Rethinking the Nativity Scene [updated]

Nativity Scenes are a staple of this time of the year.  Churches all around the world erect statues of the three wise men, shepherds, and animals surrounding the holy family in a starlit barn.

But sometimes these scenes can lead to needless confusion.  So today I want to ask a few questions, take a fresh look at the text, and re-think what we think we know about the Nativity.

Should we Teach the Santa Myth?

One question I’ve brought up at Youth Ministry is whether we as Christians should continue to perpetuate the Santa Myth.  And by the Santa Myth I mean the following:

“Convincing children that there is a man who lives at the North Pole who monitors their behavior and annually distributes presents.”

My position is:  No.  This is both immoral and counterproductive to raising children in the Christian faith.

Today I’m going to defend this claim with a somewhat Thomistic flair.

A Walk Through Advent - Part II

Previously we read through the annunciation of John the Baptist to Zechariah.  Today we pick up where we left off with the annunciation of Jesus to Mary:

CE vs AD - What is the Fulcrum of Human History?

Ever seen something and thought, “This is so dumb.  It will never catch on.”  Only to have the thing catch on?  That is how I felt when I first saw the CE/BCE dating system.