Neha Patil (Editor)

Frederick Larson (filmmaker)

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit

Frederick A. "Rick" Larson is an American lawyer and law professor who investigated the Star of Bethlehem and gave presentations around the world and then made a documentary film, The Star of Bethlehem about his findings.

Contents

The Star of Bethlehem

Larson used Starry Night astronomy computer program after he became interested in the Christmas Star because he needed to produce one for the Magi he made as Christmas decorations for his yard, but did not know what to create.

Larson became intrigued with the Star after reading astronomer Craig Chester's article, based in part on the work of Ernest Martin about the Bethlehem Star being a possible actual event. Chester, a co-founder of the Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy, thought the planetary conjunctions of 2 BC were a more plausible explanation for what the Magi would have seen than events found in earlier dates. Larson thinks astronomical events in 3-2 BC fit the evidence found in the Bible. He also believes King Herod the Great died in 1 BC, although others, including astronomer David Hughes, and astronomer Mike Molnar, believe Herod died in 4 BC.

Larson examined the biblical account in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 2 and located nine qualities of Bethlehem's Star: It signified birth, it signified kingship, it was related to the Jewish nation, and it rose "in the East"; furthermore, King Herod had not been aware of it; it appeared at an exact time; it endured over time; and, according to Matthew, it was in front of the Magi as they traveled south from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, and then it stopped over Bethlehem.

Larson wrote the screenplay and was co-executive producer with Stephen McEveety, whose films include The Passion of the Christ and Braveheart.

ChristQuake

After investigating the Star of Bethlehem, Larson made a second film which has not yet been released.

Personal life

Larson graduated from the University of Southern California, earned his Juris Doctor degree at the University of Southern California Law Center, and has taught at Texas A & M University. He founded the STAR project, a nonprofit organization that promotes unity among Christians of many denominations.

References

Frederick Larson (filmmaker) Wikipedia