Daily Fail: Jesus born on June 17. Christmas will now have to be rescheduled...

Cryptopygia

Cryptopygia

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It may not be too late to send the presents back, as astronomers have calculated that Christmas should not be celebrated on December 25 - but on June 17 instead.
Researchers tracked the appearance of the 'Christmas star', which the Bible states three wise men followed to find Jesus.
Australian stargazer Dave Reneke used complex computer software to chart the exact positions of all celestial bodies and map the night sky as it would have appeared over the Holy Land more than 2,000 years ago.
He discovered that a bright star really did appear over Bethlehem 2,000 years ago - but pinpointed the date of Christ's birth as June 17, and not December 25.
Scientists claim the Christmas star was most likely a magnificent conjunction of the planets Venus and Jupiter, which were so close together they would have shone unusually brightly as a single 'beacon of light' which appeared suddenly.
Mr Reneke says the wise men probably interpreted it as the sign they had been waiting for, and they followed the 'star' to Christ's birthplace in a stable in Bethlehem, as described in the Bible.

Generally accepted research has placed the nativity to somewhere between 3BC and 1AD.
Using the St Matthew's Gospel as a reference point, Mr Reneke pinpointed the planetary conjunction, which appeared in the constellation of Leo, to the exact date of June 17 in the year 2BC.
Mr Reneke, who is editor of Sky and Space magazine, said: 'We have software that can recreate the night sky exactly as it was at any point in the last several thousand years.
'Venus and Jupiter became very close in the the year 2BC and they would have appeared to be one bright beacon of light.
'We are not saying this was definitely the Christmas star - but it is the strongest explanation for it of any I have seen so far.

'Astronomy is such a precise science, we can plot exactly where the planets were, and it certainly seems this is the fabled Christmas star. There's no other explanation that so closely matches the facts we have from the time.
'This could well have been what the three wise men interpreted as a sign. They could easily have mistaken it for one bright star.'
He added: 'December is an arbitrary date we have accepted but it doesn't really mean that is when it happened.
'This is not an attempt to decry religion. It's really backing it up as it shows there really was a bright object appearing in the East at the right time.
'Often when we mix science with religion in this kind of forum, it can upset people. In this case, I think this could serve to reinforce people's faith.'
Previous theories have speculated that the star was a supernova (exploding star) or even a comet.
But Mr Reneke says that by narrowing the date down, the technology has provided the most compelling explanation yet.

A leading theory behind why December 25 was chosen as the date to celebrate Christ's birth, was that it was selected by the church as it aligned closely with a major pagan festival, which allowed the church to claim a new celebration for Christianity.

However, if the findings are correct, it would mean a change from Christmas cards featuring traditional snowy scenes to sunny beach views in June.
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Source
 
Believeable, note that the Bible never actually mentioned the date of the birth of Christ. Islam and Judaism both claim sometime in the Autumn or Summer. What this means is that we get to swap Christmases with the Aussies!
 
Of course Jesus wasn't actually born on December 25. The reason that the Church put Christmas on that day is because it is close to the pagan holiday of the winter solstice (December 21).
 
Crazyjeeper said:
Of course Jesus wasn't actually born on December 25. The reason that the Church put Christmas on that day is because it is close to the pagan holiday of the winter solstice (December 21).
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Bingo. But, hey I am down for December 25th! Who isn't? What better time of year not only celebrate the birth of Christ, the winter solstice and the end of year.
It is like no matter what you believe in, there is something for everyone to celebrate!
 
Bah! Who brings science into religion, anyway?! :p
 
Nereid said:
What this means is that we get to swap Christmases with the Aussies!
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Some people celebrate "Christmas in July" here in Australia already, in addition to the regular Christmas..
 
Australia: Turning your world Upside-down since the dawn of time.
 
At least they mention the fact that Christmas (from Christ's Mass, IIRC) was celebrated in the winter to coincide with the Winter Solstice that was a big festival for the pagans. It was a marketing ploy around 1000 AD to ease in the conversion of the Germanic and Nordic tribes.

And Christmas is still on December 25th in the southern hemisphere, you morons!
 
The Bible: the greatest work of science fiction, followed closely by Star Wars.
 
^I don't get it ... where does the "science" part come into the picture? Was it the turning of water into wine? Or was it the virgin that got pregnant? :p
To me it can't be science-fiction, it's just fiction.
 
Okay then - just fiction. But imagine if they listened to your idea and involved science for those things :D
 
^Like what? Organic chemistry and artificial insemination? :lol:
Hey, that I can believe. Unfortunately, I doubt they can fit it in the verses.

Wouldn't be too exciting though, would it?
"Repent, or there's a one-in-3-million chance that God will strike you dead!"
 
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erm, who cares, really? as long as I get my presents I'm cool with anything

/selfish bastard mode off

> cannot turn off
 
Wait, let me get this straight -- Christmas is tied religion? News to me.
 
stiggie said:
Some people celebrate "Christmas in July" here in Australia already, in addition to the regular Christmas..
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What!? I've been missing out! :(
 
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