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The Star of Bethlehem. The Legacy of the Magi.
Michael R. Molnar
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Description for The Star of Bethlehem. The Legacy of the Magi.
Paperback. Num Pages: 208 pages, 31 tables and figures. BIC Classification: HRCA. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 216 x 140 x 12. Weight in Grams: 399.
Could the $50 purchase of an ancient coin by a Rutgers astronomer have unlocked the mystery of the Christmas Star? For years, scientists have looked, with little success, to astronomical records for an explanation of the magical star that guided the Magi to Christ’s manger. Intrigued by the image he found on the latest addition to his coin collection, Michael Molnar thought there might be more to learn by looking, instead, at the teachings of ancient astrologers.
Molnar argues in his book that the Star of Bethlehem was not a star at all, but rather a regal portent centering around the ... Read moreplanet Jupiter that was eclipsed by the moon. He bases this theory on the actual beliefs of astrologers, such as the Magi, who lived around the time of Christ. Molnar found some intriguing clues to the mystery while researching the meaning of astrological symbols he found an ancient coin, which bore the image of Aries looking back at a star. He found that Aries was a symbol of Judea at the time, and that ancient astrologers believed that a new king would be born when the moon passed in front of Jupiter. Molnar wondered, could the coin have been issued as a response to the Great Messianic Portent, the Star of Bethlehem?
To match the story of the appearance of the Christmas star, Molnar also knew the event had to happen when Jupiter was “in the east.” Using these criteria and a computer program, he was able to chart an eclipse of Jupiter in Aries on April 17, 6 B.C., a day when Jupiter was precisely “in the east,” which confirmed his theory. Moreover, he found that a Roman astrologer described the conditions of that day as fitting the birth of a “divine and immortal” person.
According to Harvard University Professor Owen Gingerich, “this is the most original and important contribution of the entire 20th century” about the Magi’s star. Using clues from astronomy, astrology, and history, Molnar has created a provocative, fascinating theory on the Christmas Star. He weaves together an intriguing scientific detective story which resolves one of the world’s greatest mysteries: The Star of Bethlehem at the birth of Christ.
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Product Details
Publisher
Rutgers University Press United States
Place of Publication
New Brunswick NJ, United States
Shipping Time
Usually ships in 7 to 11 working days
About Michael R. Molnar
MICHAEL R. MOLNAR, an astronomer, is retired from the Physics and Astronomy Department at Rutgers University.
Reviews for The Star of Bethlehem. The Legacy of the Magi.
"Michael Molnar offers the first revolution in Star of Bethlehem research since Kepler's days. Molnar's big advance comes by considering what the Magi themselves would have deemed important. . . . Don't buy any other book on the Star of Bethlehem, because the old astronomical views are guaranteed to be irrelevant. Second, the new astrological paradigm forces the realization that ... Read moreastrology was an important force in historical times so that the disregard of the topic by most historians is blatant chauvinism. Third, the existence of a stunning astrological horoscope for April 17, 6 B.C, announcing the birth of a great king in Judea will now force scholars of religion to reconcile the event with their own beliefs."
Sky & Telescope
"Mr. Molnar takes a different tack, arguing that [the star of Bethlehem] was not an astronomical event that guided the wise men on their journey, but an astrological one. He may not have the best theory, but he certainly has the best story."
Economist
"And because sophisticated computer calculations reveal that such an eclipse did occur on April seventeenth in the year 6 B.C., Molnar fixes this as the celestial event that signaled the Christ child's birth. . . . The uncanny fit of all the ancient and modern pieces of this puzzle makes for a highly persuasive argument."
Booklist
"[The Star] was an alignment of stars and planets that ancient astrologers would have recognized as significant. No portent would have excited greater expectations of a divine birth in Judea . . . than a lunar eclipse of Jupiter (the 'kings' planet) in the constellation Aries. . . . [A] fresh theory providing new scientific support for the biblical story, making the 'star of wonder' a little less of a mystery."
U.S. News and World Report
"The explanation that appears in Molnar's new book . . . unfolds like a detective story: a clever scientific analysis woven into a cultural and historical fabric. . . . Molnar reports that the Magi considered the planet Jupiter to be the royal star. He argues that their astrological readings predicted that on April 17, 6 B.C. a remarkable alignment would occur when the sun passed into the northern sky, entering the constellation of Aries. Jupiter, Saturn, the sun and moon would appear briefly in close alignmentùan event that occurs no more than once a lifetime."
Nation
"This book has stunning new insight and approach, which finally gives a confident answer to a question that has fascinated all Christians through the ages."
Bradley E. Schaefer
Yale University
"Molnar's The Star of Bethlehem is a fascinating contribution to the immense literature that attempts to come to terms with the Christmas Star represented in Matthew's Gospel. In my opinion, this book is the most original and important contribution of the entire twentieth century on the thorny question of how events recorded there should be interpreted."
Owen Gingerich
Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
"In support of an original interpretation of the Star, Molnar has assembled an impressive range of astrological and numismatic data, much of which will be new even to expert readers."
Virginia Trimble
author of Visit to a Small Universe
"Michael Molnar offers the first revolution in Star of Bethlehem research since Kepler's days. Molnar's big advance comes by considering what the Magi themselves would have deemed important. . . . Don't buy any other book on the Star of Bethlehem, because the old astronomical views are guaranteed to be irrelevant. Second, the new astrological paradigm forces the realization that astrology was an important force in historical times so that the disregard of the topic by most historians is blatant chauvinism. Third, the existence of a stunning astrological horoscope for April 17, 6 B.C, announcing the birth of a great king in Judea will now force scholars of religion to reconcile the event with their own beliefs."
