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Sir: Astronomers should stick to astronomy; interpretation of the Bible is best left to those who understand it ("Christmas Star shines in a cosmic ballet"; Science, 28 November).
Dionysius Exiguus did not make a mistake in his calculations and Jesus probably was born in 1BC. The stories of Jesus' birth are all invented, as is any association with Herod the Great.
The Star too is an invention, probably deriving from Levi 19:3 and the Talmud, which predicted that "when the Messiah is to be revealed a star will rise in the east...". It may also echo the story of the birth of Mithras, where a star fell from the sky and was followed by Zoroastrian priests called "Magi" on their way to worship the newly born god.
Astronomers look for a celestial sign that existed only in the imagination of the evangelists.
Yours faithfully
Steuart Campbell
Edinburgh
19 December
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Woolwich: The EDL were camped outside my house
Emily Jupp -
Grace Dent: I’m not sure how these people can avoid being called ‘bigots’. And the more ‘civilised’, the worse they are
Grace Dent -
The Daily Cartoon
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Woolwich murder: They killed, then they performed - these men should be starved of our attention
Frank Furedi -
Woolwich attack: The EDL will seek to exploit this evil crime for their own evil ends
Jamie Lewis
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