The Nativity Story - Fact or Fiction?
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The Nativity Story - Fact or Fiction?
| Sat, 12-02-2006 - 5:50pm |
There's been a lot of buzz about the movie "The Nativity" which has pulled in a C+ from the critics. Have you seen or are you going to see it?
What do you think about the story? Believe it happened that way? Or is it fabricated for effect?
** Remember, this is just for lively discussion and everyone is entitled to their opinion, whether or not you agree with it!
Bink
Not really into Siggees...
Not all who wander are lost.
(J.R.R. Tolkien)

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"And equally valid whether you believe in his divinity or not."
Exactly. I see him as an advanced Spirit who reincarnated to teach us more, as we evolve as Spirit and as a species. It could have been the same advanced spirit that reincarnated earlier as Buddha, or later as Gandhi or whomever. To give us more wisdom.
I don't consider the events of the Bible to be historical fact, or any other old sacred texts, for that matter, at least not until archeological evidence can back it up. But it doesn't really matter. The lessons and journeys passed down by people are what are of value, even couched in parables or other myths and stories of the past, in order to illustrate their beliefs, before full historical records were kept (or perhaps, kept and lost to us now).
I see different religions borrow in their sacred myths, from older religions and their myths and deities and beliefs as well. Each builds on and changes what came before, to elaborate on our spiritual journey as a species.
I see it as all good, if proven as historical or scientific fact -- or not. It is the journey of our species to strive to grow and evolve.
JMO, as always. I enjoy sharing each of our perspectives. :)
Gypsy
)O(
Blessings,
Gypsy
)O(
Yes, that is what I am saying, that one (Abraham Lincoln being a living, breathing person at the time that history states that he truly did live) is easier to prove than the other (when/where/if Jesus had lived). I'm just talking about both individual's human births, however- I'm not getting into whether or not (if/when he had lived) Jesus is divine as well. I'm not saying whether I believe that He is Divine or not- I don't think that's the issue here, and I'm not going to debate it, I was simply referring to your Abraham Lincoln example and why I thought it wasn't an exact match to what the thread already was discussing.
As far as the other stuff that you mention, I understand that you were just referring to people in general, but I was not commenting on whether Mary, Solomon, etc ever lived. In fact, you make a good point! Maybe they didn't. As far as whether cavemen ever lived- they left their cave paintings. I don't think it was the antelope that drew them. Perhaps they did not exactly live as archaeologists/sociologists have suggested that they did, but through artifacts, etc parts of the puzzle pieces can be put together to see what may have happened then. The other thing is, to talk about "cavemen" does not mention a specific person, whereas the story of Jesus DOES. It would be far more difficult to uncover the whole story of one particular caveman rather than to try to get a better understanding of how cavemen, in general, lived.
I'm not making a conscious effort to "cast doubt"-- personally, I don't really care if people believe that Jesus lived and/or is the Savior or not. If they want to, great. If not, that's great too. People are free to believe as they will about the Divine. And I don't doubt His divinity due to fear- I doubt it b/c inside, I really don't FEEL it... I just don't FEEL that Jesus is the Savior... or that there even is ANY savior... if I were to say out loud that Jesus is the Savior I'd be living a personal lie, b/c deep down I don't really feel it with all my heart and soul like most Christians do. Which is why I'm not a Christian... I think it's also important to point out that though *I* personally don't believe it, it does NOT mean I have a problem with other people that DO, or that I'm trying to undermine/cast doubt on them or their faith...
Respectfully,
~V
Hi, I am trying to put this respectfully, forgive my clumsiness if it doesn't come out so.
For many people who follow Jesus- the point is not just His teachings. It is the Person we believe Him to be and the life He lived on earth. The belief that He still can live in us if we receive Him. On my journey of faith it is the personhood of Jesus that drew me. I don't think He could be a good teacher or an example to base your life on if He participated in fable or deceit about his origins. If Jesus was less than honest, then his "message" or teachings are worthless to me. It would mean that He was either crazy or worse evil.
Now no one else has to agree with me, but I thought it may aid in understanding where some folks are coming from. And I assume that we strive for understanding? For myself, I like to know what people believe and what led them to that place.
Tina
Hi, purple.
gypsywolfwoman said:
"I don't consider the events of the Bible to be historical fact, or any other old sacred texts, for that matter, at least not until archeological evidence can back it up."
I hear this type of statement a LOT. It's nothing new, not deep, and uninspired. Same-old same-o....
And on the matter of Jesus' Divinity, gypsywolfwoman said:
"Exactly. I see him as an advanced Spirit who reincarnated to teach us more, as we evolve as Spirit and as a species. It could have been the same advanced spirit that reincarnated earlier as Buddha, or later as Gandhi or whomever. To give us more wisdom."
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My burning question for you to ask yourselves - please I do not personally need the answer because that is your own "journey" to discover... and I am supposing boldy that you want to discover your 'self'.. here goes:
Why, then, would anyone who rejects a set of beliefs supposedly DUE to them being "without evidence", believe in of all things.... reincarnation :-o ~ without a shred of their own requisite type of evidence to back THAT up?
How can the "I need evidence first" crowd {and you know who you are ;) } even claim to be spiritual when the spiritual is essentially without 5 sense evidence? How do you square up your own "I believe..." when you have never received the physical, archaelogical, etc evidence you always demand with regard to Christian beliefs, miracles, etc. to prove ...anything?
- -
Jesus Christ, who *is* Son of the One and Only True Living God, the Word Incarnate (not re-incarnate), God in Flesh, Truth made Flesh, the First and the Last, the Alpha and the Omega, the Great I Am also said:
"Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen and have believed." John 20:29
Hi Ladies,
This thread is causing some concern and upsetting members so we will be closing it to further discussion. You are welcome to visit the Religion Debate board if you're interested in debating religious beliefs.
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Karla
Community Moderator, iVillage.com
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