Our man Anton Petrov discusses various speculative hypotheses concerning the Star of Bethlehem. They are surprisingly interesting, including a recent attempt to prove that the "star" was a comet in geosynchronous orbit. Apparently, such a comet would appear to be move "right ahead" an observer and even "stand still" over the same location for hours. Sounds familiar?
However, there are also problems with this theory (as with all the others) and Petrov eventually reaches the conclusion (backed by most secular Bible scholars) that the Star of Bethlehem is pious fiction. After all, the only source for such a phenomenon *even in the Bible* is the Gospel of Matthew! Of course, a Christian might explain it as a miracle, perhaps an angel appearing as a star (I believe the Jehovah´s Witnesses claim it was the Devil instead).
I suppose it´s possible that a real celestial event, perhaps a nova or a planetary conjunction around the Year Zero, could have inspired the author of the Gospel to invent an even grander story. Note also the peculiar fact that the new Jewish king is hailed by astrologers from the Parthian Empire! Which surely means something.
With that, I close this little post. Merry Christmas!
En komet kan inte stanna över ett stall och leda persiska mager dit. Den så kallade stjärnan uppförde sig vare som som en komet eller en supernova. Möjligen då som ett UFO men Petrov tror ju inte på sådana. Jag tror också att det var en legend utan någon verklighetsbakgrund.
ReplyDeleteErik R
Sjundedagsadventister verkar mena att "stjärnan" var en eller flera änglar.
ReplyDeleteNej, men om kometen rör sig i en särskild sorts omloppsbana kan det se ut så för en observatör på marken. Tydligen. Problemet med denna teori verkar vara att alla i hela världen borde ha sett kometen och dess illusoriska rörelser, men Matteus är den enda källan. Och där inträffar det ju bara över Betlehem. Håller faktiskt med om att UFO är en annan möjlighet, men då måste man mycket riktigt tro på sådana!
ReplyDeleteUndrar vad kyrkofäderna ansåg om stjärnan? Borde kanske kolla upp det...
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ReplyDelete"Nej, men om kometen rör sig i en särskild sorts omloppsbana kan det se ut så för en observatör på marken." Nja. man kan ju tänka sig att när magerna närmade sig Betlehem stod kometen högst upp på himlen. Men det skulle knappast kunna upplevas som om den stannade precis ovanför just den byggnad som Jesus befann sig i.
"Efter att ha lyssnat till kungen gav de sig i väg, och stjärnan som de hade sett gå upp gick före dem, tills den slutligen stannade över den plats där barnet var." Inget astronomiskt objekt kan bete sig så.Inte ens se ut som om det betedde sig så.
ReplyDeletePlanetary conjunction which has been mythicized into the Matthew story.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.astronomy.com/science/the-star-of-bethlehem-can-science-explain-what-it-was/
There could be hidden astronomical and therefore astrological allusions in the Bible and Christian tradition. Why is John the Baptist born six months before Jesus? If Jesus was born on the Winter Solstice, wouldn't that make John born on the Summer Solstice? As Christian tradition indeed suggests?
ReplyDeleteBut note that the six months thing comes from the Gospel of Luke! There is a theory that Jesus was born on the Fall Equinox. Something about Luke regering to what priestly class served in the Temple when Jesus or John were born. The classes rotated so this would date the birth of Jesus. But the Fall Equinox is also astronomical and falls in the sign of Virgo...and Jesus was born of a virgin!
ReplyDelete"Luke refering"...
ReplyDeleteOk, was the crucifixion on the Spring Equinox? In the sign of Aries. And Jesus is the paschal lamb who is sacrificed. But during the time of Jesus, the Spring Equinox changed to Pisces. Is that why the lamb is sacrificed once and for all? In the same way as Mithra sacrifices the bull when the age of Taurus is replaced by the Age of Aries?
ReplyDeleteAnd a Fish as a symbol of Christianity!
DeleteBingo!
DeleteMy point: the Star of Betlehem could have been freely based on an astronomical phenomenon with astrological significance. This knowledge was later lost and here we are...
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