The Christmas Star

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What star is it, exactly?

Jupiter and Saturn will be really close together, enough to resemble one “star” to some. There’s the possibility that this phenomenon is what was referred to as the Star of Bethlehem in the Bible.

So it's not a star, then? And not a miracle either, since it occurs naturally?

Then why does the bible say it is both?

Lack of telescopes?

Why would an omniscient being need a telescope?

Omniscient gods don’t. Humans do.

[Anonymous]

Humans start developing mutant powers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Humans start developing mutant powers?

What are you babbling about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What star is it, exactly?

Jupiter and Saturn will be really close together, enough to resemble one “star” to some. There’s the possibility that this phenomenon is what was referred to as the Star of Bethlehem in the Bible.

So it's not a star, then? And not a miracle either, since it occurs naturally?

Then why does the bible say it is both?

I've always thought these speculations such as this one don't hold up to what is recorded Biblically. Here is the passage from Matthew 2:

"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

There's no way a confluence of Saturn and Jupiter would indicate where Christ was lying in a manger on the ground. If God is capable of coming to Earth as a man to die for our sins, He's entirely capable of bringing a star to indicate where the wise men could find Him.

Sooooooo.... aside from the laws of physics being suspended yet again, you know that's not how stars work, right? Like, they are really far away, and you can't find your way to a place with a single unique star in a totally new position?

You know this, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Humans start developing mutant powers?

What are you babbling about?

Unlike you, I’m trying to get the fun back into the original post. It’s not about the science of it. It’s the idea that here is this supposed Christmas star and no one is going to mention the obvious? No one is going to say: hey, the apocalypse is nigh? The second coming of Jesus?

Because if we don’t make fun of it, and take us as a serious question, aren’t we part of the reason why religions are so evangelical?

Second coming of christ would make sense right about now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What star is it, exactly?

Jupiter and Saturn will be really close together, enough to resemble one “star” to some. There’s the possibility that this phenomenon is what was referred to as the Star of Bethlehem in the Bible.

So it's not a star, then? And not a miracle either, since it occurs naturally?

Then why does the bible say it is both?

I've always thought these speculations such as this one don't hold up to what is recorded Biblically. Here is the passage from Matthew 2:

"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

There's no way a confluence of Saturn and Jupiter would indicate where Christ was lying in a manger on the ground. If God is capable of coming to Earth as a man to die for our sins, He's entirely capable of bringing a star to indicate where the wise men could find Him.

Sooooooo.... aside from the laws of physics being suspended yet again, you know that's not how stars work, right? Like, they are really far away, and you can't find your way to a place with a single unique star in a totally new position?

You know this, right?

Yes, I know this, and that was my point -- that it wasn't an actual star, nor a confluence of planets in the sky. If God wants to create a light that attract the wise men's attention and then have it lead them to a manger in a small town in the Middle East, it's entirely possible for the Creator of the universe to do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What star is it, exactly?

Jupiter and Saturn will be really close together, enough to resemble one “star” to some. There’s the possibility that this phenomenon is what was referred to as the Star of Bethlehem in the Bible.

So it's not a star, then? And not a miracle either, since it occurs naturally?

Then why does the bible say it is both?

I've always thought these speculations such as this one don't hold up to what is recorded Biblically. Here is the passage from Matthew 2:

"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

There's no way a confluence of Saturn and Jupiter would indicate where Christ was lying in a manger on the ground. If God is capable of coming to Earth as a man to die for our sins, He's entirely capable of bringing a star to indicate where the wise men could find Him.

Sooooooo.... aside from the laws of physics being suspended yet again, you know that's not how stars work, right? Like, they are really far away, and you can't find your way to a place with a single unique star in a totally new position?

You know this, right?

Yes, I know this, and that was my point -- that it wasn't an actual star, nor a confluence of planets in the sky. If God wants to create a light that attract the wise men's attention and then have it lead them to a manger in a small town in the Middle East, it's entirely possible for the Creator of the universe to do so.

