A Collision of Worlds: Science, Pseudoscience and the Bible John Steele History of Science • Aim: To understand the practice of scientific disciplines in their context • Methods: historical, philological, scientific analysis of scientific and related material • Sources: texts (contemporary or through a manuscript tradition), material culture (instruments, buildings, artistic representations, etc) • Who does the history of science? – Academic historians of science – Other academics (eg scientists) – Non-academics – Fringe Science or Pseudoscience – History or Pseudohistory • The Star of Bethlehem: A problem of theology, astronomy or biblical studies? • Velikovsky on ancient myth, astronomy, and history. The Star of Bethlehem Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and we come to worship him. And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea … Then Herod privily called the wise men, and learned of them carefully what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search out carefully concerning the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him. And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. (Matt. 2.1–10) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and we come to worship him. And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea … Then Herod privily called the wise men, and learned of them carefully what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search out carefully concerning the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him. And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. (Matt. 2.1–10) The Star of Bethlehem • Miraculous star • Real astronomical phenomena • Literary fiction Bethlehem’s star, remaining on high, did not point out the place, for it was not possible for them [the magi] in this way to ascertain it. Instead it cam down and did this thing. For you know that a spot of such small dimensions, being only as much as a shed would occupy, or rather, as much as the body of a little infant would take up , could not possibly be marked out by a star. For by reasons of its immense height, it could not sufficiently distinguish so confined a spot and reveal it to those who were desiring to see it […] How then, tell me, did the star point out a spot so confined, just the space of a manger and a shed, unless it left that height and came down and stood over the very head of the child? [John Chrysostom, 4th cent.] Johannes Kepler Conjunctions of Saturn and Jupiter in 7 BC June 22 Nov Dec Pisces 23° Pisces 21° Pisces 17° May 27 Oct 6 Dec 1 Pisces 21° Pisces 17° Pisces 15.5° The Star of Bethlehem and Modern Astronomy • 1979: published bibliography lists 240 books and articles • 1989: an additional 110 books and articles • 2017: many, many more… • Majority of these publications are by astronomers Astronomical Answers 12 BC Halley’s comet 9 & 6 BC Uranus passing by Saturn and Venus 8 BC Jupiter/Mars/Saturn conjunction 7 BC Jupiter/Saturn triple conjunction 6 BC Lunar occultations of Jupiter and Saturn 5 BC Stationary points of Jupiter 5 BC Hypernova in the Andomeda Galaxy 5 BC Comet reported in China 5 BC Nova or recurrent nova reported in China 4 BC Supernova (not recorded anywhere) 4 BC Nova(?) reported in China 4 and 2 BC Supernova (not recorded anywhere) 2 BC Venus/Jupiter occultation Astronomers looking for Astronomical Answers “If Matthew invented the star, what else did he invent? Is his whole gospel full of mistruths? I do not this so. To me, the Gospel of Matthew rings true. All of it. There again, coming from an astronomer intent n finding a real star, we might be justified in following the late Mandy Rice-Davies— “Well, he would say that, wouldn’t he?” “… there was a ‘star’, up there in the sky, in the celestial realm. Now astronomers are in business. Their endeavors, however, might not go uncriticized. Some are convinced that there should be no interaction between science and religion, and that science and religion occupy completely separate territories. Some of these people go further in encouraging the participants in each endeavor to keep their respective noses out of each other’s business. … I am, however, convinced that astronomers should have an opinion about the star of Bethlehem. It is, next to the Sun, the most famous and most illustrated star in the heavens. Modern astronomers are serious scientists adept at searching for celestial bodies and investigating their characteristics. If the Star of Bethlehem was real, astronomers should help identify its identity.” (David Hughes) A Non-Astronomical Answer Numbers 24.17-19: Prophecy of Balaam I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh: a star shall come forth out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moac, and break down all the sons of Sheth. Edom shall be dispossessed, Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed while Israel does valiantly. One out of Jacob shall rule, and the survivors of cities be destroyed. Immanuel Velikovsky Worlds in Collision “Words in Collision is a book of wars in the celestial sphere that took place in historical times. In these wars the planet earth participated too. This book escrives two acts of great drama: one that occurred thirty-four to thirty-five centuries ago, in the middle of the second millennium before the present era; the other in the eighth and the beginning of the seventh century before the present era, twenty-six centuries ago. … It was in the spring of 1940 that I came upon the idea that in the days of Exodus, as evident from many passages of the Scriptures, there occurred a great physical catastrophe, and that such an event could serve in determining the time of the Exodus in Egyptian history. … The historical-cosmological story of this book is based on the evidence of historical texts of many peoples around the globe, on classical literature, on epics of northern races, on sacred books of the peoples of the Orient and Ocident, on traditions and folklore of primitive peoples, on old astronomical inscriptions and charts, on archaeological finds, and also on geological and paleontological material.” Basic Ideas • Astronomical: – Before 15th cent. BC Venus did not exist – Around 15th cent. BC Venus was ejected from Jupiter as a comet and passed near the Earth changing the Earth’s orbit and axial inclination. – Around the 8th or 7th cent. BC, Venus displaces Mars from its orbit and Mars passed close to the Earth – After this, the current order of the planets was established • Historical: – Natural catastrophes in antiquity caused by the close approach of planets to the Earth and other astronomical events such as: – The Flood was caused by Saturn entering a nova state ejecting much of its mass into space – Mercury caused the collapse of the Tower of Babel – Jupiter was responsible for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah – Venus as a comet was responsible for the Exodus (plagues, river of blood, parting of the Red Sea, etc) and Joshua’s report of the Sun standing still Venus as a Comet “This phenomena was described by the Chaldeans. The planet Venus “was said to have a beard”. This same technical expression (“beard”) is used in modern astronomy in the description of comets. … Venues, with its glowing train, was a very brilliant body; it is therefore not strange that the Chaldeans described it as a “bright torch of heaven”, and also as a “diamond that illuminates like the sun”, and compared its light with the light of the rising sun. At present, the light of Venus is less than one millionth of the light of the sun.” (Worlds in Collision, p. 165). “If Venus goes progressively higher to its highest point: rains will cease. If Venus rises and has a beard: same (interpretation) If Venus wears two crowns: women will die with their child in their womb – the Great Twins stand at her side, variant: front. If Venus wears the Moon’s crown: there will be lamentation in the land.” (K. 3601) Publication and Reaction -f'7-'7,U:" c'Y v("lv'vT.'l7l o'rt? 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