December 22, 1999
Scholar sheds new light on Bethlehem star
___By Kelly Turner
___Associated Baptist Press
___NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (ABP)--It's a question that has intrigued scientists and theologians for centuries: What was the Star of Bethlehem?
___Modern astronomers have offered a number of possible explanations for the celestial event the Bible says heralded Christ's birth.
___A new book, however, suggests the answer to the mystery may lie not in the heavensbut in beliefs of ancient astrology.
___Astronomer Michael Molnar says his theory is bolstered by an ancient coin he bought for his collection at a coin show in New York for $50. The coin, originally from Antioch, the ancient capital of Syria, depicts the astrological figure Aries the Ram looking back at a star.
___In his research, Molnar found that Aries first appeared on coins from Antioch when the Romans annexed Judea, an event mentioned in the Gospel of Luke. At the time of Christ's birth, he says, Aries was a symbol for the Jews. Ancient astrologers also believed that a new king would be born when the moon passed in front of Jupiter, creating an eclipse.
___Curious about whether the coin might commemorate an astrological event, Molnar used computer models to determine that an eclipse of Jupiter in Aries occurred "in the east" on April 17, 6 B.C.--a year many Bible scholars believe is about the time Jesus was born.
___While the event might not have been as spectacular from an astronomical perspective as an exploding star, a comet or an alignment of planets, Molnar says it would have been sensational for astrologers in the first century.
___The "magi"--people who were regarded in the ancient Near East to be healers, interpreters of omens and dreams and able to predict the future by using astrology--would have viewed the occurrence as portending the birth of a divine king, Molnar says.
___Molnar first presented his theory several years ago in "Sky and Telescope" magazine and now has compiled his research into a book, "The Star of Bethlehem: The Story of the Magi," published by Rutgers University Press. In the book, he discusses how his research coincides with the writings of ancient Roman astrologers about the position of the planets during the time of Christ's birth.
___"We can be assured that the extraordinary conditions of April 17, 6 B.C., were as real and dramatic as any blazing comet or exploding supernova," writes Molnar. "Unlike those spectacular but terribly foreboding or meaningless apparitions, the portent formed in Aries by Jupiter and other celestial bodies conveyed a joyous, wondrous message about a regal and divine birth in the kingdom of Herod the Great. Now we can look at the star above a creche at Christmas and know that there was indeed a Star of Bethlehem."
___While Molnar says he conducted his research and writing in a "religiously neutral" fashion, his conclusions lend credence to the account of Christ's birth in Matthew. The Bible's reporting the star being seen "in the east" and that it "went before and stood over" are astrological terms, he says.
___He says his findings do not prove that Jesus was born on April 17, 6 B.C., when the star appeared. That is up for Bible scholars to decide, he says.
___Ironically, Molnar says the subject was not one that he was initially curious about.
___"I was not originally interested in analyzing the Star of Bethlehem," Molnar said in a telephone interview from his home near Piscataway, N.J. "But once I came across the coin and started piecing some of the information together, I felt obligated to pursue it."
___Molnar's book has been well received among Christians, who say it backs up the Bible with scientific evidence. His conclusions also have drawn enthusiastic support in academic circles.
___Owen Gingerich, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, called Molnar's book "the most original and important contribution of the entire 20th century on the thorny question of how events recorded (in Bethlehem) should be interpreted."
___Bradley Schaefer, a professor of astronomy at Yale University, said Molnar's book "finally gives a confident answer to a question that has fascinated all Christians through the ages."
___Even experts not familiar with Molnar and his theories say he may be onto something. Bill Adams, a physicist at Baylor University, said if Molnar's research is indeed accurate, it could lend credence to ancient astrologers' writings about the celestial events surrounding Christ's birth.
___A planet, said Adams, would have been visible for the many months it took the three Wise Men to travel to Bethlehem. "If (Jupiter) was in the constellation (Aries), it would certainly have been there for some time," Adams said.
___Still, others believe Molnar's theory is just one in a sea of hypotheses about what took place in the skies the night Christ was born.
___Dudley Shapere, professor of philosophy and history of science at Wake Forest University, said he has heard speculation that Jupiter may have been present during that time. But he adds that many scientists believe the planet was part of a cluster of planets that would have drifted apart after a few days. So that cluster, though probably quite luminous, would not have remained in the sky long enough for the three Wise Men to follow it during a journey that lasted many weeks, Shapere said.
___Moreover, Shapere believes astrologers of the time knew enough about Jupiter that, if it actually was the star of Bethlehem, they would have referred to the planet specifically.
___"I'm very skeptical" of Molnar's theory, he said. "If there was anything in the sky at the time and they were really 'wise men,' then they would have known it was Jupiter and they would have known it was a wandering planet."
___Molnar doesn't deny that Jupiter may have been part of a cluster. He said Saturn was also present in the constellation. But based on the writings of the ancient astrologers, the celestial conditions on April 17, 6 B.C., he said, forecast "the birth of a king or super-king, a divine and immortal person."
___"Now, how many divine and immortal people do you know who were born around that time?" he asked with a chuckle.
___John Killinger, the author of several dozen theological books and a former professor at Vanderbilt Divinity School, said while Molnar's theory is intriguing, it really shouldn't affect Christians' basic convictions about Christ. While some are comforted by findings that support their beliefs, Killinger said, the spirit of Christmas--its origins, traditions and, most importantly, its message--should be enough to withstand any scientific theories.
___"If your faith depends on getting some literal evidence somewhere, well then great," he said. "But others couldn't care less. It's not going to enhance the beauty of the (Christmas) story one bit."
___Molnar maintains his book is not an attempt to prove the divinity of Jesus but rather provides a modern interpretation of events written about 2,000 years ago. Still, he doesn't discourage how his research is analyzed.
___"I've had hundreds of people who have written me, called me (and) e-mailed me about how this has reaffirmed their faith," he said. "And I'm very gratified that it did."
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