Did the Sun stop shining?

[amortalman]

Did the Sun stop shining when Jesus was on the cross as the writers of Matthew, Mark, and Luke claim?

Matthew 27:45
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

Mark 15:33
33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

Luke adds even more:
Luke 23:44-45
44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

Notice that Luke says the darkness lasted for three hours and was over all the earth!

Certainly, an event that goes beyond extraordinary should have been thoroughly documented by thousands of astronomers and writers all over the Roman empire and beyond. Yet there is not to be found a scrap of parchment or papyrus or stone carving or anything else that might lend support to this fantastic claim. Why is that?

The logical answer is that it never happened and is a made-up claim by Christians decades after the supposed event. What do you think?

[amortalman]

[Replying to post 4 by bjs]

It seems to me that the writers clearly meant what they said, that there was darkness over the whole earth.

Interesting!
What could do that?
Also we have to take into Account that we more or less only have to find out why half the earth fell into darkness - in one half it would have been night anyway!

The only thing that makes sense of this strange passage is that it is pure fiction. As someone pointed out, this event happened in conjunction with the night of the living dead. I liked the movie better.

[amortalman]

[Replying to post 26 by brunumb]

Good point, brunumb. What amazes me is that otherwise intelligent people believe in fantastic claims made thousands of years ago when there hasn't been a miracle like those in the last 2000 years. This god just dumped "his people" the Jews over 2000 years ago and even allowed genocide to wipe out 6,000,000 of them during WW2. Who would want to spend eternity with an evil brute like that?

The LDS death baptized Adolph Hitler AND all of his 6.000.000 Jews. According to mormon doctrine they will all spend eternity in heaven with M.G. (Mormon God) happily ever after!

Yes, perhaps they will all dine together at the marriage supper of the lamb along with Jeffrey Dahmer.

[TRANSPONDER]

[Replying to amortalman in post #31]

For me, even without having to refer to previous glaring discrepancies (never mind total contradictions)
Mark 15.33 'There was darkness over the whole land'
Matthew 27.45 "There was darkness over all the land"
Luke 23.44 "There was darkness over the whole land"

Which makes it clear that where the crucifixion was, there was dark as far as the eye could see and an 'eclipse' (Lucky, eh? ) would fit beautifully.

But what does John say? Nothing. nothing at all. 19m 30. He sups his vinegar and conks out and there are no magical signs, rending temple veil, Centurion converted by signs or darkness. John just as he does refute the angelic message because he has none, refutes the darkness at the 3rd (Mark) or ninth (Matthew) hour. It didn't happen, so we can save translation -shopping or checking dates of eclipses in antiquity to try to find the date. It didn't happen, and you may bet your grandmother's false teeth on it.

P.s The excuses 'John didn't think it important' or 'he wrote from a different point of view' (I trust even they won't try on 'it got lost') have worn very thin. In fact, I'd say they have worn out. Oh and the gospel of Peter as usual, gives a very colorful account of the event.

15] "But it was midday, and darkness held fast all Judea; and they were distressed and anxious lest the sun had set, since he was still living. [For] it is written for them: Let not the sun set on one put to death. [16] And someone of them said: 'Give him to drink gall with vinegary wine.' And having made a mixture, they gave to drink. [17] And they fulfilled all things and completed the sins on their own head. [18] But many went around with lamps, thinking that it was night, and they fell. [19] And the Lord screamed out, saying: 'My power, O power, you have forsaken me.' And having said this, he was taken up.

[20] And at the same hour the veil of the Jerusalem sanctuary was torn into two. [21] And they drew out the nails from the hands of the Lord and placed him on the earth; and all the earth was shaken, and a great fear came about. [22] Then the sun shone, and it was found to be the ninth hour. [23] And the Jews rejoiced and gave his body to Joseph that he might bury it, since he was one who had seen the many good things he did. [24] And having taken the Lord, he washed and tied him with a linen cloth and brought him into his own sepulcher, called the Garden of Joseph."

[Goat]

Which makes it clear that where the crucifixion was, there was dark as far as the eye could see and an 'eclipse' (Lucky, eh? ) would fit beautifully.
ht bury it, since he was one who had seen the many good things he did. [24] And having taken the Lord, he washed and tied him with a linen cloth and brought him into his own sepulcher, called the Garden of Joseph."

There, of course, a problem with the eclipse idea. The last supper was supposed to be right at the high holidays, and Passover is on the 15 the nisan. Now, the Hebrew calendar is a lunar calendar, so it matches the phases of the moon. Passover is always during the full moon, and not the new moon. Solar Eclipses happen during the new moon, so it is physically impossible to have a solar eclipse during the holiday of Passover.

[TRANSPONDER]

Which makes it clear that where the crucifixion was, there was dark as far as the eye could see and an 'eclipse' (Lucky, eh? ) would fit beautifully.
ht bury it, since he was one who had seen the many good things he did. [24] And having taken the Lord, he washed and tied him with a linen cloth and brought him into his own sepulcher, called the Garden of Joseph."

There, of course, a problem with the eclipse idea. The last supper was supposed to be right at the high holidays, and Passover is on the 15 the nisan. Now, the Hebrew calendar is a lunar calendar, so it matches the phases of the moon. Passover is always during the full moon, and not the new moon. Solar Eclipses happen during the new moon, so it is physically impossible to have a solar eclipse during the holiday of Passover.

Very good. Of course there is no point in trying to fix the date by looking up old eclipse dates, because it probably was at Tabernacles, it was a miracle dark, not an eclipse and John has never heard of it so it's as invented as Luke's penitent thief anyway. But thanks for that, which I didn't know.

[The Nice Centurion]

[Replying to post 26 by brunumb]

Good point, brunumb. What amazes me is that otherwise intelligent people believe in fantastic claims made thousands of years ago when there hasn't been a miracle like those in the last 2000 years. This god just dumped "his people" the Jews over 2000 years ago and even allowed genocide to wipe out 6,000,000 of them during WW2. Who would want to spend eternity with an evil brute like that?

The LDS death baptized Adolph Hitler AND all of his 6.000.000 Jews. According to mormon doctrine they will all spend eternity in heaven with M.G. (Mormon God) happily ever after!

Yes, perhaps they will all dine together at the marriage supper of the lamb along with Jeffrey Dahmer.

Not perhaps, but for sure.
Brother Jeff, in prison, accepted Jesus Crist as his personal savior and is now in heaven - according to christian belief!
https://www.landoverbaptist.net/showthread.php?t=28839

[TRANSPONDER]

Even if not, he can probably expect some better treatment and a few privileges.