The Census and the Star

While the Nativity story is familiar to Christians and non-Christians alike (to the point where it has achieved folklore status), there is actually surprisingly little mention of it in the Bible: of the four Gospel writers, only Luke and Matthew mention Christ's birth. Trying to separate fact from fiction raises several intriguing questions: When was Jesus born? Is there evidence of a census that required Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem? Who were the Wise Men? What star led them? The Census and the Star offers an intelligent exploration of these religious, historical, and scientific questions as it seeks to reconcile possible inconsistencies between the biblical account and recorded history. Backed by art works, maps, and informative commentary by Dr. Frederick Baltz of the Bible Alive Learning Center, DVD extras include a glossary of names and terms, excellent study materials (both onscreen and in PDF format), chronological information, additional interviews, and the free planetarium software Stellarium. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (J. Reed)