Posted on 12/20/2007 4:55:01 PM PST by TaxachusettsMan
Dr Williams argued that the traditional Christmas story was nothing but a 'legend'
He said the only reference to the wise men from the East was in Matthew's gospel and the details were very vague.
Dr Williams said: "Matthew's gospel says they are astrologers, wise men, priests from somewhere outside the Roman Empire, that's all we're really told. It works quite well as legend."
The Archbishop went on to dispel other details of the Christmas story, adding that there were probably no asses or oxen in the stable.
He argued that Christmas cards which showed the Virgin Mary cradling the baby Jesus, flanked by shepherds and wise men, were misleading. 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."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
That is why is it SO IMPORTANT to support doing fact checking on subjects like this one because the MSM SEEMS to get it all wrong.
Yes; I believe that the conception of Jesus was a moment when the creative action of God produced a reality as new in its way as the first moment of creation itself. And I believe that what opened the way for this was the work of God through human history over centuries, coming to its fullest moment in Marys consent to Gods call. The recognition of the uniqueness and newness of Jesus is a recognition of the absolute freedom of God to break the chains of cause and effect that lock us into our sins and failures; the virginal conception is an outward sign of this divine freedom to make new beginnings.
If there is any concrete statement to be found in this turgid mass of weasel words, it may be something to the effect of:
"The conception of Jesus was really, really special and can be considered-if we so choose-to involve a virgin birth, but it is better understood as a metaphor."
Not a sweeping affirmation by any means.
While those Christmas cards, and just about every Nativity scene and Christmas pageant in the Western World show the “3 Kings” being present at the Birth, the Gospels paint a different story. They indicate the Wise Men came after the birth- possibly as many as two years later. This is why “3 Kings” are observed the Sunday before Epiphany and not on Christmas Day.
For militant Christians of other denominations, who know their own churches are in perfect order and are completely devoid of homosexual clergy and leaders who might privately question major doctrines, might do well to read the interview before lauching more diatribes against the Anglicans.
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