Three Questions by a Christian and their Answers — Page 51
51 and would, in fact, turn the earth upside down. Just con- sider, do the above statements not go against the science of astronomy? The New Testament attracts yet another objec- tion from the same point of view: It is written in the Gospel of Matthew, "And lo, the star, which they (the Magi) saw in the East, went before them till it came and stood over where the young child was. " (2:9) Will the Christians kindly tell us, in the light of astronomy, the name of the wonderful star that moved along with the Magi. What kind of movement was it, and to which laws did it conform? I cannot see how the Gospel of Matthew can es- cape criticism from astronomers. Some Christians get frustrated and respond: "These are not the words of Jesus at all. They are only the words of Matthew, and we do not con- sider Matthew’s statements to be the revealed word. " What an answer! It completely exposes the true nature of the New Testament as a revealed book! Even if we accept, for the sake of argument, that these are not the words of Jesus as , and are in fact the words of Matthew or someone else, Jesus’ own statement (which is believed to be the revealed word and regarding which I have just raised an objection) is of a similar nature and spoken in the same style. Let them at least try to conform his statements the laws of astronomy! And if this statement is not a revealed one, and is only a man-made addition in the New Testament, then why do you claim that each and every statement of the Gospels you possess is the revealed word? Why do you not proclaim, clearly and unambiguously, that, apart from the little that