Matematyka czartowska czy pobożna? Dwa oblicza astrologii w kazaniach reformata Antoniego Węgrzynowicza
Mathematics divine or devilish? Two faces of astrology in Antoni Węgrzynowicz’s sermons

Summary/Abstract: The article concerns the sermons of baroque preacher Antoni Węgrzynowicz (a member of the Order of the Reformati). These two sermons present completely different pictures of astrology. The first is a kind of small anti-astrological treatise. The preacher applies the rhetorical figure – subiectio. The sermon takes on the form of exchanging questions and answers between the preacher and a fictitious astrologer. Węgrzynowicz uses philosophical, moral and legislative (ecclesiastical and secular) arguments. He tries to invalidate arguments put forward by the followers of astrology. The other sermon is an example of an astrology which was christianised. The sermonizer uses astrological terms to describe a theological matter. For example, he describes Christ’s life through the signs of the zodiac. Thus, we have two radically different ways of describing astrology. On the one hand, there is a horoscopic astrology which is a deadly sin, a form of evil magic, on the other hand astrology is only a collection of terminological props which are then reinterpreted by the preacher.

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