Or, perhaps, it was a story told by men and recorded in several languages before being translated into the tale you post above.

Big star positioned in sky just above Middle Eastern barn (somehow) by invisible being -- OR -- predictable planetary alignment used as a set piece in a fictional tale written by men?

Which do you think is more likely?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What star is it, exactly?

Jupiter and Saturn will be really close together, enough to resemble one “star” to some. There’s the possibility that this phenomenon is what was referred to as the Star of Bethlehem in the Bible.

The star of Bethlehem" is a story, like other stories in the Bible and in other ancient writings.

While there may have been a very bright star 2,000 years ago, you can bet it didn't guide wise men to a crib in Bethlehem of a child conceived by a virgin..

That is not relevant
Point is, that during that time people believed the star to signify the birth of someone very important
That doesn't mean it was physically and literally above one particular physical location
The earth wobbles and true north changes over the years

The star existed then, that signified something to the people at the time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What star is it, exactly?

Jupiter and Saturn will be really close together, enough to resemble one “star” to some. There’s the possibility that this phenomenon is what was referred to as the Star of Bethlehem in the Bible.

The star of Bethlehem" is a story, like other stories in the Bible and in other ancient writings.

While there may have been a very bright star 2,000 years ago, you can bet it didn't guide wise men to a crib in Bethlehem of a child conceived by a virgin..

That is not relevant
Point is, that during that time people believed the star to signify the birth of someone very important
That doesn't mean it was physically and literally above one particular physical location
The earth wobbles and true north changes over the years

The star existed then, that signified something to the people at the time

Matthew 2:9-11 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful
After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.

Physically impossible.

[Anonymous]

It will be near the solstice, which is cool

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It will be near the solstice, which is cool

Any astrology minded folks care to weigh in on what this could mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will be near the solstice, which is cool

Any astrology minded folks care to weigh in on what this could mean?

Aliens are real.

[Anonymous]

Dec. 21st happens. As people walk out of their homes at night to see the Christmas Star, they say a little prayer.

All of them pray for the pandemic to end.
Some pray for peace in the country.
Some pray that they don’t lose their homes.
Some pray that their parents don’t die.

The prayers are sent into the ether, with fervent beliefs that someone will listen.

That God will listen.

But there is no response.

Dec. 25th arrives and more people are dead. 10,000 die that day alone.

Thousands of people are turned away at hospitals.

Children are left with their aunts and uncles as their parents are hospitalized.

People pray. To no avail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dec. 21st happens. As people walk out of their homes at night to see the Christmas Star, they say a little prayer.

All of them pray for the pandemic to end.
Some pray for peace in the country.
Some pray that they don’t lose their homes.
Some pray that their parents don’t die.

The prayers are sent into the ether, with fervent beliefs that someone will listen.

That God will listen.

But there is no response.

Dec. 25th arrives and more people are dead. 10,000 die that day alone.

Thousands of people are turned away at hospitals.

Children are left with their aunts and uncles as their parents are hospitalized.

People pray. To no avail.

Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What star is it, exactly?

Jupiter and Saturn will be really close together, enough to resemble one “star” to some. There’s the possibility that this phenomenon is what was referred to as the Star of Bethlehem in the Bible.

The star of Bethlehem" is a story, like other stories in the Bible and in other ancient writings.

While there may have been a very bright star 2,000 years ago, you can bet it didn't guide wise men to a crib in Bethlehem of a child conceived by a virgin..

That is not relevant
Point is, that during that time people believed the star to signify the birth of someone very important
That doesn't mean it was physically and literally above one particular physical location
The earth wobbles and true north changes over the years

The star existed then, that signified something to the people at the time

Matthew 2:9-11 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful
After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.

Physically impossible.

Look at the original language, not the english translation
Star appeared to move, stopped
There was unusual commotion about some birth

Leave it at that. You are trying to interpret aspects of faith into physics, science