No Hocus-Pocus

Janet Parshall will share some interesting data on Christians and their use of New Age practices in her commentary for this week.

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Episode Transcript

S1 (00:02):
The comedian Steven Wright once said, I stayed up all
night playing poker with tarot cards. I got a full
house and four dead people. While the dry witted comic
was poking fun at the use of tarot cards, far
too many Christians are playing with them.

S2 (00:15):
Here to unpack present day issues from a biblical perspective
is Janet Parshall.

S1 (00:21):
For some time, the Pew Research Center has found a
growing number of Americans calling themselves spiritual who have been
drawn to New Age practices. One of those practices is
the use of tarot cards. Starting in the 15th century,
tarot cards have been used for fortune telling. Usually, a
psychic draws the cards and interprets what the cards mean
for a recipient. The reader of the cards draws on

(00:42):
a spirit which is known as divination. Using the images
on the cards, the reader then tells the recipient's future.
A fall 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that 30%
of American adults say they consult astrology or horoscope, tarot cards,
or a fortune teller at least once a year. Some
do it just for fun, and some Americans say they

(01:02):
make major decisions based on what they learn along the way.
In a more recent survey, Pew found 27% of U.S.
adults say they believe in astrology. The idea that the
position of the stars and planets can affect people's lives.
In 2017, when that identical question was asked, 29% answered
the same way. Gallup polls from 1990 to 2005 consistently

(01:22):
found that between 23 and 28% of Americans believe in astrology,
younger adult women are more likely to use astrology or horoscopes. 43%
of women ages 18 to 49 say they believe in astrology.
That compares with 27% of women ages 50 and older, 20%
of men ages 18 to 49, and 16% of men

(01:42):
who are 50 or older. About half of LGBT Americans
consult astrology or horoscope at least yearly, roughly twice the
share among U.S. adults overall, and lesbian women are more
likely than homosexual men to consult astrology at least yearly.
So where do Christians fall in this survey? Well, Pew
research found that one out of every four Christians used
this stuff. 27% consult astrology like horoscopes, at least once

(02:06):
or twice a year, while 9% turned tarot cards and 6%
to fortune tellers. Christians should have nothing to do with
these practices. Deuteronomy 1810 and 11 reminds us, let no
one be found among you who practices divination or sorcery,
interprets omens, engages in witchcraft or cast spells, or who
is a medium or spiritualist, or who consults the dead.

(02:28):
And Ephesians five six and seven says, do not let
anyone fool you by telling you things that aren't true,
because these things will bring God's anger on those who
don't obey him, so have nothing to do with them.
Throw away the horoscopes, tear up the tarot cards, and
learn to trust the one who has already planned and
prepared your future. Those are my thoughts. I'm Janet Parshall.

S2 (02:47):
For more information or to connect with us, go to.
In the market with Janet Parshall.