08-29-2003, 04:10 AM
See, I don't really split hairs over whether Jesus did exist or not, or whether he was crucified. All that may be true, fine, no problem. Son of god? Please. Died for your sins? Come on. Mythical and mystical horse crap.
The more likely story? A trio of radical religious fanatics saw something amazing that they couldn't explain appear in the sky (now many accept it to be Halley's Comet). They decided to follow it to the place that they determined it was "overhead" - which probably means that they walked toward it, and as they did, the Earth rotated, as it tends to do. They happened to hit Bethlehem right around the time that it got to be overhead, and just had t find the baby being born, which they did. They found him, and they worshipped him. Now, Joseph isn't a rich guy, he's not gonna refuse their gifts, and certainly not refuse that his kid is the son of god, as these dudes probably told him over and over.
And the immaculate conception? Mary got pregnant before they were married. If parents freak out about that shit now, imagine how they'd react 2000 years ago. And with the general ignorance of the time, immaculate conception sounds like an awesome excuse.
All you need to do is read into it a little, and remember that you have to think with people's knowledge (or lack thereof) of how the world worked way back then, and you can read between the lines pretty easily...
The more likely story? A trio of radical religious fanatics saw something amazing that they couldn't explain appear in the sky (now many accept it to be Halley's Comet). They decided to follow it to the place that they determined it was "overhead" - which probably means that they walked toward it, and as they did, the Earth rotated, as it tends to do. They happened to hit Bethlehem right around the time that it got to be overhead, and just had t find the baby being born, which they did. They found him, and they worshipped him. Now, Joseph isn't a rich guy, he's not gonna refuse their gifts, and certainly not refuse that his kid is the son of god, as these dudes probably told him over and over.
And the immaculate conception? Mary got pregnant before they were married. If parents freak out about that shit now, imagine how they'd react 2000 years ago. And with the general ignorance of the time, immaculate conception sounds like an awesome excuse.
All you need to do is read into it a little, and remember that you have to think with people's knowledge (or lack thereof) of how the world worked way back then, and you can read between the lines pretty easily...
<center><img src="http://www.yourmomsbox.net/ftl/ftl-oldtimey.gif"></center>