Anyone who has ever wondered what would cause “wise men from the East” to travel to Jerusalem to seek out a king whose birth was heralded by a star will appreciate the documentary by Frederick A. Larson titled “The Star of Bethlehem.” SevierCountyNews.com caught up with Larson by telephone this week to ask a few questions about the research that went into this insightful work.

Scholars have long debated whether the star of Bethlehem was a religious legend or an actual event. Larson’s presentation (from producer Stephen McEveety, “The Passion of the Christ”) brings together religious and historical research along with modern-day scientific computer software (“Starry Night”) that reproduces the motion of planets and stars with amazing accuracy.

Larson said he became interested in the star of Bethlehem through simple family traditions of preparing Christmas decorations. As his interest grew in finding out more about the star, (Was it a comet? Was it a nova?) he approached the subject using logic and case-study skills gleaned from his background in law.

Larson’s approach was also shaped by study under the late Francis Schaeffer at the scholar’s community, L’Abri, in the Alps above Lausanne, Switzerland. Dr. Schaeffer’s writings are among the 20th Century’s most influential works of Christian apologetics. Larson received a B.A. degree in philosophy from the University of Southern California and went on to receive his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Southern California Law Center. He later entered commercial litigation practice in Los Angeles with the “small but influential” (L.A. Times) firm of Kadison, Pfaelzer, Woodard, Quinn & Rossi. There he was involved in litigation in the fields of securities, antitrust, interstate land sales and intellectual property.

Professor Larson currently practices intellectual property law and business law in College Station, Texas. For fourteen years he taught The Legal Environment of Business, one of the largest courses at Texas A&M University.

SCN: We did an online search about the Bethlehem star and noticed that there are other theories out there besides yours.

FL: I let the facts speak for themselves. I also let people draw their own conclusions.

SCN: And people can buy their own star-gazing software for the computer, right? What kind do you use?

FL: I use Starry Night.

SCN: You said it’s important that people have the right perspective too.

FL: Right. Not just the correct dates, but also viewing the night sky from Babylon first (“We have seen his star in the East and have come to worship him.”) and then from Jerusalem, when the wise men visit King Herod. Then, the star as seen from Bethlehem.

SCN: As a child growing up in the Catholic Church, I always thought it interesting that feast days and celebration days were so strictly observed throughout the church’s history. It had to be a certain day and no other, like December 25. But then sometimes people would say there was no way that Christ could have been born in winter since sheep would not be out in the open in Bethlehem at that time.

FL: If you have ever been to Israel, you know that’s not true. It would not be all that unusual to have a (relatively) warmer night in December; at least warm enough to take animals out.

SCN: I appreciate your development of the nine characteristics of the star. Very methodical.

FL: And the thing that is amazing is that the book of Matthew is “spot on” on all nine points. And Matthew was not a scientist, not a mathematician, not an astronomer.

SCN: You must be happy about getting such accolades from Sky and Telescope magazine and Scientific American magazine too. Good to have Christians appreciate what you do; also good to have independent scientists appreciate it.

FL: Yes.

SCN: I also thought it was interesting that this celestial event (as recorded by modern computer software) happened to a nation (Israel) that had a law against inaccuracy in measurement. As it says in Proverbs 20:10, “Differing weights and differing measures, both of them are abominable to the Lord.” It being understood that celestial measurement, or the measure of planetary motion would be included in that…

FL: Right. Also interesting that these wise men were impressed enough with what they saw in the sky to travel a long way—an estimated 700 miles—to inquire about it.

Readers interested in finding out more may visit Larson’s web site, www.bethlehemstarmovie.com