Tommy Robinson’s ‘put Christ back into Christmas’ message"

I went to my six year old’s grandson’s Nativity yesterday. He goes to the village Catholic school, despite having been Christened in the C of E , at the same Church his mother, auntie and uncle were. His mum looked at the three local schools and approached the head to see if she’d accept her children into nursery and into primary, junior school. Yes was the answer, the key is Christianity. Incidentally my grandchildren attend Church from school, where the Catholic faith runs through everything.

Back to the Nativity. It was glorious, it contained the traditional story of the Nativity , with Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the three Kings, the animals, the Star, and of course the star of the show, the baby Jesus. Lots of singing shouting dancing and happiness to celebrate the greatest story ever told.

No Judgement

Oreo

Too late! I just made it.

Yes you did. Making the judgement doesn’t mean you made it correctly

Allira

^I feel what matters^
Presumably you mean "What matters to me is"

What matters to others might be quite different from what you feel is important or true.

That is a very fair comment. Just so. Aren't we all saying "what matters to me?

What matters is that each of us is comfortable with our own beliefs and reasons, and I do genuinely accept those differences.

I just don't believe one can be "absolutist" as in you either are or aren't a Christian on the basis of a virgin birth or not.

Thank you Smileless, yes, and there are churches named as Saint James the Less, after a brother.
Some denominations say that Jesus did not have siblings. Not sure which ones, though.

Do you mean retained her virginity Maremia? She gave birth to James who became the 1st Archbishop of Jerusalem; Jude who wrote one of the letters in the New Testament, Joses and Simon as well as un named sisters (Mark chapter 6 v 3 Matthew chapter 13 v 55).

Saint Google says that most Protestants believe in the virgin birth but not all believe that Mary etained her virginity.
Unfortunately, Google did not go on to say which Protestant churches.
That might require a deeper search.

I really would be interested in knowing if anyone knows any ministers who don't believe in the Virgin birth, if they know what they do believe; they must have an alternative.

The Virgin birth is in the gospels of Matthew and Luke and has nothing to do with suiting the narrative of the church Wyllow, but perhaps it suits yours.

I feel what matters
Presumably you mean "What matters to me is"

What matters to others might be quite different from what you feel is important or true.

A virgin birth is simply - son of God , unless you believe differently

Allira

This is beginning to sound like the school Nativity play as related by Gervaise Phinn.

Mary announces to Joseph "I'm having a baby - oh and it's not yours!"

I feel what matters is Jesus's life and work and way of being, not who his Dad is.
There are various historical theories but I don't believe in a Virgin birth.
I feel its possible to appreciate what he gave to the world without that.

Looking back, the whole, terrible, oppressive pressures over the centuries for women to be "pure" but not the men, came from the church, and it suited their narrative to have a "Virgin birth".

We haven't been to one since our boys were at primary school; great memories .

I haven't been to one since the DGD left primary school. They were so enjoyable and always seemed to have a funny moment when the audience had to keep their faces straight.

ronib

Do Mary and Joseph still appear in school nativity plays? I’m looking forward to seeing my granddaughter as a snowflake and grandson as Mr Badger in their play …..

Went to a GS’s Nativity yesterday , they had the full cast, including King Herod, and multiple animals.

Do Mary and Joseph still appear in school nativity plays? I’m looking forward to seeing my granddaughter as a snowflake and grandson as Mr Badger in their play …..

This is beginning to sound like the school Nativity play as related by Gervaise Phinn.

Mary announces to Joseph "I'm having a baby - oh and it's not yours!"

Oreo

‘I don’t think it matters who the Dad is’ 😄
The above….when talking of Jesus of Nazareth! I don’t think I have ever read something so eye popping in my life.

😁

Well, it does matter as that is at the basis of Christianity!!

theworriedwell

Oreo

It means enough to me, and I’m not worried what anyone else thinks btw.

The Vicars won't be worried about what you think of their beliefs or if you think they aren't Christians as you don't actually decide who is a Christian.

This is really bothering you isn’t it?😄

‘I don’t think it matters who the Dad is’ 😄
The above….when talking of Jesus of Nazareth! I don’t think I have ever read something so eye popping in my life.

I don't think it matters who the Dad was, actually really wyllow!!! I would think it would have mattered to Joseph.

There is no speculation if you believe what we're told in the Bible theworriedwell and Mary is special to all Christians.

Oreo

It means enough to me, and I’m not worried what anyone else thinks btw.

The Vicars won't be worried about what you think of their beliefs or if you think they aren't Christians as you don't actually decide who is a Christian.

It means enough to me, and I’m not worried what anyone else thinks btw.

Oreo

Too late! I just made it.

And it means nothing as you are not in a position to judge.

Iam64

JD Vance said recently that he hopes his wife, a Hindu, will covert to Christianity.

Oreo, being a vicar is not like being a social worker

I'm assuming they married before he converted, otherwise they had some hoops to jump through.

Too late! I just made it.