Sky & Telescope
"Mr. Molnar takes a different tack, arguing that [the star of Bethlehem] was not an astronomical event that guided the wise men on their journey, but an astrological one. He may not have the best theory, but he certainly has the best story."
Economist
"And because sophisticated computer calculations reveal that such an eclipse did occur on April seventeenth in the year 6 B.C., Molnar fixes this as the celestial event that signaled the Christ child's birth. . . . The uncanny fit of all the ancient and modern pieces of this puzzle makes for a highly persuasive argument."
Booklist
"[The Star] was an alignment of stars and planets that ancient astrologers would have recognized as significant. No portent would have excited greater expectations of a divine birth in Judea . . . than a lunar eclipse of Jupiter (the 'kings' planet) in the constellation Aries. . . . [A] fresh theory providing new scientific support for the biblical story, making the 'star of wonder' a little less of a mystery."
U.S. News and World Report
"The explanation that appears in Molnar's new book . . . unfolds like a detective story: a clever scientific analysis woven into a cultural and historical fabric. . . . Molnar reports that the Magi considered the planet Jupiter to be the royal star. He argues that their astrological readings predicted that on April 17, 6 B.C. a remarkable alignment would occur when the sun passed into the northern sky, entering the constellation of Aries. Jupiter, Saturn, the sun and moon would appear briefly in close alignmentùan event that occurs no more than once a lifetime."
Nation
"This book has stunning new insight and approach, which finally gives a confident answer to a question that has fascinated all Christians through the ages."
Bradley E. Schaefer
Yale University
"Molnar's The Star of Bethlehem is a fascinating contribution to the immense literature that attempts to come to terms with the Christmas Star represented in Matthew's Gospel. In my opinion, this book is the most original and important contribution of the entire twentieth century on the thorny question of how events recorded there should be interpreted."
Owen Gingerich
Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
"In support of an original interpretation of the Star, Molnar has assembled an impressive range of astrological and numismatic data, much of which will be new even to expert readers."
Virginia Trimble
author of Visit to a Small Universe
"This small book, written for general readers, is that rarest of works—a scholarly treatise that proposes an entirely new solution to an ancient enigma; namely, the star of Bethlehem. . . . Welcomed by many astronomers and historians of science or religion and their students, the book is well researched, fully referenced, and supplemented with a wealth of explanatory notes, appendices, and glossaries. For interested scholars it will serve as a compact guide to a new line of investigation. For those interested in finding historical bases for as much of the story as possible, Molnar has demonstrated the futility of trying to identity the star with a visible astronomical phenomenon and he has singled out a new date for the birth of Christ. His supporting evidence is so persuasive that, henceforth, it will change the terms of debate on this issue. This is the first new and promising line of inquiry initiated in recent times."
Meteoritics & Planetary Science
"In addition to the enthralling explanation of the Christmas Star episode, the author addresses another of history's great mysteriesùthe actual birth date of Jesus Christ. Postulating the circumstances which would have brought the Magi to Judaea, Molnar defines the very day on which Christ likely was born. Although admittedly speculative, the argument is very powerful."
Celator
"This astronomer and classicist at Rutgers, beginning from the astrological symnbolism of a star in the constellation Aries (the ram) on coins minted AD 6 at Antioch, Syria, offers evidence supporting the historical basis of the messianic star mentioned in Mt 2:1û16. . . . This very readable and clearly organized book is very detailed in its computer-assisted astronomical history and in its expertise in ancient astrology/astronomy."
Southwestern Journal of Theology
"Molnar combines his training in astronomy with his knowledge of astrology and concludes that the star of Bethlehem could have appeared only when Jupiter was 'in the East.' Modern-day computer wizardry enabled him to chart an eclipse of Jupiter in Aries on April 17, 6 B.C., a day when Jupiter was, in fact, in the east, thus confirming the story. . . This book deserves the meticulous attention of pastors and biblical scholars as well as of astronomy buffs. It confirms the accuracy of the Gospel accounts."
Provident Book Finder
"Molnar's theory incorporates easily verified astronomical events. The Star of Bethlehem includes excellent notes, diagrams and photos as well as a very clear glossary of terms and an extensive bibliography."
Madison Eagle
"In [Molnar's] view, it is ancient astrology, rather than astronomy that holds the key to what led the Magi to their destination. . . . Now when people look at the star on top of a Christmas tree they can be assured there was a Star of Bethlehem."
Louisiana News-Star
"This very readable and clearly organized book is very detailed and its computer-assisted astronomical history and in its expertise in ancient astrology/astronomy."
Southwestern Journal of Theology
"Written with a simple and efficacious style, as a sort of scientific-spiritual 'thriller,' the book includes some notes and appendixes also for researchers. Nevertheless, it is addressed to even a wider readers' target."
Bliss Internet Magazine
"Most convincingly, Molnar locates in ancient sources the signs that astrologers of the day would have interpreted as pointing to the kind of birth that would send wise men on a pilgrimage. . . . Is Molnar's case airtight? No. Is it convincing? Yes."
Lingua Franca
"Molnar . . . wrote an interesting, easy to read book. He backs up his investigations by referring to literature in astronomy, astrology, theology, and numismatics. The ancient Chaledan astrologers' wording of their horoscopes is critical for his conclusion. Using those sources and astronomy, he describes the skies at the beginning of our calendar. He draws the conclusion that our Lord was born April 17 in the year six B.C."
Perspective on Science and Christian Faith
"Michael Molnar writes with great style, clarity and originality. . . . If you are one of the many people interested in the Star then you should buy [this] book!"
Science & Christian Belief
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