Study of Idolatry, the Torah's Attitude to Astrology, and More
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Question
Hello, I'm a bit stressed... I visited a website that seems related to idolatry and even read some of the material. I feel like I need to cleanse my mind and am worried that if I now look at things related to my life or people close to me, after having looked at something bad, it might affect them too... Additionally, I wanted to ask what is meant by the phrase 'you shall not make for yourself a graven image or any likeness'? Why are there statues and pictures in homes? Are symbolic necklaces or statues problematic? For example, a hamsa - a symbol against the 'evil eye', and I have a heart necklace that I want to wear when I go to challenging places so that when I look at it, I remember love and positivity... Is this problematic? Thank you! If possible, one more question: is engaging in astrology and birth dates, astronomy, etc., a problem according to religion? This confuses me because, on one hand, Abraham our forefather looked at the stars for insight, and on the other hand, it seems like following non-Jewish laws.
Answer
Hello.
A. There is no need to avoid looking at or thinking about people and things after reading about idolatry. Although it is forbidden to study idolatry without necessity, there is no possibility that it will transfer to them.
B. The Torah forbids making statues and images for the purpose of idolatry.
Most images and forms are permitted to be made for decoration or any other purpose, except for a few forms that are forbidden to make. For example, the form of a complete human, the form of angels, forms of the sun, moon, and stars.
Even the forbidden forms are permitted to be made for educational purposes, for example. Someone who wants to study the movement of the sun can draw it. Similarly, someone who wants to study medicine is allowed to make the form of a human, and so on.
C. Forms like a hamsa or heart that serve as symbolic reminders of something good are permitted. However, it is forbidden to make a form as a way to receive mystical influence from it.
D. Before receiving the Torah, it was possible to obtain information from astrology and the like. But after receiving the Torah, we are told, 'You shall be wholehearted with the Lord, your God'.
We must ask God, pray to Him, and believe that He can always change fate for the better.
Source
Deuteronomy 18:13
You shall be wholehearted with the Lord, your God.