[meteorite-list] Star of Bethlehem .......
From: CMcdon0923_at_aol.com <CMcdon0923_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:48:55 2004 Message-ID: <a7.1332e91f.28c2edff_at_aol.com> --part1_a7.1332e91f.28c2edff_boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Nowhere in the Bible does it actually say what time of year the birth took place. There are numerous points that indicate it was more towards the Spring, some of which you pointed out. In addition, the shepherds would not have been out in the fields at night during the winter...it DOES get cold in the Mid-East, which also points to a later time of the year for the birth to have taken place, after the lambs had been born. The date of December 25 is most likely a carryover from the pagan festival NATALIS INVICTI, which was celebrated on the 25th. It is believed that by A.D. 386, the church had set up the celebration of "Christ's Mass" to coincide with this festival so that Christians could join in the festivities without actually participating in the pagan celebration, itself. After the Roman Empire dissolved, this date had been widely accepted and certainly continues to this day. Also, the wise men were not sent by their ruler to gather information on the Christ child. When they presented themselves to Herod, and stated that they were there to see the "new King of the Jews", he was naturally concerned. He sent them to find out what they could, but they became aware of his real mitives and after visiting the child, they returned home via anothe route. And yes, Jesus was already a small child....hence Herod's orders to kill all the male children "2 years old and younger". Craig McDonald Frisco, Texas --part1_a7.1332e91f.28c2edff_boundary Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit <HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2> <BR>Nowhere in the Bible does it actually say what time of year the birth took <BR>place. There are numerous points that indicate it was more towards the <BR>Spring, some of which you pointed out. In addition, the shepherds would not <BR>have been out in the fields at night during the winter...it DOES get cold in <BR>the Mid-East, which also points to a later time of the year for the birth to <BR>have taken place, after the lambs had been born. <BR> <BR>The date of December 25 is most likely a carryover from the pagan festival <BR>NATALIS INVICTI, which was celebrated on the 25th. It is believed that by <BR>A.D. 386, the church had set up the celebration of "Christ's Mass" to <BR>coincide with this festival so that Christians could join in the festivities <BR>without actually participating in the pagan celebration, itself. After the <BR>Roman Empire dissolved, this date had been widely accepted and certainly <BR>continues to this day. <BR> <BR>Also, the wise men were not sent by their ruler to gather information on the <BR>Christ child. When they presented themselves to Herod, and stated that they <BR>were there to see the "new King of the Jews", he was naturally concerned. He <BR>sent them to find out what they could, but they became aware of his real <BR>mitives and after visiting the child, they returned home via anothe route. <BR>And yes, Jesus was already a small child....hence Herod's orders to kill all <BR>the male children "2 years old and younger". <BR> <BR>Craig McDonald <BR>Frisco, Texas</FONT></HTML> --part1_a7.1332e91f.28c2edff_boundary-- Received on Sat 01 Sep 2001 10:05:51 PM PDT |
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