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What WAS the Star of Bethlehem?
December 27, 2007 |
Posted by joanied · Filed Under Christmas, Folk Theology
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/TECH/space/12/27/star.coverup/index.html
Part of what that page says is: ” A U.S. astronomer said he has uncovered the first reference to the star of Bethlehem outside the Bible, in the 4th-century writings of a Christian convert who wanted to hide the astrological roots of the celestial phenomenon. ”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Bethlehem
That page also talks about the star. One thing it says is, “Chinese and Korean stargazers observed an object thought to be a nova or a comet around 5 BC. This object was observed for over seventy days with no movement recorded. Ancient writers described comets as “hanging over” specific cities, just as the Star of Bethlehem was said to have “stood over” the “place” where Jesus was (presumably the town of Bethlehem). This phrase was not used to describe other astronomical objects, so perhaps the tail of a comet was thought to point to a specific terrestrial location.”
If the story about the star was not pure legend, what do you think it was? And how did the wise men “follow it?” It’s one thing to think that astrologers studied the sky and interpreted things as indicating a king was going to be born. It’s another thing to think that they “followed” that star for months until they came to where it was standing over the building where Jesus was. How did it “stand?” I ask because I would really like to know how I want to consider the star myself and I keep changing what I think. It really doesn’t matter much at all to the story and facts of Jesus, but it makes me curious.
Joanie D.
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Excellent question Joanie, I have been stymied by the same thing.
the bible sometimes speaks of it as an astronomical phenomen that could be seen by wise men continents away, but how could that point to a single place on Earth? I’m not limiting God’s supernatural ability but its almost in the square circle category.
I have heard it described as the Shekinah/ glory of God which makes sense for the local “spotlight” aspect, but would that be seen by men thousands of miles away?
Perhaps it is both?
But I still don’t see how any star, or alignment of planets or comet could point to a single town on the planet.
http://www.amazon.com/Star-Bethlehem-Frederick-Larson/dp/B000UAE7IQ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1198884201&sr=1-1
Hey, maybe I need to get that DVD. The people who reivew it on Amazon surely loved it. I see it was just released in October of 2007 so hopefully the creator of it has the most recent info that can be known about this possible event.
Joanie D.
The creator of the Bethlehem Star video spoke at my university a couple years ago. I would expect that all or nearly all of the information contained in the DVD is in a 30-40 page paper posted at:
http://www.bethlehemstar.net/
It’s certainly cool, and REALLY cool if it turns out to be true.
For his claims to stand up, they have to be supported biblically, scientifically, and historically. I’m convinced that it passes the first two.
The only part of his argument that I can’t judge is his opening claim that Herod died in 1 B. C., thus opening the possibility that Jesus was born in 2 B. C. If this is consistent with historical evidence, then I’m convinced by the entire argument. If Herod died earlier, the entire argument fails.
Personally, I have to completely reserve judgment. I don’t know enough about the details of Herod and Josephus to know the difference between standard history and conspiracy theory.
Jeffrey, thanks for that link to http://www.bethlehemstar.net/ I have printed it out all and read a lot of it already. I did find the section in “The Starry Dance” about the Book of Revelation and John’s talking about the woman, sun, stars, moon to be very interesting too. Plus, Amazon notified me yesterday that the DVD has been shipped so I will see it soon. But like you said, this online paper likely has all the info the DVD has. The DVD may be something people may be more apt to view if I lend it out to them.
I find it interesting what the writer says about looking at the sky to discover what God intends, not looking at it as if the stars MAKE things happen. He or she writes, “Astrology assumes that stars are CAUSES OF earthly events. The Bible assumes that they can be MESSAGES ABOUT earthly events.” (NOTE the capitalized words were actually italicized, but I can’t do that here.)
Joanie D.
Jeffrey, I did get the video about the Star of Bethlehem and you are right that the website has all the info that was in the DVD. I think there was actually more on the website than in the DVD.
The DVD was kind of like Al Gore’s “movie” about global warming…just talking and showing slides with a little bit of showing him “researching.” I think the points the creator of the DVD brings out would have been more powerful if he was not a committed Christian himself. I can see non-Christians feeling he makes some great leaps to assign meaning to some of the things he talks about. But I still thinks he makes some good points.
I still have trouble with the idea, though, that Jupiter “stood” above the town of Bethlehem. If I look up at the sky and see a planet, it may look to me that the planet is off to the west or the east or something else. So I could go travel in that direction, trying to get where I feel I am “under” the planet. But even when that has happened, I don’t feel like I would be in a particular TOWN; I may be in some area of the world, but I really don’t know how that would work.
Joanie D.