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The Star of Bethlehem (2007 film)
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Wikipedia article
'The Star of Bethlehem' is a 2007 documentary by Frederick A. "Rick" Larson to show what he found when he searched for clues about the Star of Bethlehem. Larson used the Starry Night astronomy computer program along with an article written by astronomer Craig Chester;[http://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/the-star-of-bethlehem/ Chester, Craig. "The Star of Bethlehem".] 'Imprimis'. December 1993, 22(12). Originally presented at Hillsdale College during fall 1992. Retrieved on December 19, 2015.[http://imprimisarchives.hillsdale.edu/archives Chester, Craig. "The Star of Bethlehem".] 'Imprimis'. Reprinted December 1996 with editorial changes. 25(12). PDF; scroll to December 1996 and click. Originally printed 1993. Retrieved on December 19, 2015.[http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1993-12-24/news/9312240202_1_astronomers-venus-jupiter Scripps Howard News Service. "Astronomer Analyzes The Star Of Bethlehem".] 'The Chicago Tribune'. December 24, 1993. Retrieved on December 19, 2015. based in part on the work of Ernest Martin.[http://www.askelm.com/star/index.asp Martin, Ernest. 1991 'The Star that Astonished the World'.] ASK Publications. Free to read for personal study online. Other uses prohibited. Retrieved on December 23, 2015. Larson also used details from the Christian Bible to find nine data points about the Star of Bethlehem which, according to the second chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, stopped over Bethlehem, bringing the Magi to Jesus.[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+2&version=AMP Matthew chapter 2 on Bible Gateway.] Amplified Version including footnotes. Retrieved on December 22, 2015.
taken by the Hubble Space Telescope to discuss the size of the Universe from God's perspective. The "dots" are not stars, but are galaxies (minutes 14:19-16:00).
Background
, which Larson thinks was part of a series of events involving the Star of Bethlehem.
Larson's interest in the Star of Bethlehem began when he needed to make a Christmas Star to accompany his Magi lawn ornaments he had made to be Christmas decorations, but did not know what the Star of Bethlehem was[http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-01-05-epiphany-star_N.htm Lawton, Kim. "Christmas star debate gets its due on epiphany".] 'USA Today.com'. January 5, 2008. Retrieved on December 19, 2015. and needed to learn more.[http://www.christiancinema.com/catalog/newsdesk_info.php?newsdesk_id=1213 Christian Cinema. "The Star of Bethlehem: A Magnificent Obsession".] Frederick Larson interview. November 24, 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2015
As a lawyer,[http://www.christianbookpreviews.com/christian-book-author.php?isbn=B002RBHDFK Rick Larsons Biography.] Christian Book Previews. Retrieved December 29, 2015. Larson examined the text of Matthew, finding nine pieces of evidence in the nativity passage.[http://abc13.com/archive/5848072/ Herzog, Travis. "Did the Star of Bethlehem exist?"] 'abc13 Eyewitness News'. December 20, 2007.] Retrieved on December 19, 2015. The Star's nine data points are that it signified birth, it signified kingship, it was related to the Jewish nation, and it "rose in the East";[http://biblehub.com/matthew/2-2.htm Matthew chapter 2, verse 2 on Bible Hub.] Scroll down for commentaries. Retrieved on December 19, 2015. it was not known to Herod the Great;[http://biblehub.com/matthew/2-3.htm Matthew chapter 2, verse 3 on Bible Hub.] Scroll down for commentaries. Retrieved on December 19, 2015. it appeared at a specific time;[http://biblehub.com/matthew/2-7.htm Matthew chapter 2, verse 7 on Bible Hub.] Includes commentaries. Retrieved on December 19, 2015. it endured over time;[http://biblehub.com/context/matthew/2-1.htm Matthew chapter 2, verses 2-10 on Bible Hub.] Entire chapter with commentaries. Retrieved on December 19, 2015. it was before the Magi as they traveled south to Bethlehem from Jerusalem,[http://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/2-9.htm Gospel of Matthew chapter 2 verse 9 on Bible Hub.] with commentaries. Retrieved on December 19, 2015. and then, according to the Bible,[http://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/2-10.htm Matthew chapter 2, verse 10 on Bible Hub.] Includes commentaries. Retrieved on April 20, 2016. it stopped over the city of Bethlehem.[http://www.christianheadlines.com/news/evidence-emerges-for-star-of-bethlehems-reality-11556969.html Ireland, Michael. "Evidence emerges for Star of Bethlehems reality".] Assist News Service. Christian Headlines. October 18, 2007. Retrieved on December 19, 2015.
