gstafleu

Just to throw in something that hasn't been mentioned yet, some people make a link between the three Magi and the three stars in the belt of Orion. Do a google for magi orion and have some fun!

Gerard Stafleu

Tigers!

Read Matt 2:1-11.
You really need to get a copy of the Bible.

David B

I've seen that sort of date mooted before. evidence?

And, now I think of it, I never understood why the fish became a christian symbol. I suppose Pisces is plausible, in the lack of any alternative explanations. Does anyone have an alternative?

One explanation would be that the incident never happened.

David B

cajela

I thought it was supposed to be an acronym. Iesous Christos Theous blah blah something Soter, I Ch Th O S=fish. Jesus Christ son of god & saviour.

Kosh

Darn, I thought for a second you might actually have some.

angela2

Who's the Wicker Man?
I assume you know the Christian answer to that question. But if you don't, I'll give it a shot.

Try to remember that in a way the entire Christian story is to use ONE of the definitions of bizarre: strikingly out of the ordinary. Anyone who has no taste for that which is unique will have a hard time with the Christian story. Exactly how it relates to the ordinary is the business of theology.

Stumpjumper is a panentheist. If I remember correctly, that means he believes that God is enclosed in creation while still being transcendent.

Squirrel has been talking lately about creation being enclosed by God, and he's been stressing that what some would call bizarre is just a 'normal' function of that system.

I like Karl Barth's treatment where he speaks of that which is real and that which is really real (the being and work of God). You'll notice the play on words. He also thinks God encloses creation, and while he makes a distinction, you'll notice that the play on words gives that which is 'natural' and that which is 'supernatural' one, inherent grounding.

All three of us, I would guess, don't see a sharp divide between God and creation, between that which is ordinary and that which is unique.

Johnnyboy

Hey guys,

Some time ago I opened a thread about "The Star of Betlehem" In S&S. It might be interesting for some of you, especially for those who know something about acient astrology. I am posting this because the discussion needs to go on, since I have some open questions left (which are postet in the thread).






Greetings from Heidelberg.

The Evil One

The Wicker Man is a cult horror film from the 70s about a policeman who gets caught up in a surviving pagan cult in rural England. A feature of this fictional paganism is that human sacrifices are burnt alive in a human-shaped wicker effigy.

Amaleq13

Recently remade with Nicolas Cage.

gstafleu

Re the vernal equinox, see this thread. It looks at the wider relation between the dates of various festivities and the yearly solar cycle.

Gerard Stafleu