Religion

Steelrolled

(2,022 posts)

22. I agree that ultimately, the birth story would have a single source

Sat Dec 28, 2019, 01:00 PM

Dec 2019

in the personages of Jesus' parents. I expect the story would have then fanned out through the generations, and the gospel authors might have gotten information from nearby spots on the fan.

Having said that, the stories have their differences. Only Luke talked about the "census" for example. And based on my life experience, it is very possible that as the story was passed down, some people thought that the census aspect was very significant and interesting, while others thought it was immaterial and mundane.

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Does anyone here think the Nativity is not pure myth? [View all] edhopper Dec 2019 OP

I was there Goonch Dec 2019 #1

You must be very old. edhopper Dec 2019 #2

If you read the Bible, the wisemen could have been two or twenty two, AND... 4139 Dec 2019 #3

Right you are PJMcK Jan 2020 #51

Similar myths appear in other spiritual traditions Dream Girl Dec 2019 #4

Four gospels, four different birth treatments. The message was more important than fact.h Karadeniz Dec 2019 #5

Only two bother to mention the nativity Major Nikon Dec 2019 #9

How long has it been Mariana Dec 2019 #17

That was why I said "treatments." Mark doesn't give a birth story, so apparently the birth was Karadeniz Dec 2019 #25

Greatest hoax of all time, and a big money maker for some! Pure BS IMO! n/t RKP5637 Dec 2019 #6

The story of the nativity appears in later gospels Major Nikon Dec 2019 #7

So he was given gifts of frankensense, myrrh and GOLD. 3Hotdogs Dec 2019 #8

as recently as ... stopdiggin Dec 2019 #10

maybe I should have said edhopper Dec 2019 #11

And the Ark (flood) was a TRUE account of actual events. Ferrets are Cool Dec 2019 #12

Was Jesus born? guillaumeb Dec 2019 #13

Your first premise is not that easy or clear cut. Cuthbert Allgood Dec 2019 #34

We could trade citations, guillaumeb Dec 2019 #36

"Historians in general agree that there was an historical Jesus who preached in Palestine" Cuthbert Allgood Dec 2019 #37

My first citation for you Cuthbert Allgood Dec 2019 #38

And in return, guillaumeb Dec 2019 #39

The Bible stories all agree Mariana Dec 2019 #40

And historians agree that Jesus was crucified for sedition. guillaumeb Dec 2019 #41

The story of Jesus was written by various people one hundred Enoki33 Dec 2019 #14

"if one ignores the contradictions" KT2000 Dec 2019 #31

Sort of, an example. Dunnjen Dec 2019 #15

Or maybe the entire story was completely made up Major Nikon Dec 2019 #16

I think Jesus was a person who had to be born somewhere. Steelrolled Dec 2019 #18

Reasonable Dunnjen Dec 2019 #19

Per sources referenced by wikipedia Steelrolled Dec 2019 #24

If Jesus wasn't born in Bethlehem, he isn't the messiah Major Nikon Dec 2019 #20

I agree that ultimately, the birth story would have a single source Steelrolled Dec 2019 #22

Maybe he's just a very naughty boy ? OnDoutside Dec 2019 #27

Excitable boy, they all said Major Nikon Dec 2019 #29

You missed something important. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2019 #21

I wouldn't say they tell it verbatim Steelrolled Dec 2019 #23

A distinction without a difference. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2019 #32

I think we cannot make such firm conclusions given how little information we have Steelrolled Dec 2019 #33

Dennis McDonald (and others) make a compelling argument that the NT Cuthbert Allgood Dec 2019 #35

Gosh. Act_of_Reparation Jan 2020 #42

of the four gospels uriel1972 Jan 2020 #48

Isn't it mostly a rehashed Mithras myth anyway? sandensea Dec 2019 #26

Pure myth? No. Loki Liesmith Dec 2019 #28

Telephone connecticut yankee Dec 2019 #30

One of the reasons I am spiritual rather than religious.. mvd Jan 2020 #43

Vatican has the actual for-real manger. Iggo Jan 2020 #44

I guess that settles it then Major Nikon Jan 2020 #45

I have the Ark of the Covenant in my garage. Act_of_Reparation Jan 2020 #46

Wise choice! Iggo Jan 2020 #47

The trouble is... Act_of_Reparation Jan 2020 #49

Pinche the covenant, I swear to god! Iggo Jan 2020 #50

Remember not to look at it COLGATE4 Jan 2020 #55

Can't tell you how many neighbors it's melted over the years. Act_of_Reparation Jan 2020 #56

You're all discussing a virgin birth like it, um, Croney Jan 2020 #52

... Major Nikon Jan 2020 #53

I am discussing the virgin birth edhopper Jan 2020 #54