Is there any evidence for the existence of the star which signified Christ's birth

asks Woolley:

A. Many experts think that the star was something spectacular, such as supernova or a comet. However, one American astronomer, Michael Molnar, believes the light in the sky was due�to an obscure astrological event.

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Q. What was it
A. He believes it was double eclipse of Jupiter in a rare astrological conjunction.

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Q. Is that a big enough event
A. Molnar says that it would have been highly significant to ancient Roman astrologers.

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Q. What date did it happen
A. It occurred in Aries on 20 March, 6BC, and again on 17 April, 6BC.

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Q. What evidence does he have for this
A. He studied the symbolism on Roman coins which led him to believe that Roman astrologers interpreted this astrological event as the sign of the birth of a divine king in Judea. However, for years he had nothing to back up his theory. Now he has found verification.

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Q. What is it
A. He says he has found the first mention of the star of Bethlehem outside the Bible. It's in a manuscript which was written by a Roman astrologer and Christian convert called Firmicus Maternus in 334AD. Maternus described an astrological event involving an eclipse of Jupiter by the Moon in Aries, and said that it signified the birth of a divine king.

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Q. Spooky! Did he mention Jesus
A. No, but Molnar explains that the early Christians were very much against pagan beliefs and would not have wanted to validate the story of Jesus' birth with astrological hocus-pocus. He says that early Christians thought that it was vital to hide the true nature of the star.

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Q. Why
A. They believed that theologians would get bogged down in discussions about celestial influences that were not part of Christianity. As a result, they drew a veil over the origin of the star, and eventually it was lost from memory.

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By Sheena Miller

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