Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Diogenes the Cynic · 04-25-2005, 07:32 PM

According to the synoptics, Jesus died around three in the afternoon. How could there be a lunar eclipse at three in the afternoon? Even a handy dandy ad hoc dust storm isn't going to give you a view of the moon at three in the afternoon.

And 33 CE? If the author wants to claim that as the date of the crucifixion, then isn't that an admission that Gospels were wrong about Jesus' age at death? If he died in 33, he would have to have been at least 36 years old when he died (and Matthew would suggest that he was 38).

It would not have been a fulfillment of prophecy in any case, by the way. Joel was talking about the end of the world, not the execution of any Messiahs. Obviously, the world did not end in 33 CE, so, fortunately for us, that particular partial eclipse cannot be called a "hit" for old Joel.

proudliberal · 04-25-2005, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Jesus died around three in the afternoon. How could there be a lunar eclipse at three in the afternoon?

I personally have seen the moon at 12:00 noon.

Diogenes the Cynic · 04-25-2005, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by proudliberal

I personally have seen the moon at 12:00 noon.

In what part of the world and at what time of year?

Amaleq13 · 04-25-2005, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by proudliberal

I personally have seen the moon at 12:00 noon.

Me too (well, during the day anyway) but you've never seen a lunar eclipse during the day. That only occurs when the earth is between the sun and the moon.

John A. Broussard · 04-25-2005, 11:04 PM

Why beat around the bush? Culture heroes of the past almost invariably were born and died to the accompaniment of celestial phenomena. Do you think the early Christians would have believed in Christ's divinity without a star of Bethlehem, bloody moons, darkened suns and other such events?

Spherical Time · 04-25-2005, 11:42 PM

EDIT: I completely misunderstood the point of your post.

Anyway: I think it is interesting that people believe that these events happened when they clearly did not.

Agemegos · 04-26-2005, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by proudliberal

I personally have seen the moon at 12:00 noon.

Sure, but it cannot have been a full moon at the time.

For there to be a lunar eclipse, the Moon has to be at the opposite point from the Sun on the celestial sphere. That's where Earth's shadow is. If the Sun is above the horizon, Earth's shadow is below the horizon. If the Moon is in that shadow, it is below the horizon too.

baloria · 04-26-2005, 06:27 AM

That mythical darkening is only to explain within mythos.
Same occured at the deaths of other savior-gods,as,
Heracles/Hercules,Khrisna,Prometheus,Buddha,Osiris.
Astrotheological explanation:when the sun (savior-god)
dies,the light goes out.
Baloria

AnimatedMalamute · 04-28-2005, 01:22 AM

Actually, several years ago (like, 15), we owned some bible story books, and it seems to me that they said the sun and moon did their thing in the 1700s - a solar eclipse and the moon turning red and everything. I admit the century may not be correct, because it's been so long ago since I looked at them... but I do know that the other part of the "prediction" - the stars would fall from the sky - was taught as happening in the 1800s.

My two cents.

-AM

04-26-2005, 06:27 AM	#18
baloria Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Flanders Posts: 12	Darkening That mythical darkening is only to explain within mythos. Same occured at the deaths of other savior-gods,as, Heracles/Hercules,Khrisna,Prometheus,Buddha,Osiris. Astrotheological explanation:when the sun (savior-god) dies,the light goes out. Baloria

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

04-25-2005, 07:32 PM	#11
Diogenes the Cynic Moderator - Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota Posts: 4,639	According to the synoptics, Jesus died around three in the afternoon. How could there be a lunar eclipse at three in the afternoon? Even a handy dandy ad hoc dust storm isn't going to give you a view of the moon at three in the afternoon. And 33 CE? If the author wants to claim that as the date of the crucifixion, then isn't that an admission that Gospels were wrong about Jesus' age at death? If he died in 33, he would have to have been at least 36 years old when he died (and Matthew would suggest that he was 38). It would not have been a fulfillment of prophecy in any case, by the way. Joel was talking about the end of the world, not the execution of any Messiahs. Obviously, the world did not end in 33 CE, so, fortunately for us, that particular partial eclipse cannot be called a "hit" for old Joel.

04-25-2005, 11:04 PM	#15
John A. Broussard Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Hawaii Posts: 6,629	Why beat around the bush? Culture heroes of the past almost invariably were born and died to the accompaniment of celestial phenomena. Do you think the early Christians would have believed in Christ's divinity without a star of Bethlehem, bloody moons, darkened suns and other such events?

04-25-2005, 11:42 PM	#16
Spherical Time Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Everywhere, Always (S. Fe, NM) Posts: 5,463	EDIT: I completely misunderstood the point of your post. Anyway: I think it is interesting that people believe that these events happened when they clearly did not.

04-28-2005, 01:22 AM	#19
AnimatedMalamute Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stockton, California, USA Posts: 80	Actually, several years ago (like, 15), we owned some bible story books, and it seems to me that they said the sun and moon did their thing in the 1700s - a solar eclipse and the moon turning red and everything. I admit the century may not be correct, because it's been so long ago since I looked at them... but I do know that the other part of the "prediction" - the stars would fall from the sky - was taught as happening in the 1800s. My two cents. -AM

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.