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Nativity

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maggiebee | 10:03 Thu 08th Dec 2011 | Religion & Spirituality
33 Answers
A New Nativity.

When all those long, long years ago a child came down to earth below,
To save the likes of you and me from evil, harm and misery,
Do you suppose that even then, there were some doubting, heedless men
Who, rather than believe the word, just turned their backs and never heard?
You see, today we all recall, the baby in the ox's stall.
The ass, the stables, shepherds, Kings, - all ancient, rural, rustic things.
But what if, here, this very night, it happened....on the Isle of Wight
Would we rejoice and all be merry? Would we dash off and catch the ferry?
If Christ was born in Walthamstow, would builders drop their tools and go?
Would Wapping printers stop their presses? Would supermodels ditch their dresses?
In Dundee and in rural Kent, would shepherds, by an angel sent
Walk miles to see a newborn child, whose mother, unmarried, although mild
Had given birth to a baby boy, not at the Dorchester or Savoy,
But in a garage, there's the rub, round the back of the local pub.
And yet I like to think that we, despite the e-mail and DVD
Would know to go, when star shone bright, and make that journey through the night
To see the child who saves the world, in some old oil drum safely curled.
The nativity for this century. Would anyone out there like to come?
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naah, I'd just wait to read the Tweet! ;)
No its ok you go...... I'll send a mothercare voucher when I have a moment though
I shouldn't look in the garage if I were you. As far as I'm aware, the gospels make no mention of a stable - and the Magi visited the infant Jesus in a house.
>>>If Christ was born in Walthamstow, would builders drop their tools and go?
Would Wapping printers stop their presses? Would supermodels ditch their dresses?
In Dundee and in rural Kent, would shepherds, by an angel sent
Walk miles to see a newborn child, whose mother, unmarried, although mild
Had given birth to a baby boy, not at the Dorchester or Savoy,
But in a garage, there's the rub, round the back of the local pub.
And yet I like to think that we, despite the e-mail and DVD
Would know to go, when star shone bright, and make that journey through the night <<<

No chance, these days we wouldnt believe in such nonsense.
All births are miracles in their way. But, to many, this was a very special one...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4zGEkmgfPQ
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Thanks Sandy.
Sandy, the inaccurate stories that people are taught to believe were designed specifically to tug mercilessly at the heartstrings - just as your video is - and they succeed. It is nothing short of emotional blackmail. Funny how the founders (Jesus being an 'alleged' founder) of religion are often endowed with poverty and hardship. Mohammed was an illiterate orphan you know.
naomi is right, as usual. The stable, the ox and the ass are Church inventions. All that the "Luke" version says is that there was no room at the inn and that the baby was laid in a manger. To assume that this manger was in a cold stable is unreasonable, not only showing extreme callousness on the part of the people around there but also an ignorance of the fact that domestic animals often shared the same premises as the family. Wherever the manger came from the sensible assumption is that it finished indoors with proper warm linen.

Also as naomi says, the contradictory "Matthew" version has Mary and Joseph living in Bethleham, hence no need for a journey and an inn and no mention of a census. In other words, a perfectly normal birth at home - plainly not sentimental enough for the Church, which is why you'll hear no mention of this versioon at Christmas.
Interesting that they would appeal to our innate sense of compassion, empathy, and moral indignation, the very same virtues we are condemned for our lack of, in instigating their emotional blackmail in an attempt to have us nail ourselves by virtue of an unearned guilt to a cross of our own devising as punishment for a crime we did not commit.

I often wonder what sort of imagined past transgressions would lead someone to fall for this kind of emotional blackmail for the 'sin' of having been born human, as an alleged God created us in His own image. You've been condemned for your inability to fly after having allowed them to clip your wings.
To save the likes of you and me from evil, harm and misery?

I liked your poem, Maggie, but can you, Sandy or any other explain exactly what "saving the world" means.
^Save the world from humanity perhaps?
He's had 2000 years to get going on it, but up to yet I've seen no sign of any action.
'Saving the world' clearly means giving anyone who is wise enough to accept it a good code for living. I don't say it's the only way. Some atheists, for example, must be fairly decent people and if they live a decent life I'm sure God will be merciful to them too.
Actually Sandy, this makes me sick. Merciful for what, may I ask?
One must examine ones own conscience to determine sin. It's not for me to say how others have transgressed.
Gosh! Impressively pious, if I may say so. ;o)
Yes, indeed. I sometimes wonder why I haven't been at least nominated for beatification
Me too. Would you like me to have a word in an appropriate ear on your behalf? I do have some small influence you know. ;o)
I have sometimes thought that you may actually be The Mother Superior of a convent somewhere and that you come on here in the guise of "Naomi" to give your dark side a bit of exercise.
It will be time enough for you to act Devils Advocate when I am actually nominated for beatification.
Go on, admit it. It was my rendition of 'Climb Every Mountain' that did it! I am undone!!

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