of praise — but not a license for divination. Augustine interpreted the sun, moon, and stars as reminders of God’s creation, not as forces guiding human destiny.
Key Quotes from Augustine
“The astrologers are wrong, not because the stars are not signs, but because they say what they cannot know.”
“It is not the position of the stars that compels us, but the depravity of our hearts.”
“The heavens are the work of God’s hands, but they are not gods.”
Legacy & Influence
St. Augustine’s rejection of astrology became hugely influential in Christian thought. Later theologians like Thomas Aquinas followed his lead, distinguishing between the natural influence of the stars (on tides, weather, or temperament) and the soul’s freedom in moral choice. Augustine’s arguments helped draw a line that would remain standard in Christian theology: the stars may mark time, but they do not dictate human destiny.
Through Augustine, astrology was pushed to the margins of Christianity, surviving mostly in mystical and esoteric traditions rather than in mainstream doctrine. Yet his passionate refutation also testifies to astrology’s power in his world: he fought it so strongly because so many believed it.