Posted on 12/09/2008 11:28:16 AM PST by Free ThinkerNY
Astronomers have calculated that Christmas should be in June, by charting the appearance of the 'Christmas star' which the Bible says led the three Wise Men to Jesus.
They found that a bright star which appeared over Bethlehem 2,000 years ago pinpointed the date of Christ's birth as June 17 rather than December 25.
The researchers claim the 'Christmas star' was most likely a magnificent conjunction of the planets Venus and Jupiter, which were so close together they would have shone unusually brightly as a single "beacon of light" which appeared suddenly.
If the team is correct, it would mean Jesus was a Gemini, not a Capricorn as previously believed.
Australian astronomer Dave Reneke used complex computer software to chart the exact positions of all celestial bodies and map the night sky as it would have appeared over the Holy Land more than 2,000 years ago.
It revealed a spectacular astronomical event around the time of Jesus's birth.
Mr Reneke says the wise men probably interpreted it as the sign they had been waiting for, and they followed the 'star' to Christ's birthplace in a stable in Bethlehem, as described in the Bible.
Generally accepted research has placed the nativity to somewhere between 3BC and 1AD.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Three wise men would have known better.
So what?
If my kids want to buy me presents, make me a cake and celebrate my birthday in August, I would love it!
Eventhough my birthday is in January.
Does that mean the Jehovah’s Witnesses would be too busy to come up to me during the summer because they’re doing Christmas Shopping?
I don't think the Bible numbers the Magi. Only the gifts. If they can't get that right, then what else don't they know?
As a (rank) astro buff, I’ve always been intrigued with this quest, and have read many plausible natural explanations for the “Christmas Star.” Actually, from around 8 BC through 1 BC there were quite a few significant conjunctions in some key constellations that could be interpreted as ‘the’ event.
From the Biblical texts re: the visit of the Magi and slaughter of the Holy Innocents up to 2 years of age that followed, the appearance would have had to happen a year or two before Herod the Great died (~1 BC?). Also, the article again erroneously implies that the Wise Men were at the stable shortly after Jesus’ birth, when it was written that they visited the Christ CHILD in a HOUSE (i.e. months later).
By the time the Wise Men found Jesus, He was a child living in a house with His parents, not a baby in a manger. He could have been as old as two years, since Herod had all the male Hebrew children two years and younger put to death in order to try to kill Jesus.
So it doesn’t really matter what time of year the Wise Men found Jesus.
According to the Bible, Jesus started His ministry at age 30, and was put to death 3 1/2 years later at the Passover. Given that the Passover occurs in late March or early April(first full moon after the Spring Equinox), Jesus would have been born 1/2 year before that, in late September or early October.
Now, given that He was born in late September or early October, it means that He was conceived in late December or early January. Since life begins at conception, it is entirely appropriate to celebrate His coming to earth at that time.
“If they can’t get that right, then what else don’t they know?”
“...they followed the ‘star’ to Christ’s birthplace in a stable in Bethlehem, as described in the Bible.”
To answer your question, here’s one other thing they don’t know - the Bible never says they went to the stable...
Not to mention that nobody in their right mind would’ve insisted everyone travel back to their home town for a census in the dead of winter...let alone there be shepherds lying in the fields with their sheep...in the snow.
It’s been said for years that shepherds wouldn’t be watching their flocks at night in the dead of winter.
Jesus would have been born in the springtime, say some.
And who CARES what His zodiac sign might have been?
And wasn’t the current Christmas observance superimposed over a former pagan holiday?
None of this, of course, diminishes in any way the Miracle of the Nativity of our Lord.
It is quite possible and quite probable that Jesus Christ was NOT born on December 25th as that day was the old Roman Winter Solstice celebration that was taken over by the resurgent Christian church.
However, we have now been celebrating Christmas on December 25th for 2 millenia. So, if and when Jesus’s birth certificate is found with a March or June birthday (and mark my words, we will find Jesus’s BC before we find Bam’s BC!), I will still celebrate December 25th as Christmas.
Theologically I dont think churches would care. The Lord was born and the world was saved and if we take one day to honor Him, it does not theologically or spirtually matter if that was the exact day He was born.
Plus a summer Christmas would not be as much fun. Santa in his heavy winter coats would have a serious case of BO
Didn’t the wise men also find Christ as a “small child” and not an infant? This would suggest that they arrived a significant time after the birth. Thus the two dates may not be incompatible.
So?
>And who CARES what His zodiac sign might have been?
Kooky astrologers and people in discos.
>And wasn’t the current Christmas observance superimposed over a former pagan holiday?
Yup, as were a bunch of others.
>None of this, of course, diminishes in any way the Miracle of the Nativity of our Lord.
Nope, not a bit.
Could they have been following three UFO’s?
Ironically, this article acknowledges Jesus Christ as an actual historical person and not a myth in an effort to discredit the traditional December birth date. Non-believers hoist once again upon their own petard.
Astronomers who care about Jesus’ astrological sign are really ASTROLOGISTS.
As were “the pillar of smoke by day and pillar of fire by night”, it could *also* have been an entirely supernatural object put there intentionally by God.
I have been hearing the “It wasn’t in December” stuff since I was a child in the 60’s. You Know - It doesn’t matter one iota to me.
The astronomers know little of astrology, which makes their opinion on such a matter valuless. .
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.