Using astronomy software to return to the skies over Judea[http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/archives/the-star-project-recreates-biblical-astronomy/article_b2f892ed-032f-5293-897e-7c7543f39f7f.html Messecar, Cathy. "The Star Project recreates biblical astronomy".] 'Your Houston News'. December 17, 2004. Retrieved on December 22, 2015. by using Johannes Kepler's math to calculate positions of celestial objects, Larson thinks he found all nine elements found in the book of 'Matthew'. He also believes that the Star of Bethlehem phenomenon was induced via the rendezvous of Jupiter and Regulus.[http://www.bethlehemstar.com/starry-dance/coronation/ Larson, Frederick. "A coronation".] Retrieved December 22, 2015 as it was observed over Bethlehem during its triple conjunction on December 25, 2 BC.[http://www.bethlehemstar.com/starry-dance/to-stop-a-star/ Larson, Frederick. "To stop a star".] Retrieved April 1, 2016. Larson believes King Herod the Great died in 1 BC, although almost all other experts, including astronomer David Hughes and astronomer Michael Molnar, believe Herod died in 4 BC.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7791571.stm Ellis, Rebecca. "Star of Wonder".] 'BBC News'. Site page last updated on December 23, 2008, on retrieval date. Retrieved on December 23, 2016. (In Molnar's book, 'The Star of Bethlehem: The Legacy of the Magi', he documents Jesus' birth as Saturday [Sabbath] April 17, 6 BC due to a triple conjunction in Aries). This is concurred by the Biblical scholar Colin R. Nicholl, who disagrees with the Martin-Larson hypothesis,[https://www.uniontheology.org/resources/bible/new-testament/what-is-wrong-with-rick-larsons-star-of-bethlehem-dvd-documentary Union Theology | What Is Wrong with Rick Larsons 'Star of Bethlehem' DVD Documentary] and presents his views in his book 'The Great Christ Comet'.[https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/great-christ-comet-revealing-star-bethlehem/ The Great Christ Comet: Revealing the True Star of Bethlehem ]
. As earth overtakes other planets as it orbits, they appear to loop backwards. The planet Mars here shows this looping motion.
Once Larson found what he thinks is the time of Jesus Christ's birth, he looked for signs appearing in the heavens at possible times that fit the Passover, and believes the date of the Christ's (Messiah's) crucifixion was April 3, 33 AD[http://www.bpnews.net/27041 Foust, Michael. "Bethlehem Star: both natural & miraculous?".] 'Baptist Press'. December 14, 2007. Retrieved on December 19, 2015. on the Gregorian calendar.[http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/gregorian-calendar.html Gregorian calendar on Time and Date.] Retrieved on December 23, 2015 He also thinks he found astronomical phenomena related to a vision in the Book of Revelation.[http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/december/27.66.html Morefield, Kenneth R. Review, 'The Star of Bethlehem' (2007).] 'Christianity Today'. Retrieved on January 6, 2016.[http://biblehub.com/revelation/12-1.htm Revelation 12:1 on BibleHub] A "woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet" Larson thinks is related to the constellation Virgo the Virgin. Retrieved on December 23, 2015.
Production
Frederick Larson wrote the screenplay to 'The Star of Bethlehem' and was co-executive producer along with Stephen McEveety.[https://web.archive.org/web/20131223140845/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/457849/The-Star-of-Bethlehem/overview Southern, Nathan. Review summary and credits for 'The Star of Bethlehem' (2007).] 'The New York Times'. Retrieved January 6, 2016. McEveety co-produced The Passion of the Christ, which won 22 awards including the People's Choice Award, the ASCAP Top Box Office Films Award, and an Academy Award for best cinematography.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335345/awards?ref_=tt_awd 'The Passion of the Christ' awards and nominations.] Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on December 23, 2015. McEveety also co-produced Braveheart, which won 30 awards, including five Academy Awards,[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112573/awards?ref_=tt_awd 'Braveheart' awards and nominations.] Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on December 23, 2015. and whose films also include 'The Man Without a Face', 'Immortal Beloved', 'We Were Soldiers', and 'Payback'.[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0568544/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 Filmography of Stephen McEveety.] Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on December 23, 2015. Stephen Vidano directed this film and Julie Davison Larson composed its music.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1121971/fullcredits Internet Movie Database cast and crew list.] Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on January 6, 2016.
Larson released this documentary in 2007 (63 minutes) and in 2009 (65 minutes). It received five Doves from the Dove Foundation, which considered the film acceptable for all ages.[http://www.dove.org/review/6696-the-star-of-bethlehem/ Carpenter, Edwin. "The Star of Bethlehem".] Dove Foundation. This review is not dated. Retrieved on December 23, 2015. Christian Cinema reviewer Angela Walker wrote, "The Star of Bethlehem doesn't have an MPAA rating, but the nature of the subject would probably earn it a PG for thematic elements (that being the birth of Jesus Christ)."[http://www.christiancinema.com/catalog/article_info.php?articles_id=7056 Walker, Angela. "The Star of Bethlehem compels and astonishes".] Christian Cinema. This review is not dated. Retrieved on December 23, 2015.
See also
*Apparent retrograde motion
*Johannes Kepler
*Stephen McEveety
References
Further reading
'Starry Night Companion : Your guide to understanding the night sky using Starry Night' by John Mosley. 2004.
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