Video: Christmas returns to Bethlehem

Many subscribe to the belief that Jesus was actually born in Bethlehem, Galilee. The only basis for the side that believes he was born in Judea is because Matthew and Luke both refer to Bethlehem in Judea.

The story goes that Joseph and a 9-month pregnant Mary traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem in Judea (approx. 90 miles) to participate in the Roman census. While there, Mary gave birth to Jesus.

This account of events — specifically where they occurred has been questioned for centuries however the archeological evidence to support a different birth location has only appeared in the last few decades.

Consider -

- There is no record of a census being taken during that time and even if such a record was destroyed, census data was derived from where people lived at the time of the census taking; not involving the mass disruption of having everyone return to their ancestral home. The closest time for recorded census from the birth of Jesus was when he would have been ten years old.

- Mary and Joseph did not travel by minivan along a paved highway. They traveled 90 miles on donkey through semi-rugged terrain. Not exactly the best conditions for a nine month pregnant woman to keep her baby under. Mary would not have even had to make the journey had there been a census. Women were classified by the Romans as only slightly above a slave on the food chain and did not pay taxes; so did not have to register. It was pointless for her to travel 90 miles. Now, living outside of Nazareth in Bethlehem, Galilee and then moving to Nazareth seems more likely.

- A number of archeologists reference significant finds from Bethlehem, Galilee from this time period but none from Bethlehem, Judea leading them to question the existence of Bethlehem, Judea during this period.

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) describes Bethlehem, Judea as an “ancient site” with a complete absence of information for antiquities from the Herodian period–that is, from the time around the birth of Jesus. Couple that with the simple fact that the word ‘Bethlehem’ means ‘house of bread’ and was commonly used to refer to towns that produced flour (read: there were several Bethlehem’s just as their are several Springfields in the U.S.) and you begin to put together a plausible alternate scenario.

Rather than embrace these developments and take another long look at where Jesus was born, authorities in Israel and church leaders continue to promote Bethlehem, Judea as his birthplace. The State obviously likes the location and doesn’t want to screw with the economy. And, of course, the church will never say the Bible is inaccurate so try getting them to acknowledge this.

grdred944 on December 24, 2008 at 1:43 PM