Posted on 12/24/2004 12:32:58 PM PST by PatriotEdition
Dec. 5 - Seventy-nine percent of Americans believe that, as the Bible says, Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, without a human father, according to a new NEWSWEEK poll on beliefs about Jesus.
Sixty-seven percent say they believe that the entire story of Christmas—the Virgin Birth, the angelic proclamation to the shepherds, the Star of Bethlehem and the Wise Men from the East—is historically accurate. Twenty-four percent of Americans believe the story of Christmas is a theological invention written to affirm faith in Jesus Christ, the poll shows. In general, say 55 percent of those polled, every word of the Bible is literally accurate. Thirty-eight percent do not believe that about the Bible.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
It didn't make sense to me either... believe the Bible literally but not a Second Coming...? Made me scratch my head a bit.
Lower
They don't get it.
This story is about a Husband standing by his Wife when the penalty for being pregnant without a "human father" was stoning. This part of the story is as important as Jesus protecting Mary Magalene from her stoning.
Josephs belief in his wife is the story of Faith in love. The press doesn't get it.
i think you are right that the immaculate conception (ie, without sin) refers to Mary's birth, while the virgin birth is Jesus's birth. i think that these are 2 distinct events. (however, i am reporting from memory of a conversation i had about twenty years ago.)
they apparently didn't ask the repondents how many of them had ever actually READ the Bible. that could account for the discrepancies. there are probably people who believe that the Bible is literally true but who have never read it.
In general, say 55 percent of those polled, every word of the Bible is literally accurate.
Only in the original tongue of the orginal writers IMHO. I do believe enough has survived to modern day where the message has not been distorted. I do have serious doubts that the "New Tofu Lover's Reformed Happiness Gospel" translation is anywhere close to accurate.
Once again with feeling...The Immaculate Conception is a dogma which states that Mary was conceived without sin on her soul. This is not related to the physical part of her conception through the cooperation of her parents, the holy couple Anna and Joachim.
For some reason, people keep making the mistake in thinking the I.C. means something about having a baby without sex, hence they get it confused with the birth of Jesus. Jesus is the Incarnation, that is, God sending his son to take on a human nature. This happened through the power of the Holy Spirit, not anything to do with intercourse. It's a mystical thing. That is why Christians' belief in Jesus as the Son of God requires faith!
Rom. 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
NIV
Rom. 8:24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?
God Bless you DoughtyOne, and a very merry Christmas
79% of Americans also believe the Constitution should be interpreted literally, but that doesn't stop the ACLU or Federal Judiciary.
It is never to late........
Thanks for the translations of the verse. I appreciate the good wishes. May God also bless you and your family this holiday season, and upcoming year.
yeah, like many resondents have already noted, this poll and its "results" seem quite skewed, but the interesting question is wshy? WHAT is NEWSWEEK getting at, or trying to prove? There are a hundred potential answers.
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