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December 13, 2004
The Obligatory Christmas Post
Believe me, the irony of the Office Atheist constantly playing Christmas music is not lost on me. It's just that I have all these great childhood memories of Christmas, and it's a time for me to eat great food and goodies, and to be with family and all of that good stuff. I don't think of it as Jesus' birthday (which, biblical scholars tell us, it isn't). It has also crossed my mind to make a stink with the village about the nativity scene in their little Christmas display at the park, but who has time when you've got 15 dozen christmas cookies to bake?
Posted by mwashburn at December 13, 2004 09:40 AMPosted to self reflection
Comments
Speaking of Jesus, if he really was the result of an immaculate conception, then abstinence is not 100% effective at preventing pregnancy. How do the abstinence-only education proponents counter that?
Posted by: Adam at December 14, 2004 03:13 PM
You are more familiar with Catholic doctrine than I, but I was just reading something yesterday that said that the 'Immaculate Conception' referred not to Jesus, but to Mary. Something about the reason she could carry God's child is because she was conceived and born free of original sin.
Posted by: flygrrl at December 14, 2004 04:13 PM
Ahh, it was dear old Snopes that gave me that info:
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/immaculate.asp
Posted by: flygrrl at December 14, 2004 04:22 PM
But, your comment still stands, Jesus being the product of the Virgin Birth, if not the Immaculate Conception.
Posted by: flygrrl at December 14, 2004 04:23 PM
no you're right - i always trip up on that.
Posted by: Adam at December 14, 2004 05:32 PM
Exactly how would she have been born without original sin if she were born just like the rest of us, pre-jesus and all? And if that's the case, do we hear about her birth, or about her earlier on before she popped out baby Jesus? Just a little curious here... being a heathen and all.
Posted by: leigh at December 14, 2004 08:25 PM
Oh, and I think you should raise a stink... about the nativity, that is. Somebody needs to do it, and it might as well be a cranky pregnant woman. Kind of fitting, really, don't you think?
Posted by: leigh at December 14, 2004 08:26 PM
I'm a bit rusty, but i think the 1st time Mary pops up is the Annunciation - when the Archangel Gabriel comes down and tells her she's been divinely knocked up.
There's actually nothing directly in the scriptures about the Immaculate Conception. It was pronounced by Pope Pius IX in 1854.
link
Posted by: Adam at December 15, 2004 01:43 PM
Convenient how the popes can just change Catholic doctrine at will.
Posted by: flygrrl at December 15, 2004 03:17 PM
there's nothing in the world that brings more convenience than being pope!
Posted by: patita at December 17, 2004 03:12 PM