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Religion

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edhopper

(34,995 posts)
Thu Dec 24, 2020, 06:25 PM Dec 2020

Does anyone here think the Nativity is not a myth? [View all]

Yes, I am picking this time of year to discuss this time a year.

Now I am not debating the mythical - historical Yeshua who preached in Judea. and I am not even debating the divinity of Jesus.
But the nativity story is so full of historical inaccuracies and illogical elements, I wonder if anyone on DU thinks it is an actual real story of the birth of Jesus.

Let's start with the reason Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem. (besides fulfilling some biblical prophesy) So the Romans, one of the most efficient kingdoms to ever rule decided to have a census, and they didn't just hire a bunch of scribes, no, they asked the entire country to get up and travel to the town their family was originally from, not where they were born, but their family's hometown. Yeah that all makes sense. Funny thing is, there is no Roman record of anything like this ever happening, ever.

And the story just gets more ludicrous from there. And don't start with me on the preposterous "slaughter of the innocents".

So do we have anyone who believes this happened as portrayed in the Bible?

46 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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This got alerted, Edhopper. nt. Mariana Dec 2020 #1
did I offend somebody's freedom of religion? edhopper Dec 2020 #16
No, and had I been on the jury SCantiGOP Dec 2020 #26
When can I attack the beliefs of my fellow DUers edhopper Dec 2020 #27
Why don't you just not attack? SCantiGOP Dec 2020 #28
This is not a forum FOR Religion edhopper Dec 2020 #32
I believe the Bible was written by flawed men who had many stories 42bambi Dec 2020 #2
Don't know the story, sorry. Mosby Dec 2020 #3
What part of the world do you live in? edhopper Dec 2020 #17
I'm Jewish, everything I know about xtians came from a college class I took Mosby Dec 2020 #20
I grew up Jewish edhopper Dec 2020 #23
It's a myth vlyons Dec 2020 #4
I didn't know about the second Bethlehem exboyfil Dec 2020 #8
Bethlehem of Galilee is just a few miles NW of Nasareth vlyons Dec 2020 #31
I just read on twitter (yeah I know) Mosby Dec 2020 #21
The reasons for the myth are more practical Major Nikon Dec 2020 #46
No exboyfil Dec 2020 #5
Is it likely inaccurate? Sure qazplm135 Dec 2020 #6
I believe something happened. jimfields33 Dec 2020 #7
No, they don't have pieces of the crib in Italy edhopper Dec 2020 #12
Religious relics have been a lucrative business procon Dec 2020 #18
"They have pieces of the crib in Italy." Mariana Dec 2020 #25
I'm just going to say that the way things are going I'd not be surprised to see a lot of babies hlthe2b Dec 2020 #9
It makes more sense if it happened in 5 BCE TrogL Dec 2020 #10
More like a remembered astrological event edhopper Dec 2020 #13
But Religious Scholars point out the Magi didn't visit until 2 to 5 years later JustFiveMoreMinutes Dec 2020 #36
Trolling on a Christmas Eve! My favorite video o'the season! marble falls Dec 2020 #11
Hey I am just edhopper Dec 2020 #15
Just start with the taxes and the mysticism falls apart. procon Dec 2020 #14
I still want to know where the gold went. Ferrets are Cool Dec 2020 #19
Of course not-- not any more than creation in 6 days, the Flood, or water into wine... TreasonousBastard Dec 2020 #22
no - it's all astro-theology Locrian Dec 2020 #24
Religion loses its power and poetry when we read it as a literal history elias7 Dec 2020 #29
Too bad edhopper Dec 2020 #33
Other issues aside, your assumptions about the Roman census may be inaccurate. struggle4progress Dec 2020 #30
Which still makes edhopper Dec 2020 #34
It is more interesting to start with what we know and see where it might lead us struggle4progress Dec 2020 #43
Sounds more like you edhopper Dec 2020 #44
I've never been a believer Ron Obvious Dec 2020 #35
consistent? edhopper Dec 2020 #37
So it would have been more consistent if it was all made up, I meant. Ron Obvious Dec 2020 #38
By one person maybe. edhopper Dec 2020 #41
Again, other issues aside, your view of a Roman massacre story may not be defensible struggle4progress Dec 2020 #39
There is a huge difference between edhopper Dec 2020 #40
The histories are histories written by and preserved by the ruling class. Rome would not care struggle4progress Dec 2020 #42
Many of which were later creations edhopper Dec 2020 #45
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