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Astrotheology is natural theology based on observations of astronomy (or Patterns in the Heavens, celestial bodies).

Post-Newtonian eclipse
Prior to Newton astrotheology was a prominent theological view. Isaac Newton's astronomical achievements made necessary a distinction between astrotheology and natural theology which was based upon biology (a field that was later to be made famous by William Paley). Once Newton's work explained the patterns of motion, they did not seem to demand further purposive explanation, so natural theology turned to biology for evidence of purpose. Thereafter astrotheology became a neglected position, having its last prominent advocacy in the Bridgewater Treatises of 1833. In 1713 William Derham, an ordained priest in the Church of England, published Physicotheology, which outlines his astrotheological arguments. In 1715, he published Astrotheology: a Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God, from a Survey of the Heavens. With his semi-scientific examinations on nature he concluded that only a supreme creator could have been responsible for the creation of and functions of life. Derham had similar views of William Whiston, who succeeded Newton as the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University. Whiston was, however, charged with heresy with his view that celestial bodies were the work of the supreme creator, and that he asserted man became ignorant to such work. Dr. William Leitch answered many theological questions in regards to earlier astronomical observations. He published his work, in early 1800s, as God's Glory in the Heavens; or, Contributions to Theology.

Physico-Theology
Derham founded Physico-Theology, but he credited Robert Boyle for early Physico-Theology ways and addressed the book to Boyle as a service to him. Robert Boyle was a physicist and a chemist. Boyle worked together with John Ray, a naturalist. Together, Boyle and Ray had set the tone for the post-Newtonian natural theology, which moved it from inconsistent philosophy to a theology based on a series of minor theologies the English cultivated at the time.

Astro-Theology
Derham's Astro-Theology was written after Physico-Theology. It accounts for the historic views of theology influenced by astronomy, such as the Ptolemaic and Copernican systems. Derham further wrote his own observations of astronomy as to further astrotheology. Ray and Boyle's work, however, caused astrotheology to be marginalized by natural theology. Astronomy became only to illustrate the grandeur and expanse of creation, and the teleology of natural theology practically caused the abandonment of astrotheology. The patterns of astronomical motions had been historically supported teleology, but Physico-Theology made the already explained patterns less teleological to post-Newtonian natural theology.

The Sun moving Backwards
Derham challenged the Copernican system as falsified by events described in the Bible, which he took to involve the Sun moving backwards.
 * Gen 19:23: The sun was risen upon the Earth, when Lot entered into Zoar.


 * Gen 15:17: When the Sun went down, and it was dark, a smoking furnace.


 * Eccl 1:5: The Sun ariseth, and the Sun goeth down, and hasteth to the place where he arose.


 * Psal 19:5,6: The sun is said to come out of his Chamber like a Bridegroom, and to rejoice as a strong man to run a race. That his going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it.

Derham notes from the Bible how the Sun rises, sets, and stands still and goes backwards:
 * Josh 10:12,13: Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon, and thou Moon in the Valley of Ajalon. And the Sun stood still, and the Moon stayed. So the Sun stood still in the midst of Heaven, and hasteth not to down about a whole day.

Derham notes that in Kings 20:10 and Isai 28:8 the Sun is said to have returned ten degrees backward.

In film

 * Zeitgeist: the movie, in part I, portrayed Christianity as being derived from ancient civilizations and their worship of the sun and stars, which the movie associates such study to astrotheology. From its narration, "The Bible is nothing more than an astro-theological literary fold hybrid, just like nearly all religious myths before it." From the transcript of the movie on the website, there are several sources that have studied how the metaphoric perception of astrological bodies are compared to religious deities. Peter Josephs, the producer of the film, is quoted to have said, "It is my hope that people will not take what is said in the film as the truth, but find out for themselves, for truth is not told, it is realized."