Who sent the Star? (Matthew 2:1,2)

[goodlife]

In nativity scenes or plays that depict three kings or wise men visiting the newborn Jesus as he lay in a manger, most people feel that God used a star to lead them to the stable in Bethlehem. What do you think?

[jomifl]

The star couldn't have been a celestial object as it would have followed the same apparent path through the heavens as it's neigbours, unless it was venus rising though it would not have been visible at night. The only place in the heavens where a star would appear to be motionless is close to where the pole star is, but that would be in the North not the East as in the story. If the star was in the East then the wise men must have come out of the mediterranean sea, because it isn't that far from the Med. to Jerusalem.
:-)

[naomi24]

Goodlife, it has been answered. No one 'sent' it. If it existed it was due to one of the possible explanations given.

And you haven't answered Chakka's question. How could a star hang over a particular house?

Of course, there is another train of thought. Perhaps it was an alien spaceship. ;o)

[jomifl]

Even a geosynchrous satellite wouldn't fit the bill as if it was in an equatorial orbit it couldn't appear to be in the east except at the equator and if it was in an inclined orbit so that it did appear in the east momentarily (in the Mediterranean) then it would appear to move North to South and back once a day. Hope this helps (or not) :-)

[naomi24]

Well, that's that theory buggered then. :o)

[Truthabounds]

The peculiar nature of the star caught the eye of “wise men” from the East.
Some have suggested that it was a natural celestial phenomenon. A number of scholars have proposed that it was a conjunction of planets.

These “wise men” were not what we would today call academics; nor were they kings. They were astrologers engaged in a practice condemned in the Bible. No mention is made that anyone other than the astrologers saw the “star.” If it had been an actual star, then it would have been as visible as a beacon to all.

[goodlife]

Yes, whether we realize it or not, the celestial bodies and their movements influence our life in far more tangible ways. The sun, our home star around which the earth orbits, establishes the most basic units of human timekeeping—the lengths of our day and year. The moon is “for appointed times,” or “to tell us the seasons.” (Psalm 104:19) And the stars are reliable guides in navigation, even for astronauts to orient their spacecraft. Because of this, some wonder if the stars can actually do more for us than tell times and seasons and enhance our appreciation for God’s creative work. Can they also predict our future or warn us about calamities?

[jomifl]

Goodlife, please do try to understand my recent posts on this thread. Alternatively try reading a book on astronomy (obviously not one sponsored by a religious cult).

[jackthehat]

Do the two of you sit next to each other?

The stars won't be reliable guides to navigation if it is possible to insert random events into the night sky in order to 'fulfill' prophesies.

And, No, they can't.

[naomi24]

Truthabounds, //No mention is made that anyone other than the astrologers saw the “star.”//

Yes, indeed. Why, one could even consider the possibility that the story is made up.

Is Goodlife's real name Russell Grant?

[beso]

There is no evidence beyond the Bible that Jesus even existed. A celestial object cannot be guide to a location in the East. There are no supernova remnants that would have been created at the time of the supposed birth of Christ. His mother was supposedly a virgin.

How many more anomalies do you need to reject the myth?

[chakka35]

Sorry, Truthabounds, but you are not entitled to tell us what the wise men were. That reference in "Matthew" is the only thing we are told about them. We have no other information.

Three of them (as naomi says, no total number is supplied) have been given, without justification, the names Melchior, Caspar and Belthazar.

Personally I prefer the names given in the carol "We three kings, Ov, Orry 'n' Tah".

Your question has been answered, goodlife. The story, like the contradictory version in "Luke", is pure fantasy.

[jomifl]

Goodlife, surely predicting the future by astrology is the work of the devil and will send it's practicers to hell :-)

[Davethedog]

Isn't the number of Magi a presumption based on the gifts? i.e three gifts so three magi.

The Emperor Justinian appears to have named them, through various artifices, however he was born about 400 years later.

[naomi24]

Dave, but then again St Augustine basically devised the concept of original sin – that for which, although they weren't there when the sin was committed, the religious are consistently attempting to redeem themselves - and he wasn’t born until 400 years after the event either. They were big on re-inventing stuff at around that time. If only they'd have been better at editing. ;o)

[jomifl]

Dave, I guess they didn't have names originally 'cos they hadn't been christened seeing as they were born before christ. :-)

[naomi24]

^^ Ha ha! Twit! :o)

[rozia]

load a crap i think.

[chakka35]

No comment, I see, on my lovely names for three of the wise men. Just a small smile, or even a slight chuckle, would have done. Huh!

More tomorrow.

[whiskeryron]

// Of course, there is another train of thought. Perhaps it was an alien spaceship// Quite so naomi, although you were being facetious, it's as good an explanation as any. An alien craft shining a light in the sky would appear to people of that era to be a star. An alien craft containing superior intelligent beings to show the humans where the superior baby ( who had been implanted in a human mother) was to be found.

W Ron.

[jomifl]

Yeah right, shoulda thought of that...