First time I heard that speculation. I understand that for historians and religious scholars, a literal date is of great importance, but it matters not to me.
Whenever it happened, the physical world has been a better place ever since.
Most likely, the exact date will always be a matter of dispute, since Mary and Joseph were trying to keep a low profile anyway.
Wasn’t there a King nearby looking for all male newborns so that his soldiers could kill them?
That was after the visit of the wise men (well after Jesus was born) when Harod learned about the birth of the prophesized King.
I like Augustus' description of Herod “It's better to be Herod's pig than his son” (dicta 56 Malc.).
“Wasn’t there a King nearby looking for all male newborns so that his soldiers could kill them?”
Obviously the exact date has been a question for most folks - even from the very beginning. “Jeez - who knows!!?? Just kill all the boys less than 2 years old, that should cover it!”
For the most part, I agree with you, it doesn’t really matter if one has faith in the redemptive work of the Cross.
However, the deeper you go with God, the deeper He goes with you (”deep calls unto deep”) The more you seek Him in these types of things, the more beauty you find in Him.
It reminds me of that scripture... “It is to the glory of God to conceal a matter, but to the glory of Kings to reveal it (or seek it out)...”
I always believe that He wants us to seek out the truth of His creation in every aspect that we can, because that is the sign of a believer’s true authority (or “kingship”) in His kingdom/in God’s economy or government.
Considering all of the Elitist and anti Christian events that have occurred on this day (think of how convenient it was to force Palin/McCain to switch campaign strategies from “the surge in Iraq is working!” to having to deal with the economic recession that somehow occurred a week after Palin was shown to be beating Obama in the polls... on September 11 2008... somehow the economy tanked on this day that year while the Bushes were still in the White House and all of Jeb and W’s aides were somehow on McCain’s campaign, sabotoging things... most people forget Schmidt and Wallace worked for both W and Jeb)
Then, the Deep State human sacrifice on September 11 2012 at Benghazi...
I’m sure the list has been compiled elsewhere by smarter people than I — but today is not only a New Year in God’s heavenly government but it is the day of Christ’s birth.
The Lord is so cool.
Lee, neither does the date matter to me. What matters is not when Christ was born, but why he was born. Ecce Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi.