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(Telegraph)   The story: Archbishop of Canterbury says some traditions about the Nativity story, such as three wise men, the December birth or the oxen in the stable, may not be true. The headline: "ARCHBISHOP SAYS NATIVITY A LEGEND"   (telegraph.co.uk) divider line
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5377 clicks; posted to Main » on 20 Dec 2007 at 2:21 PM (15 years ago)   |   Favorite    |   share:  Share on Twitter share via Email Share on Facebook



180 Comments     (+0 »)


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Saborlas [TotalFark]
2007-12-20 12:57:25 PM  
Look two headlines down, folks. This is why you never hit refresh after hitting submit.
 
vernonFL
2007-12-20 1:21:58 PM  
Only 2 out of 4 Gospels talk about Jesus' birth in any detail, and most of the detail is just wrong. Its a fairy tale.

Link (new window)
 
Mordant
2007-12-20 1:35:42 PM  
The details of the story are probably the least of your worries, imagine the odds of your savior having been born a fair skinned little white baby in that part of the world.

Your God does not look like you, he looks like the people you hate.
 
Sensei Can You See [TotalFark]
2007-12-20 1:44:47 PM  
Saborlas: Look two headlines down, folks. This is why you never hit refresh after hitting submit.

Actually, that's because I goofed up the link in my first try--try clicking it and you get a 404 error. I notified the admins and asked them to delete, then resubmitted.

/submitter
 
Randon
2007-12-20 1:53:36 PM  
The Archbishop of Canterbury watched "zeitgeist?"
 
Sensei Can You See [TotalFark]
2007-12-20 2:10:44 PM  
Mordant: The details of the story are probably the least of your worries, imagine the odds of your savior having been born a fair skinned little white baby in that part of the world.

You mean Jesus DOESN'T look like Ted Nugent?
 
LocalCynic
2007-12-20 2:24:17 PM  
Jesus explicitly tells people to remember his death - but nowhere in the text is there a suggesting that Christians should memorialize Christ's birth. As such, Biblical literalists should point out that Jesus ISN'T really the reason for the season.
 
I Like Jokes
2007-12-20 2:24:25 PM  
Newsflash! Everything about christianity is a legend.
 
skinink [OhFark]
2007-12-20 2:24:28 PM  
And don't get him started on the whole "Mary was a virgin" story ...
 
katghoti
2007-12-20 2:25:07 PM  
"NATIVITY SAYS ARCHBISHOP A LEGEND" FIFY
 
kid_icarus
2007-12-20 2:25:13 PM  
Santa was there, though...right?
 
japhy
2007-12-20 2:25:14 PM  
skinink: And don't get him started on the whole "Mary was a virgin" story ...

Actually, the Archbishop does believe in the Virgin birth.
 
Cameron_Talley
2007-12-20 2:25:28 PM  
I thought it was pretty common knowledge that Jesus wasn't born in a stable, he was probably born in the spring, if the wise men really did visit, it would have been at least a year after his birth, etc. Yes, the Nativity is a legend.

That doesn't mean we can't celebrate Christ's birth through the symbolism of the Nativity and by celebrating Christmas.

/Episcopalian
 
kid_icarus
2007-12-20 2:27:08 PM  
Cameron_Talley: I thought it was pretty common knowledge that Jesus wasn't born in a stable, he was probably born in the spring, if the wise men really did visit, it would have been at least a year after his birth, etc. Yes, the Nativity is a legend.

That doesn't mean we can't celebrate Christ's birth through the symbolism of the Nativity and by celebrating Christmas.

/Episcopalian

You were dead on except for the part about it being 'common knowledge'. There's actually a surprising number of people who believe the nativity story is literal and factual; and they'll fight you over it, too.
 
Impasse
2007-12-20 2:27:14 PM  
SquirrelsOfDoom: You mean Jesus DOESN'T look like Ted Nugent?

Of course he did, all the Jews at the time in that region were long, straight-haired caucasians.

/They all spoke English too
 
hotter than the ads
2007-12-20 2:27:50 PM  
Holy crap . . . anyone see this comment?

Finally! There is some truth finding its way through the Christian myths that have misled its followers for 1500 years.

And if there is a spiritual vacuum that needs to be filled, let it be with the belief systems native to Europe before the Christian invasion. Let it be with Earth-based beliefs such as Druidism, that respected the Great Spirit, the earth and the universe without divisiveness or myths.
Posted by Bill D on December 20, 2007 6:45 PM

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Oh man, revisionist history for everyone!
 
Algebrat [TotalFark]
2007-12-20 2:28:12 PM  
Mordant: The details of the story are probably the least of your worries, imagine the odds of your savior having been born a fair skinned little white baby in that part of the world.

Your God does not look like you, he looks like the people you hate.

papadeltabravo.comView Full Size


All pathetic humans look the same to MORBO!
 
philwz
2007-12-20 2:28:14 PM  
People take stuff way too seriously, like the headline.
 
sentient_being
2007-12-20 2:28:19 PM  
LocalCynic: Jesus explicitly tells people to remember his death - but nowhere in the text is there a suggesting that Christians should memorialize Christ's birth. As such, Biblical literalists should point out that Jesus ISN'T really the reason for the season.

[image from aycu03.webshots.com too old to be available]

"The reason for the season, is PLEASIN'"
 
Number41
2007-12-20 2:28:39 PM  
LocalCynic: Jesus explicitly tells people to remember his death - but nowhere in the text is there a suggesting that Christians should memorialize Christ's birth. As such, Biblical literalists should point out that Jesus ISN'T really the reason for the season.

I cringe when I hear Christians describe Christmas as the holiest time of year for the religion, when Easter seems a lot more important.
 
Broken Logic
2007-12-20 2:28:54 PM  
japhy: Actually, the Archbishop does believe in the Virgin birth.

But it wasn't a live birth. He was an egg. Hence the easter tradition.
 
Five Minute Standup
2007-12-20 2:28:57 PM  
Mordant
The details of the story are probably the least of your worries, imagine the odds of your savior having been born a fair skinned little white baby in that part of the world.

Your God does not look like you, he looks like the people you hate.


Well, God is white, and Mary is brown, so the child could end up pretty light. Probably not gonna be blonde, though.
 
kid_icarus
2007-12-20 2:29:05 PM  
Impasse: SquirrelsOfDoom: You mean Jesus DOESN'T look like Ted Nugent?

Of course he did, all the Jews at the time in that region were long, straight-haired caucasians.

/They all spoke English too

And the apostle Paul carried a King James Bible, too. Don't forget about that.

//seriously. I've actually heard that said more than once.
 
hotter than the ads
2007-12-20 2:29:26 PM  
Impasse
SquirrelsOfDoom: You mean Jesus DOESN'T look like Ted Nugent?

Of course he did, all the Jews at the time in that region were long, straight-haired caucasians.

How long were they, exactly?

Uh, it's for historical analysis.
 
Cameron_Talley
2007-12-20 2:29:35 PM  
kid_icarus: Cameron_Talley: I thought it was pretty common knowledge that Jesus wasn't born in a stable, he was probably born in the spring, if the wise men really did visit, it would have been at least a year after his birth, etc. Yes, the Nativity is a legend.

That doesn't mean we can't celebrate Christ's birth through the symbolism of the Nativity and by celebrating Christmas.

/Episcopalian

You were dead on except for the part about it being 'common knowledge'. There's actually a surprising number of people who believe the nativity story is literal and factual; and they'll fight you over it, too.

Quite right. I guess I should have said "common knowledge among people that aren't idiots"
 
madcow66
2007-12-20 2:29:43 PM  
Infidels. All of yall.

nedds a img.fark.nettag
 
KeithGate
2007-12-20 2:31:01 PM  
Prefacing my comments with a disclaimer...Southern Baptist Deacon here.

Yes, the "wisemen" didn't make it there the same night as the birth. But picturing them together in that setting speaks more to the occassion as a whole than for historical accuracy.

To say there were no asses or oxen, with any level of certainty is going a bit too far. Yes, there was no Wikipedia article from any eyewitnesses, but as Scripture doesn't say whether they were there or not, leave it alone.

Ohhh, and while we are on the subject, painting and picturing Jesus Christ as a long-haired white hippie looking type is not accurate either. Not alot of white people roaming around Judea back in the day.

All that being said, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, so if we add in the wisemen (who did make it by the time Jospeh found a room for them since he hadn't bothered getting on Priceline before they left for Bethlehem), just leave it alone...like we say; it's the thought that counts.
 
Impasse
2007-12-20 2:31:24 PM  
hotter than the ads: How long were they, exactly?

Uh, it's for historical analysis.

My wording was a little strange there.

/blames the jews
 
eggrolls
2007-12-20 2:32:00 PM  
As for the scenes that depicted snow falling in Bethlehem, the Archbishop said the chance of this was "very unlikely".

In a final blow to the traditional nativity story, Dr Williams concluded that Jesus was probably not born in December at all. He said: "Christmas was when it was because it fitted well with the winter festival."

Any good rancher will tell you you don't graze your sheep in the middle of winter, either. It's bloody winter, there's nothing to eat. So much for the shepherds in the nativity. And adoption of the Gregorian calendar in the late 16th century erased a half a month from the world by papal decree; how do you calculate that in?

Jesus was born in the spring. Deal with it.
 
rigamrts
2007-12-20 2:32:35 PM  
i87.photobucket.comView Full Size
 
AlgaeRancher [OhFark]
2007-12-20 2:33:02 PM  
This nativity scene is all wrong, the sheep were to the left, and goats? GOATS! you know who else likes goats!!?!!

/not a quote just having fun
 
Hosebeatings
2007-12-20 2:33:07 PM  
I Like Jokes: Newsflash! Everything about christianity is a legend myth.

FTFY
 
Witty Handle
2007-12-20 2:33:16 PM  
Number41: I cringe when I hear Christians describe Christmas as the holiest time of year for the religion, when Easter seems a lot more important.

Early puritans figured Jesus' birth was the least important part of his life, they didn't celebrate Christmas at all. Later came Coca-cola and you know the rest.

/Cha-ching!
 
Diabolic [OhFark]
2007-12-20 2:34:11 PM  
*summon Bevets*
 
I_Can't_Believe_it's_not_Boutros
2007-12-20 2:34:11 PM  
Also, the Jewish guy stealing tangerines may be a bit iffy.
 
Manfred J. Hattan
2007-12-20 2:34:55 PM  
Mordant: The details of the story are probably the least of your worries, imagine the odds of your savior having been born a fair skinned little white baby in that part of the world.

Your God does not look like you, he looks like the people you hate.

Feh. Christians got it lucky. My god doesn't look like me, he looks like he came out of a heated pan at Sbarro.
 
Doodah_man
2007-12-20 2:36:23 PM  
Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?

/Hmm worked with Becket
 
chris2sy
2007-12-20 2:36:29 PM  
Jesus Is Legend

(Starring Will Smith)
 
hotter than the ads
2007-12-20 2:36:38 PM  
Impasse
hotter than the ads: How long were they, exactly?

Uh, it's for historical analysis.

My wording was a little strange there.

/blames the jews

That's fair.
 
Nall
2007-12-20 2:37:04 PM  
I always enjoy busting the bubbles of Jesus freaks by telling them why we really celebrate in December, where the gift giving tradition actually came from, why we have Christmas trees, why we kiss under mistletoe (particularly hilarious reactions to this one), and that Christmas celebrations used to be outlawed by the church.

The Luke-esque "That's not true.....that's impossible!" responses make life worth living.

/is a Christian, regardless. Just remember to remind people that Easter is far, far more important.
//and get off Santa's back. What did he ever do to you? Other than make kids happy
///and another thing. Fark those "war of christmas" idiots. Jews have holidays too, and I lump New Years in with Christmas in one lovely "awkward family reunion week" celebration of getting drunk and playing cards with grandpa.
 
Relatively Obscure [TotalFark]
2007-12-20 2:37:30 PM  
Doodah_man: Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?

/Hmm worked with Becket

Oh yeah. That worked real well, for all involved.
 
Broken Logic
2007-12-20 2:38:33 PM  
Diabolic: *summon Bevets*

Could ya not?
 
armin101
2007-12-20 2:39:10 PM  
It is a little silly to think of snow falling in the middle of a desert.
 
LocalCynic
2007-12-20 2:39:26 PM  
KeithGate: All that being said, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, so if we add in the wisemen (who did make it by the time Jospeh found a room for them since he hadn't bothered getting on Priceline before they left for Bethlehem), just leave it alone...like we say; it's the thought that counts.

So what about the time that Aaron constructed the golden calf -- he had good thoughts in mind, so does that make it okay?

Christianity in its orthodox form looks to the Bible as divine revelation, and that divine revelation doesn't really give us any reason that Christmas is more important than other occasions. The Gospel of Luke tells us that Christ's birth was important because of what he came to do, but doesn't offer any reason why it should be ritualistically celebrated. Contrast that to Passover, where the Lord commanded the Hebrews to remember the occasion, or Easter, where Jesus when celebrating Passover told his disciples to "do this in memory of me."

That's not to say that Christmas is a bad idea by any means, but it baffles me as to how culture warriors have turned that occasion into a major social crusade.
 
jimmychitwood
2007-12-20 2:39:35 PM  
If I'm not mistaken,NONE of the new testament was written by eyewitnesses. The oldest Gospel (Mark) dates back to 60 AD.
 
Relatively Obscure [TotalFark]
2007-12-20 2:40:10 PM  
armin101: It is a little silly to think of snow falling in the middle of a desert.

Antarctica would like to have a word with you.
 
vernonFL
2007-12-20 2:41:47 PM  
armin101: It is a little silly to think of snow falling in the middle of a desert.

Uh, it actually does snow in Israel and the West Bank.
 
Relatively Obscure [TotalFark]
2007-12-20 2:44:34 PM  
vernonFL: Uh, it actually does snow in Israel and the West Bank.

That's ash.
 
BatGuano
2007-12-20 2:45:54 PM  
I liked the part about the midnight mass starting at 8pm boy are those drunken yobs in for a surprise when they show up. Is there nothing the Nanny State can't police?.
 
Guntram Shatterhand
2007-12-20 2:46:05 PM  
Mordant: Your God does not look like you, he looks like the people you hate.

And suddenly the critics of Rosie O'Donnell cry out in pain.
 
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