Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!!!!

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.

And you need more?

Bible accounts are the only accounts that name where Jesus was born, written by people who knew Jesus and his mother and brethren.

It surpasses my understanding why people would rather reject the plain evidence they have in favor of broad speculation that requires disbelieving the actual witnesses to events.

Merry Christmas to all in Israel and the world.

“Glory to GOD in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

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.

SKYFOX on December 24, 2008 at 1:04 PM

The Nostrovia after each course helps tremendously. It makes midnight Mass a bit of a struggle though.

I’ll see you a boring as hell in-law family gathering and raise you a 33rd consecutive Christmas Eve in-laws’ traditional Polish Catholic “feast” that starts with pickled herring and doesn’t get much better for 12 courses (no meat!!)
If my wife ever complains that I don’t love her…….!
Merry Christmas, Bishop, and (most of) the rest of you…OK, all of you then.

For all you lucky ones who just get to stay home and hang out, I would like to wish all of you a happy holidays:

Please accept with no obligation, either express or implied, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of a holiday on or near the date of the winter solstice, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious and/or secular persuasions of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, inclusive of the choice not to engage in the practice of any religious or secular traditions.

May you have a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted western calendar year 2008, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose diverse contributions to society have helped make America great.

This statement made without implication that America is of relatively greater value than any other nation, country, kingdom, realm, emirate, sultanate, principality, or geopolitical state of any kind, whether or not officially recognized by any other nation, country, kingdom, realm, emirate, sultanate, principality, or geopolitical state, or that the United States of America is the only “America” in the western hemisphere, and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, gender, physical ability, religious faith, or choice of computer platform of the wishee.

Shoe sit-in starts outside US Den of Spies

The meeting, organized by Student Basij Organization of universities of the capital city Tehran, also condemns US crimes in Iraq.

The participants are to throw shoes at the former US Embassy in Tehran, the symbol of the `Big Satan’, as is covered by the US flag in today’s sit-in.

The ground is also covered by US, UK and Israeli flags.

/here and now we should just prolly be happy that they can celebrate at all there …

//MERRY CHRISTMAS to all those at HA!