Mystery of the Three Kings on BBC TV

[simonmcg]

Saw an interesting programme that would probably upset a lot of Christians! Basically, they came to the conclusion that a lot of the precise dates are way out. If the current calendar was correct according to significant events in the bible Christmas should be celebrated on the 17th of April and the year should currently be 1998!
A lot of this was based on astronomical event such as alignment of the planets which would create the bright light that would be the star of Bethlehem. Also, the 3 kings weren't, more accurately 3 "wise men", in modern times we call them astrologers! It was quite good actually, because it showed how the modern Christmas is so far removed from the original pagan festival that it has become very much a non-denominational winter holiday! So, perhaps, Christmas Day should really be described as "International Non-denominational Winter Shut Down Family Gathering and Gift Exchange Day"!
A similar argument could also be made for Easter but that's for a later date.

[vertigo]

Don't fall into the trap of trying to use the Bible against them, it is futile. Remember, they ignore most of it anyway.

By the way, welcome. The Bible is holy (full of holes).

[Dragon*of*Heaven]

I bid you welcome as well. However I think that vertigo is correct in this. The bible was created by Christan's to validate what the believe. After 2000 years the Christan's have truly done their work to make it vacuum pact and hard to harm.

[necroshine]

Hello Simonmcg,
Welcome to the boards. But like the others said you can not use the bible against the believers. I will give you an example.
It’s the same thing as using the properties of god to disprove that god could ever exist.
You can not be everywhere, all the time, and know the past, present and future, and still have freewill to the people you created. But of course when you tell someone this they just ignore it and clam that it is possible, without even knowing or even trying to understand the contradiction of it all. They just clam there is no contradiction.

[simonmcg]

My intention wasn't to use this against anybody, it is just something I see as proof of inaccuracy in the bible and the non-existance of any god like figure. To me the bible is like any other tabloid journal. As most of the content which supposedly represents actual events are at the very least third hand, to me it makes the whole thing impossible to have any kind of belief in.
From a moral point of view, what I can gather is what it is aiming at is to accept others as individuals and respect others basic human rights. Religion isn't needed for this, it's a basic human principle. Same as free thinking.
I have more respect for someone who has an open mind. I might not agree with their views, I don't expect them to agree with mine, but if their views haven't been arrived at because "that's the way we've always been" then I repect them for that.

[vertigo]

Good.

[necroshine]

simonmcg
i agree 100%