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Posted on 12/19/2007 10:30:00 PM PST by Dundee
THE leader of the world's Anglicans has described the Christmas story of the three wise men as nothing but a "legend" and has said not all followers must believe in the virgin birth of Jesus.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has picked apart elements of the Christmas story, including how a star rose high in the sky and stood still to guide the wise men to Jesus's birth place.
Stars simply don't behave like that, he told the BBC during an interview.
Dr Williams said there was little evidence that the three wise men had existed at all. Certainly there was nothing to prove they were kings...
He went on to say that while he believed in it himself, new Christians need not leap over the "hurdle" of belief in the virgin birth before they could join the church.
He said the virgin birth was "part of what I have inherited". And on the timing of Jesus's birth, he said the son of God was likely not born in December at all.
"Christmas was when it was because it fitted well with the winter festival," he said.
But Dr Williams said almost everyone agreed on two things - that Jesus's mother was named Mary and his father Joseph.
The archbishop said his approach was to stick strictly to what the Bible says.
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.news.com.au ...
Stars and planets always glow at the same brightness? The night sky never changes?
But the Earth is warming and it is all because of man?
Strange world we live in.
It is a remembrance. We can celebrate the birth of God’s Son every day AND we can acknowledge the sacrifice of His life for our sins every day too.
When are those opposed to Christianity going to start knocking the ascension of Mohammed into the Heavens on horseback at every Muslim holy day?
And this is the conservative branch of the Episcopalians.
Beat you by twentysome minutes!
“The Droolings of a Debased Druid.”
That’s very alliterative!
I can now say with confidence that if the Archbishop of Canterbury is a Christian, than so is Mitt Romney. In fact the bar has been placed so low that Osama Bin Laden might even qualify.
Muslims believe in the virgin birth. They also believe Jesus was devinely appointed by God (but only as a prophet). They are more Christian than the Anglicans.
Would have liked to have heard those lectures.
The archbishop did say he personally believed in the Virgin birth of Jesus Christ....so that is a good thing.
What he seems to be saying is that new Christians may not at that point (early in their new life as Christian believers) believe in the virgin birth of Jesus....msy noy even have thought much about it yet.....which actually is true but needed not to have been stated because of just this kind of misinterpretation.
That does not mean that eventually all true believers in Jesus Christ can go long without coming to an understanding and a joyful embracing of the TRUE FACT that Jesus Christ was indeed born of a virgin.
While the Anglican church and many other “mainline” Protestant denominations have gone far down the road of apostasy - in their heirarchy - (not necessarily in the “pews”).....this particular statement by this archbishop simply is understandable....yet mischaracterized by the msm - no surprise there.
If the arch-druid had his way, Anglicans wouldn’t believe in anything but the demonic nature of the United States and the purifying power of western self-abasement.
Oh, but the statement about the 3 wise men and the star of Bethlehem....by this same Archbiship....do show his departure from faith in the truth of the Word of God.
That’s part of the apostasy which actually has been resident in the church during its entire history....and in the world since the Garden of Eden.
The author of such statements is, of course, the old serpent himself.....(Has God said....he really meant.....)
Too bad this “man of God” has aligned himself with the enemy of God and of His Son, our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
The simplest explanation of the “star” is that it was the glory of the angels that were present to inform the wise men (however many there were) of the birth of The King.
Santa just died.
Just in time for Christmas! What in the hell is wrong with those people? Why do they follow a man like this?
Are there any Christians in the Church of England?
ping
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