Before we start talking of the star, let’s have a look at the available data. Jesus Christ was born sometime before the Birth of Christ. Makes sense, doesn’t it? The good monk Dionysius Exiguus who did the calculation of the birth date went wrong by several years. It is generally believed today that Jesus was born before 4 B.C. and after 8 B.C. And the exact date of birth is even less known, maybe somewhere in November. December 25th is one of these many assumed dates, religious people adopted to convert the heathen. And other churches, other dates, in the East it’s January 6th. No big help either.
The best known story is the one of the three kings which weren’t kings, but magi; astrologers of the Zoroastrian religion maybe and maybe even probably, as they were renowned for their astrological skills at that time. But what could three priests be looking for in a foreign king, what made them travel?
Let’s set out with what we have. The wise men are only mentioned in the Gospel of St Matthew, which was written somewhere in the first or second century A.D. As Matthew was variously beheaded, burnt, and died of natural causes, a long live span seems in keeping. The content of the gospel is therefore about as precise as my knowledge of the first Thanksgiving in America without the resources of books and internet. It doesn’t mention three wise men either, only three gifts.
Like the Jews, Zoroastrians believe that a Messiah will one day come and establish the kingdom of God on earth. Like the Jews, they are still waiting for it to happen. But something triggered their interest at that time to go and have a once over of the new born king. Obviously they had seen an astronomical event that was of importance, but just as obviously not important enough to invite Jesus for a recall.
So what happened in the skies above the East? A UFO? A comet? A supernova? Astronomers using a state of the art program on computers rolled back the skies to the time frame mentioned. We just have to assume that our computers do better than Dionysius, but let’s pretend they do. What should they look for? The UFO is clearly out of question, as the beetles of Betelgeuse Zeta have little interest in earthly kings, and hovering for months, while three old men plodded through the desert seems asking a bit much even of beetles.
A comet was first depicted by the Italian painter Giotto in 1301 still under the impression of Halley’s Comet passing. And a comet it couldn’t have been, as comets are harbingers of destruction, war, and pestilence. True, if you look at the crusades, but not what would have impressed Zoroastrian priests. A supernova would fit the bill of being spectacular, but wouldn’t it have asked for more than a primary screening? Not being asked for a second interview looks like a more common phenomenon.
That leaves our neighbours in the skies as guides, and seemingly in 7 B.C. there was a series of unusual constellations between Jupiter and Saturn, where they seemed to travel backwards or even stand still on certain days. And these occurrences repeated themselves over several months, enough time to get the old camel and do the hike. The phenomenon would have started in May, been repeated in September, and again in November. As the date of December was fixed only in 400 A.D. to coincide with the feast of Sol Invictus (The invincible Sun) and the feast of Mithras, the god of the Zoroastrians (in a belated try to tell them they should have given that second interview), this is at least a possibility.
At the same time, it would explain why the Zoroastrians were not convinced. A planet travelling backwards always means negative energy, and standing still is obviously immobility. Looking at the sects that call themselves Christian Churches these days (no exceptions granted), they seem to have been uncannily right in that assessment. Insert the value of Jupiter as freedom and mental development (going backwards means less freedom and development reversed) and add to this the value of Saturn as angst, and you have the complete history of Christianity down pat.
Want to check an interesting theory out about the phenomena?
I wrote about the Star of Bethlehem based on possible scientific evidence from the Bible?
Believe it or not you decide?
HJ, as your article stating the details of this theory is not published on a Triond site, would you kindly put in the web address where it may be found?
Thanks
Well since you’ve discredited the Matthew account entirely, why even discuss the matter? Or raise the issue? Merry Christmas! Brian
You too, Brian, Merry X-mas!
You saw right to the point, actually, the three kings are a lovely story, why use any sort of science on it? just let it rest on it’s own merits as a story, like all other stories from the bible
Lukas
I love reading about biblical stuff.
After going through my religious education and my experiences I realised one day that religious-power is kept by never revealing any evidence and maintaining fabulous, wild fables.
Keeping it mysterious, mystical and unfounded has worked well for religion. Finally, humanity is finding the truth that few of the stories from the Holy Books are based on anything but people’s vivid imaginings. Leave that up to the poets!
I loved this piece, Lucas, well done . j
We will never know for sure but it seems likely it was the constellations. Of course the bible is all fables. I have never understood why we call all the Greek stories fables and take the bible so seriously.
That’s an interesting theory.
Inna
Very interesting! Well written piece.
Loved the article Lucas, well done.
wow…very informing, nice work.
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I was reading again above you had written,”Jesus Christ was born sometime before the Birth of Christ. Makes sense, doesn’t it? The good monk Dionysius Exiguus who did the calculation of the birth date went wrong by several years. It is generally believed today that Jesus was born before 4 B.C. and after 8 B.C.
Why not exactly 1 C
Would U like to see also my article The History of Christmas? (Triond.com)
well call jhonny I think I like it.
Great work, you are a great writter.
want to see something really neet, a friend just gave me this link the other day, it is different, so if anyone wants to see it here is the like, it is in movie format, no down loading.
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/
good aritical by the way.
Hi I Am tate I like the way you think you will have them all questioning their evangelical puritan pilgram background lolI send you this as a reward
The Garden of Tears
Across the road a cemetery bloomed.
In the ancient noon day light.
An old man stood to his task.
Of tending the graves each night.
He had spent his youth working..
Too afraid to spend emotion.
Took all he could from everyone.
To be king fish in a little ocean.
Romance was not his forte.
He practiced distain for mankind.
Never giving himself to another.
Closed away his heart and mind.
Thinking life to be a race.
He had pushed his way along.
stepping on friends and family.
He whistled.But heard no song.
Now retired and long lived.
He thought himself to be paid.
To have outlived all the others.
Was the reward for plans he’d made.
As he looked to stones he tended.
For all those he’d known in life.
An old dream ached within his chest.
For words written to this wife.
She had once been his first love.
The only one he had ever known.
Lost to another in his youth.
He was aged.But never grown!
Now his tears water her grave..
Stones of family she had grew.
The dreams of lost love fading.
Wonders of the life he never knew.
Called to rest some time ago.
He lies cold among his peers.
As shadow on a winter night.
He walks the graveyard of his tears.
Tate
nice theory…
based on your article,
i wrote the Birth of Jesus Christ,
a scientific discourse,
did u read it .
pl do
then we can exchange
our noble views
lh