Yup.
Reports of a comet are found in Chinese records from 5 B.C.E., according to research published on December 3 in the Journal of the British Astronomical Association and written by Mark Matney, a planetary scientist at NASA, who conducted the research independently of the agency.
Have Astronomers Found the True ‘Star of Bethlehem’?
A scientist has identified a possible astronomical explanation for the Star of Bethlehem, as described in the Biblewww.scientificamerican.com
Matney recalls how, as a student, he worked at a planetarium that ran a Christmas sky show telling the story of the Star of Bethlehem, which rose in the southern sky until it appeared to come to a stop overhead. The planetarium show said that no known astronomical object could act in the way described by the story of the magi—Earth’s rotation means that everything in the sky rises in the east and sets in the west.
“I remember sitting there saying, ‘Oh, I know one that could do that,’” Matney says. He suspected that a long-period comet from the mysterious Oort Cloud, which lies far beyond the planets of our solar system, could be the key.
Not a sign from God
Why do you feel the need to change the story of Jesus and Christianity into something it is not? Is the power of the account, as originally presented, so powerful you feel it must be changed in order for you to be able to belittle it and try to tear it down?
There is an old adage that it is fine to question authority. It adds, "But when authority answers, do you listen?"
Or (here's a novel idea) the Star of Bethlehem was a star. No need to automatically negate everything we see in the Bible and manufacture an alternate reality just to prove how contrarian we can be.Reports of a comet are found in Chinese records from 5 B.C.E., according to research published on December 3 in the Journal of the British Astronomical Association and written by Mark Matney, a planetary scientist at NASA, who conducted the research independently of the agency.Have Astronomers Found the True ‘Star of Bethlehem’?
A scientist has identified a possible astronomical explanation for the Star of Bethlehem, as described in the Bible
Matney recalls how, as a student, he worked at a planetarium that ran a Christmas sky show telling the story of the Star of Bethlehem, which rose in the southern sky until it appeared to come to a stop overhead. The planetarium show said that no known astronomical object could act in the way described by the story of the magi—Earth’s rotation means that everything in the sky rises in the east and sets in the west.
“I remember sitting there saying, ‘Oh, I know one that could do that,’” Matney says. He suspected that a long-period comet from the mysterious Oort Cloud, which lies far beyond the planets of our solar system, could be the key.
Not a sign from God
Perhaps look more deeply into the story of Genesis. I am getting the impression you believe it is all about free will, and that God intended free will all along? Catholicism (a Christian faith) explores more deeply. It includes mankind's wish to know both good and evil--and the way they chose/convinced themselves to jump into that knowledge.
Shrug. Another point you don't get is that in Christianity, Jesus is the Word of God. Do you believe in the word of God? The Gospels and the Book of Revelation were addressed to Christians during a time of persecution. Once one confesses belief in Jesus, persecution because of this belief should have no effect due to persecution.
It can be. And like everything else, questioning can be misused. One way is to use questioning as an excuse not to take action. For example, some question why they should seek God so vehemently, they never bother to take action to seek God and to try his ways.
When the Greek word for "star" is placed in this context it could have been any one of a number of "astral bodies" that were "spread out" in the heavens.
A star in the sky CANNOT "lead" you to a place on earth. Not even Polaris
Exactly. Whatever the object was it was low enough in the sky to mark a specific location, in this case the house where Jesus was in Nazareth.
