Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

What was the Star of Bethlehem? Probably not a star.
Live Science ^ | December 21, 2020 | All About Space magazine

Posted on 12/01/2021 12:11:45 AM PST by SunkenCiv

...We know that Halley's Comet was visible in the sky in 11 B.C. However, as the Magi trekked toward Jerusalem and on to Bethlehem, it seems unlikely that they followed a comet because its position would have changed as the Earth rotated, so the comet would not have led them in a single direction. What's more, in the ancient world, comets were often regarded as bad omens...

We can also rule out novas and supernovas. Either event would have resulted in a detectable remnant, but astronomers have not found anything that might date back to this time.

Furthermore, had the Magi followed one, they probably would have walked in a circle...

Such an event would surely have been seen by others at the time, too. Although novas are reportedly quite rare, you'd still expect to find other historical accounts of a large, bright event in the sky.

Other theories suggest a supernova in the Andromeda galaxy as the cause...

This leads us to one of two possibilities. The first is that the Magi were making an astrological interpretation of the sky. The fact that they needed to ask Herod for directions when they arrived suggests they were not being led to their final destination by a single bright object...

Astronomer Michael Molnar suggested that a conjunction theory might be correct in his book "The Star of Bethlehem" (Rutgers University Press, 1999). If the "star" was the result of a conjunction (and this historical event did really happen), then there are a number of different alignments that could be the culprit.

Perhaps the most promising, and the one favored by Mathews, is an alignment of Jupiter, Saturn, the moon and the sun in the constellation of Aries on April 17, 6 B.C.

(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: astrologers; astrology; astronomy; godsgravesglyphs; michaelmolnar; science; starofbethlehem; staroftheeast
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-47 last
To: PIF

Duh! I (and others) always miss the obvious. However, did God cause there to be clouds so they would have to ask Herod in order for the prophecies to be fulfilled?

I’m guessing there are various types of prophecies. Ones that foretell God’s actions, and others that see into the future, and “see” events that are not caused by God?


41 posted on 12/01/2021 11:42:34 AM PST by 21twelve (Ever Vigilant. Never Fearful.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: caww

Elisha’s servant


42 posted on 12/01/2021 12:04:36 PM PST by xone ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Deplorable American1776

#32 it was a alien starship that left it’s lights on.
You know they always light when landing in cornfields etc.


43 posted on 12/01/2021 7:39:31 PM PST by minnesota_bound (I need more money. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: hecticskeptic
One of the best arguments in favor of a "natural" event with Divine manifestations is the behavior of Herod and his advisors in the Biblical story.

If three (or more) guys from lands far to the East had showed up and told them about the sign they had seen in the sky foretelling the birth of a great Jewish king, then they would have been dismissed as hallucinating crazy men if they were describing something that was only visible to them.

They were not dismissed at all. In fact, Herod took them very seriously and was clearly very interested in what these men had to say after they explained what motivated them to travel to Jerusalem.

44 posted on 12/02/2021 12:55:08 AM PST by Alberta's Child ("All lies and jest, ‘til a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Alberta's Child

Like many people, Herod probably had some inkling of what the scriptures said. Hence when some intelligent strangers showed up speaking in a manner of fact way about the birth of the King and Herod got wind of this, he knew enough to ask the question of where Christ was prophesized to be born (Matthew 2:4). Why was that? It was because he knew that scriptures spoke of a coming King. This is completely analogous to the current age where we all know that the King is coming again…..and the only people who don’t admit that are unrepentant sinners who are lying to themselves.

Hallucinating? So the wise men would be hallucinating if they suggest that a ‘star’ that was only visible to them had lead them to Jerusalem?…… but they are not hallucinating and are to be taken seriously when they talked about whatever it was that motivated them (likely coming to them in dreams) such that a group of them should embark on a long journey because of a fervent belief that the King of creation had just been born? And they were there to worship this Child? I don’t get that logic of why one scenario would present them as hallucinating and the other does not….

They were not dismissed at all….. Yes, Herod took them seriously because the understanding of God is written on people’s hearts. I’ve seen that myself with people who have had the gospel presented to them and even though these individuals may not have had any understanding of scripture itself, they knew what truth was when it was presented to them. How was that possible? It has been written into their DNA. Herod knew in his heart that he heard truth, and this is why he called for the wise men to come to him where he could ask them a question of when the ‘star’ first appeared to them (verse 7). As we find out later, he used this information to put plans in place to kill all the male children that were younger than that in his misguided attempt to get rid of Jesus.


45 posted on 12/02/2021 6:27:22 AM PST by hecticskeptic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: 21twelve

There is clear evidence of God’s presence all around ... particularly in the sciences. The most compelling example to me since childhood is the total solar eclipse.

That is, although the moon is just about 400 times smaller in diameter than the sun, it is, by the same ratio, about 400 times closer to Earth ... and we’re here to observe it! A set of “coincidences” that defies mere happenstance.


46 posted on 12/02/2021 6:36:06 AM PST by glennaro (Although I don't believe in "big conspiracies", neither do I believe in "big coincidences")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: glennaro

Ha - that is one I point to also!


47 posted on 12/02/2021 2:58:06 PM PST by 21twelve (Ever Vigilant. Never Fearful.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-47 last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson