Star of Bethlehem proof Jesus' divine origins ?

For centuries, researchers are wondering if the Star of Bethlehem which guided the Magi to the birthplace of Jesus was a miracle or an astronomical phenomenon common. Fierce debate has not ended even today.

The mystery of the Star of Bethlehem, between faith and science

"And if Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem, asking: Where is the king of the Jews who was born? For we have seen the Eastern His star and have come to us worship him. " Because I find in Jerusalem Magi "departed, and behold, the star that they had seen in the east went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with joy very high. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother ... ". Matthew 2: 1.

Attempts to explain scientific phenomena were made from the early fourteenth century. Since then, a myriad of theories and hypotheses about the Star of Bethlehem and the "behavior" strange they were launched by researchers more or less credible. It said the star was a supernova, a ball lightning, even a UFO. Today, although there is an explanation that scientifically aware of the biblical account, the mystery is far from being cleared up. To discover what was the Star of Bethlehem have to slam many biblical contradictions; first, however, you have to solve another mystery, perhaps greater, which is the exact date of the birth of Jesus?

A star appears above the Holy Land and announces the birth of the Messiah. It is seen by the Magi - or sages - from the East, who are guided by it until you get to Bethlehem, where he discovers the baby Jesus. This biblical story has not lost its charm even now, more than 2,000 years after the events he narrates. For practitioners and some faithful Christians, the Star of Bethlehem story simply register miraculous deeds that occurred on the eve of Christ's birth and needs no explanation. But is it blasphemy to go further than that, that is to use scientific methods to reveal more details about Star? The answer is no.

Over time, many theologians, historians and astronomers have tried to unravel the mystery of the Star, hoping to put such information in the Gospel according to Matthew historical and scientific data. None has definitively resolved the dilemma, all lost in a complicated maze of conflicting data, errors and unverifiable predictions. However, the researchers made the shocking discovery about the historical and cultural context in which the events took place in the Holy Land at the beginning of the first millennium of the Christian era.


For instance, today, scientists agreed on the fact that if Steaua has existed and has guided the Magi, then certainly their arrival in Bethlehem has not spent one day December 25 last 2009 years. As we celebrate today, the birthday of the Savior was fixed in the year 525 AD by a Christian monk Dionysius Exiguus. Some theologians and many researchers believe that Dionysius was wrong and that Jesus would actually born in the year 5 BC Regarding December 25, it was chosen to overlap over a much older pagan holiday, dedicated to Deus Solus Invictus or Apollo-Helios.

Assuming that the date fixed by Dionysius as a convention, some researchers have argued that Star from Bethelehem was predictable astronomical phenomena, such as the conjunction of two planets. Regular movement of celestial bodies allow the calculation of such events: if you have enough information, you can predict, for example, all conjunctions that will occur in the future between Jupiter and Saturn, and in addition, you can find the exact dates on which held a such an event in the past. The conjunction of the planets proved but a red herring, because no such phenomenon did not occur in close proximity to the birth of Jesus. No other explanation of the nature of astronomical able to realize the Star of Bethlehem - like a supernova explosion - not likely. Therefore, some scientists have expanded their area of research, trying to use historical events to reveal more details about Star.

When was born, in fact, Jesus?

A hint key is the death of King Herod who, according to all the records known, occurred very shortly before the birth of Jesus, shortly after a lunar eclipse and before the feast of Passover (Hebrew Passover feast, which commemorates the Exodus Jews in Egypt). Lunar eclipse is a phenomenon predictable, so appealing to astronomy, researchers imposed as year of birth of the Saviour year 5 BC On the other hand, Passover takes place in the 15th day of Nisan (after the Hebrew calendar), which fall between March 15 and April 30. Because of congestion caused by this big celebration, Mary and Joseph found a place in town to be accommodated. They are received in exchange pastors who graze their flocks on the hills around Bethlehem's (very logic of occupation in the spring months, but highly unlikely in December).

Therefore, Star appearance as an astronomical event that has happened in year 5 BC, and Jesus would be born in the spring. Knowing all this data, Florentine artist Giotto (1267-1337) of his works featured in the Star as a comet - the most famous of all: Comet Halley (see below). But Giotto was cheated 7 years, because according to all modern calculations, Halley was shown in the year 12 BC (And therefore could not be the Star of the Magi).

It has long been believed that Star would indicate a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. But the phenomenon closest to Jesus' birth year was spent in 7 BC - Therefore too early. However, recent research conducted by Mark Kidger from the Institute of Astrophysics in Tenerife, shows that event conjunction yet may be important in solving the mystery. After 2,000 years, these phenomena were considered extremely important in astrological terms. The conjunction of the year 7 BC showed the planet "royal" Jupiter in the constellation Pisces, which astrologically is related to Hebrew. For any ancient initiated - as were the Magi - this conjunction was clearly a signal. "The conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 7 BC since played an important role in warning of the Magi, even if she was not the Star of Bethlehem," said Professor Kidger.

Cosmic possibilities

JUPITER
Astronomer Michael Molnar thinks Star of Bethlehem were actually Jupiter, the planet partially hidden by the Moon in the year 6 BC Detailed calculations of this cosmic event shows however that the occultation of Jupiter (which took place from 17 April 6th century BC) could not be visible from Earth.

METEORITE
Sir Patrick Moore, British astronomer most important of all time, suggested the idea that a particularly bright meteor could offer absolution dilemma. However, the Gospel of Matthew clearly deduce that the star was a celestial body that shone every night for a very long time.

MIRA
In 2002, Costantino Sigismondi, of the University of Rome, proposed as an explanation flickering variable star called Mira. Although the hypothesis has provoked much debate awhile, it was concluded that that star shine so vague that it could not attract the attention of the Magi.

Ball lightning
Michael Kamieńsk of the University of Krakow, suggest that Steaua would have been ball lightning, a phenomenon that occurs only rarely during a storm. Beyond that a ball lightning would not have guided the Magi from Persia in Judea, it is very difficult and confused with a star.

VENUS

In some years, on Christmas Eve, the planet shines particularly intense, leaving the impression that triples its size. However, Venus does not move far like a star faring, and how were the Magi experienced some astronomers had recognized planet once.

In the entire Bible, the only text that appears in the story of the Magi and the Star is the Gospel of Matthew. But Matthew does not say anywhere that the wise men were three - was reached this popular belief long after the writing of the New Testament - and did not give us their names. He says only that they were "Magi from the East." From this information we deduce that the Sages were Persian origin, coming from an ancient Zoroastrian caste of priests, astrologers and prophets.

Wise Men. Who are the three mysterious initiates who come to worship Jesus?


Herodotus, who lived about 500 years before Christ and was chronicler of wars Greco-Persian, reveal that the Magi (Maguire in Persian) were originally from the Medes (today Medina, a city-symbol of Islam, located in Saudi Arabia) and formed an elite class of the Persian Empire. After several unsuccessful attempts to gain control of political power in the empire, the caste of the Magi experienced a total transformation process: a "given" policy piety, among them spring out of the most respected teachers and enlightened ancient Persia. In addition, the Magi were considered specialists in the interpretation of dreams and guessing stars. There are reasons for that, with time, their caste seized all positions religious empire, becoming priests sages officials Zoroastrianism, the ancient Persian religion. A prophecy of his Zarathushtra, the legendary founder of Zoroastrianism, says a virgin will give birth to a Saoshyant (Savior) which will purify the universe and bring paradise. More than 2,000 years after it was filed prophecy, three wise men, Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar (as they were called in apocryphal texts), had a common view of Esfahan, identifying him Savior announced Zarathushtra with baby Jesus. Moreover, between the Persian prophet who lived in the second millennium BC and Jesus Christ are very many similarities, various historians of religions claiming that the authors of biblical texts were strongly influenced by Zoroastrianism.

Biblical Contradictions. How much confidence can we have, from historically, in the Biblical story of the Star of Bethlehem?


New Testament aim is to narrate like a history book, the events that occurred in the first 100 years of Christianity. Therefore, anyone who tries to solve the mystery of Star will face a lot of gaps and contradictions, if the Gospels look like some historical chronicles. Episode birth of Jesus is mentioned in only two gospels - the Luke and the Matthew; of the four evangelists, Matthew speaks only star and the Magi. For major historical works from the early first millennium, both Matthew and Luke are regarded as some chroniclers reasonable. 

The trouble starts with details of Holy Birth - details which, unfortunately, are crucial to any theory related to the Star of Bethlehem. For example, Matthew says that Jesus was born "in the days of Herod the king," which chronicles all the weather records that died in 4 BC According to Luke, however, Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Galilee while Joseph and his fiancee, Maria, went to register with the census ordered by Augustus. 

"This registration was made when Quirinius was governor of Syria on the first," says Luke (Luke 2: 2), ie 10 years later compared to the time given by Matthew. Atari still discrepancies should not surprise us, considering the fact that both gospels were written about 70 years after the events they describe.

To reach Messiah, magi had traveled a significant distance for those times: 1,500 km, they have traveled in a few weeks. From the biblical story, especially in imaging and folklore which were born around it, we deduce that Star shone throughout the whole journey; more than that, it was moved, guiding and the prophets. Judging from these assumptions, The star could have a ball lightning or a meteorite. However, such astronomical phenomena takes too little. Only two candidates remain "function" Star.

Novel theory

400 years ago, German astronomer Johannes Kepler suggested that the Star of Bethlehem was a supernova. At the time, Kepler did not have enough information to prove their hypothesis. But today we know that the death of a giant star in a natural thermonuclear explosion is a phenomenon very bright, which leaves traces in the universe. One could justify such "guidance" Magi. But nowhere in the world, even the ancient Chinese astronomers , have not found any records regarding the supernova (appearance which, if it occurred, would have been visible from across the globe).

The fact that neither King Herod nor the other people of Jerusalem did not know the existence of the Star before the arrival of the Magi suggest that its presence was not an untrained eye out - contrary to popular belief that Star would have been a very shiny object. Starting from this trade, in 1999, Professor Mark Kidger formula for the first assumption that Star of Bethlehem was the effect of another type of stellar explosion, less spectacular, known as a nova. A nova could shine like a star and, in addition, it may give the feeling that moves like a meteor, corresponding information provided by the story. 

Moreover, Korean and Chinese astronomers recorded the existence of a nove even 5th year in BC (Which would actually be born Christ). Solve the mystery of Star Kidger's hypothesis? From a scientific standpoint, this is the most plausible explanation we have.

Erupts as a nova?

In the universe, most known stars belong to binary systems consisting of pairs of stars orbiting around each other. In some cases, a red giant star called it locks into an orbit very close to a celestial body smaller (about the size of Earth) called white dwarf. Red giant is actually a star that stage of life environments in which it has consumed a large portion of the hydrogen and the approaching end of life. It is red because it has a low temperature. White dwarf represents the core of the former red giant and is in the form of a compact stars formed from what remains after a star has traveled medium red giant stage.


When red giant locks on a close orbit of the white dwarf, the latter enhanced gravity draws material from the larger star. Stolen material (composed mainly of hydrogen) is wrapped around a disc also dwarf. After thousands of years, spiral shell of hydrogen becomes so hot and dense that produces a devastating natural thermonuclear explosion. The result is the transformation of dwarves and giants in one cosmic body, a nova, which shines approximately 100,000 times stronger than the two former stars who have given birth.

Instant nuclear fusion could be an answer to the mystery nove genesis of the Eastern Star?

It has long been believed that Star of Bethlehem would have been a supernova. Call supernova explosion at the end of a star's life during which much of the material the star is scattered in space. Following the phenomenon remains a neutron star or a black hole. Supernova is the most glamorous event in the universe. The fact that no one on Earth has not recorded any occurrence of supernova in proximity birth of the Savior laid but researchers think.

In 1999, British astronomer Mark Kidger, of the Institute of Astrophysics in Tenerife, formulated a hypothesis which, in scientific terms, it seems best to solve the mystery and more Star of Bethlehem. According to Kidger, Steaua would have been a so-called nova. Less visually spectacular than supernova, nova is a phenomenon that occurs when hydrogen is a star "stolen" from another star (see box below).


In his Star of Bethlehem from the perspective of an astronomer, published in 1999, Kidger demonstrate that a nova corresponds to the key elements of the biblical story - from its looks simple star, to the ability to guide the wise men from the East (which they had outstanding knowledge - including our time - astronomy) on their long journey from Persia in Judea. Moreover, ancient Chinese astronomers recorded and Korea in mid-March of the year 5 BC, the emergence of a bright celestial object in the constellation Hawk - date confirms the results of research into year and month of birth of Christ . Kidger indicated and binary system that spawned the Star of Bethlehem: this is called DO Aquilae and is today in a phase of "hibernation".



Other articles on the same theme:

• Ancient Bible, published in digital format

• Secrets Behind the Shroud of Jesus from Turin

• 5 Myths About Christianity

• How old is the Bible? We include Christianity, Judaism, Islam and other religious movements such as the Rastafari

• After 500 years, Jesus' tomb was open again. '' I was amazed at what I found under the marble 

Story source: 


The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Descopera Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

Noah's Ark and Ten ancient myths and true events

The legends have inspired the imagination of people for thousands of years. Although many of them are simple stories passed down from generation to generation, some might be real story of geological events, believed Patrick Nunn of the University of the Sunshine Coast of Australia.

Patrick Nunn has studied the link between ancient myths and natural phenomena of the past, considering that legends can give scientists important information about events witnessed storytellers, but which scientists do not have much information.

Here are the 10 most famous ancient myths and events that you might present.

Noah's Ark and the flood

One of the most popular myths and disturbing is the flood, which survives only Noah and his family. Following the directions given by God Himself, Noah built an ark huge that take one pair of each species on Earth, thus ensuring biodiversity by receding water.

Stories of floods are found in legends of other cultures, not just in the Bible, but scientists do not think there was ever a flood covering the entire planet with water.

Certainly were but isolated cases, dramatic events that produced a strong impression on people. A familiar example is the catastrophic flooding of around 5,000 î.e.n, which took place in the Black Sea.

People tend to exaggerate when reporting different memories, so it is not difficult to understand that a phenomenon that has led to the flooding a region to be expanded on a global scale, as if the entire planet were only water, not to be any patch of land.

Nunn believes that the myth of Noah is actually a story about giant waves that covered a certain region for a few weeks, during which the area has never been dry.

The discovery of fossils of shells on top of mountains not necessarily suggest that the area was once flooded. Now researchers know that the tectonic plates lifted from the seabed rocks therefore talk about another phenomenon, not flood, says Adrienne Mayor, a historian at Stanford University.

Oracle of Delphi and the priestess who foretells the future

In antiquity, Oracle of Delphi, located on Mount Parnassus in Greece, was well known. Here, in a temple dedicated to the god Apollo, a priestess called Pitha enter into a state of ecstasy and thus can "see" events that will occur in the future. She breathe vapors emanated from a crack in the floor, get into a trance and then uttered seemingly meaningless things. But these words could be interpreted only by a priest, he understands and translate them into prophecies.

Temple actually exist, being an important tourist attraction in Greece. There, geologists found two faults which lies just below the ruins of the temple. Perhaps they went through the gas producing euphoric, but now researchers do not know exactly what this gas contained. It could be ethylene, benzene, or a mixture of carbon dioxide and methane.

Sinking Atlantis

Perhaps the best known is the myth of Atlantis, thriving island which sank into the sea after a cataclysm. According to Plato, who spoke first about this legend, people who lived on Atlantis were half gods and foundations that had a very advanced civilization, while their island was built in the form of concentric circles.

Even if Atlantis really existed as described in the story of the Greek philosopher, real sad fate of a civilization inspired the legend.

It is possible that part of the island sinking Satorini to be behind the myth. Santorini is now an archipelago, but thousands of years ago there was only one volcanic island called Thera.

About 3,500 years ago, the volcano erupted here, being one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in history. The island was destroyed, there were tsunamis, and crops have been affected for years because of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere.

It is possible that this situation has led to the decline of the Minoan civilization that dominated the Mediterranean from the neighboring island of Crete, some historians believe.

Pele, the goddess jealous of Kilauea

According to legend, the goddess Pele came to Hawaii with her sisters, and here was in love with a man named Lohi'au. After goddess has established residence in a crater of Kilauea volcano, she asked her sister, Hi'iaka, to bring it on Lohi'au. Because of the late sister, Pele thought that perhaps the two ran together and, as revenge, forest fire, which was very dear to Hi'iaka.

When he saw what happened, sister of Pele made love to Lohi'au and goddess, angry man killed him and threw her body into the crater. Hi'iaka jumped into the crater after him and saved him, and then they left together.

This strange love story metaphorically describes the Kilauea volcanic activity, scientists believe. Forest burned probably due to a flood of lava. A phenomenon of this kind took place in the XVth century, when lava flowed continuously for 60 years, covering over 430 square kilometers of the island of Hawaii.

Such destruction would be seriously affected people's lives since then, so who invented legend.
Similarly, the gesture of Hi'iaka who jumps and dig into the crater to recover the man's body may represent new crater formation, after the outpouring of lava.

Rama's Bridge

In the Hindu epic "Ramayana", god Rama's wife, Sita, is kidnapped and taken to the island of Lanka, the United Demons. Monkeys and bears help Rama and his brother, building a floating bridge between India and Lanka, because the hero can save your wife.

Recent satellite images show that there was a 29 km long bridge between India and Sri Lanka. It probably sank when water levels rose, with around 4,500 years ago.

Recently, another disaster has exposed the submerged ruins of temples, proving the truth behind the legend Mahabalipuram city. It was a port city on the coast of northeast India and legend has it that seven pagodas have. Currently, there was one preserved temple, but the tsunami that hit India in December 2004 to remove sediment from the ocean floor and revealed the ruins of more temples.

Killing Lake 

A Cameroonian legend tells the story of Kom tribe, who lived in the land of the tribe Bamessi time. Kom leader learned that Bamessi tribal chief wants to kill him and then decided to take revenge. He was hanged and his body fluids was born a lake.

Before he died, he told his sister that his tribesmen must not ever touch that lake or fish that would swim there. Someday, when the tribe Bamessi wanted to fish in the lake, it exploded and all fishermen died.

The story could have a real substrate. In 1986, Lake Nyos in Cameron issued a large amount of carbon dioxide, killing 1,700 people sleeping in the nearby village.

This gas gathers in the waters toxic volcanic and seismic activity can cause a sudden release of gas that reach the surface and kill whoever is in the area

Giant catfish Namazu (Earthshaker)

According to Japanese legend, Namazu, a sleeping giant, is buried just below the archipelago. Kashima God keeps him motionless on Namazu with a stone, but sometimes god fish slides and then move their fins or tails and produce earthquakes.

Of course, no need for a gigantic fish to cause a big earthquake in Japan. This country is located on several tectonic plates and volcanic activity takes place here and that is why most earthquakes.

However, somnii are present in popular mythology for another reason. These fish can predict earthquakes, the Japanese believe.
However, the research could not prove a link between sleep behavior and earthquakes.

Authorities use the latest technology to find clap when large earthquakes will occur, so they can alert the population of the time. Sophisticated apparatus detects seismic waves and then send messages to the officials, who decide slowing trains to reducing the damage and risk the loss of lives.

Chimera monster that spits fire

Epic "Iliad" by Homer, there is a creature of nightmare called Chimera. It is a monster that has the characteristics of a lion and a serpent's mouth and remove flames. The creature was killed by the hero Bellerofonte, but her tongue stuck lair Chimaera, still burning.

Today in Turkey, tourists can visit Yanartaş, where the burning flames of the Chimera eternal. Here, through cracks in the earth out methane, which burns perhaps thousands of years. Long, this permanent fire was used by sailors on the far post for orientation at sea.

But Chimera legend is older than the "Iliad", probably dating from the Hittite period. In folklore Hittite Chimera was a monster with three heads - one human, a lion's head and a snake found in line.

Crater Lake birth

The strange story of the formation of Crater Lake was spoken by Europeans Klamath tribe of Indians, hundreds of years ago. They refuse even now to look to the lake for fear that this will invite him to death.

According to legend, Crater Lake was formed after a fight between Llao, lord of the underworld and Skell master Upper World. The two stoned incandescent sky during the battle and was always black, dark.

Finally, Llao, fighting on Mount Mazama, was thrown back into the underground world after Mount crashed. The rain then the former site filled mountain, forming Crater Lake.

The story is not very far from reality, although obviously lake formation does not imply the presence of the gods. 7,700 years ago, Mount Mazama, which was actually a volcano erupted. Incandescent rocks flew through the air and crashed mountain crater is then filled with water from rain. Here is the event that inspired the legend probably Klamath tribe, believed Adrienne Mayor.

Patrick Nunn notes, however, an interesting detail. A myth usually lasts several hundred years, more than 7,000 years, as in this case. Legends transmitted orally so long a time are very rare.

Missing Island

Residents of Solomon Islands say happy story Teonimanu island, which disappeared underwater. It began when a man named Rapuanate kidnapped a woman on this island, but her brother were unable to take back. Angry that he could not be with the woman he loves, Rapuanate resorted to witchcraft to get back.

He used three plants - two were left on the island, and was holding a plant on it. When he saw them grow new leaves of this plant, was a sign that the island began to sink. After residents fled the island, Teonimanu was covered by water and disappeared.

Recent research done in arhipelangul submerged islands Solomon pointed to several hundreds of meters underwater. It is possible that they have been submerged after an earthquake caused a landslide thousands of years ago.

Patrick Nunn stated that this myth is transmitted orally, unlike the Bible or from Greek mythology. He fears that because of that many stories, which are based on a real event, will be forgotten forever. Do not lose only a part of world culture, but also serious warnings about the troubled past of this planet, scientists information that could benefit.

Source ; smithsonianmag