Path: utzoo!censor!comspec!lethe!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!bcm!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: billg@bony1.bony.com (Bill Gripp) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Starry starry night . . . Message-ID: Date: 27 Jan 91 08:09:26 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Bank of New York Lines: 48 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article BINDNER@auvm.auvm.edu writes: >billg@bony1.bony.com (Bill Gripp) writes: >.It has also been hypothesized that the ASTROLOGY practiced by the >.Magi was more closely related to present day ASTRONOMY than present >.day Astrology. (8^). > >Ah, no. Modern day astronomers would not attach any meaning to the >conjunctions known as the star. They had to be astrologers to know >what the conjuctions meant. A further thought, magi is the plural of >magician or sorcerer (who usually have to contract with spirits to gain >power). I would much rather believe them astrologers. > >Mike You hit the nail on the head when you say MODERN DAY. We are not discussing Modern Day, we are talking about practices from 2000 years ago. While they were Astrologers, the point is that Astrology as practiced in Jesus's time was more closely related to Modern Day (there's that phrase again) Astronomy than Modern Day Astrology. While Astrologers back then did associate some mystical qualities to the heavens, they did not believe in the horoscope type of Astrology we see so prevalent today. They were more concerned with observing the sky than in using it to make predictions (note I did not say they didn't make predictions, just that this was not their primary emphasis or reason for studying the sky). This brings up another question, is the word MAGI found in the BIBLE or is this simply used based upon tradition? And even if it is in the BIBLE, what is the original Greek word and its meaning (in today's English of course)? After all, they are refered to as MAGI, WISE MEN, KINGS, etc. depending upon what you read. I would go by a proper Greek translation not on tradition here. ["magi" is a transliteration of the Greek word used in Mat. It's often translated "wise men". I don't think "kings" would be a translation. That they were kings would seem to be legend. (Indeed so is the number three, I think. It's probably based on the fact that there were three gifts mentioned.) The abridged Kittel says in non-biblical writings the word can mean a member of the Persian priestly caste, posessor and user of supernatural knowledge and power, magician, or deceiver. Philo seems to think of magoi as doing scientific research. The rabbis use as to mean magician. In Mt. they believe it means those who have special wisdom in reading the stars. --clh]