Relic From Jesus' Manger Arrives at Bethlehem New Home

[edhopper]

Last edited Sat Nov 30, 2019, 10:04 AM - Edit history (1)

Reported without an ounce of credulity.

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2019-11-30/relic-from-jesus-manger-arrives-at-bethlehem-new-home

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — A tiny wooden relic believed to have been part of Jesus' manger has returned to its permanent home in the biblical city of Bethlehem 1,400 years after it was sent to Rome as a gift to the pope.

Do they mean the manger from the story that is so full of contradictions and unhistorical fantasy that to accept it is to shed all reason?

That manger?

[PJMcK]

1. They'll keep it with the wood from Jesus' cross

Right next to the Holy Grail.

(snark)

[hlthe2b]

2. Has the Hobby Lobby guy already commenced plans to

steal it?

https://www.newsweek.com/hobby-lobby-iraq-antiquities-evangelicals-632434
Christian Retailer Hobby Lobby Stole Middle East History to Make a Bible Museum in Washington

[MineralMan]

3. "believed to be..."

By whom? And what does that matter?

[Major Nikon]

5. By the same people who bought into the totally implausible myth to begin with

The case for Jesus' birth in Bethlehem is an interesting one. Jesus was known to be from Galilee, but this presents a serious problem with his messianic claim as the messianic prophecy dictates the messiah must be born in Bethlehem, the ancestral home of King David.

Early Christians had little interest in where Jesus was born until they began to realize the problem with the messianic claim. The story of the Nativity doesn't appear in Mark, thought to be the earliest gospel in the canon. It was later the story of the birth in Bethlehem was concocted. The official story is that Jesus' father was required by the Romans to return to his ancestral home for the official census. So sounds like a great cover story, yes? We now have the motivation why a couple with a very pregnant wife would travel 80 miles on a donkey. Oh wait, no we don't. The Roman census in question did not cover Bethlehem or Galilee, nor did it require anyone to travel anywhere which would be completely unnecessary and illogical. The purpose of the census was taxation, and Roman subjects were taxed by their place of residence, not place of birth.

But hey, why let reality interfere with a great myth, right?

[Cartoonist]

4. The miracle of wood

With just an old piece of wood, one can dupe the rubes into believing the impossible.

[Karadeniz]

6. There was no Nazareth or relics until Constantine s. Mother decided to be the first tourist

Of new testament sites. Then they conveniently appeared.

[Duppers]

8. Didn't know that bit of history.

Thanks!

[edhopper]

9. Yes

She was one of the biggest rubes in history.

[The Genealogist]

13. Folks talk a lot about Constantine's role drawing Christianity in from the fringes

but I rarely hear anything about Helena's role. The ancient literature is quite clear on her being, in your words, a "tourist of New Testamant sites."

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

10. Joseph forfeited their security deposit because he broke the manger? N/t

[Iggo]

11. I love this shit.

"Brother Francesco Patton, the custodian of the Franciscan order in the Holy Land, said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had asked Pope Francis to borrow the entire manger, but the pope decided to send a tiny portion of it to stay permanently in Bethlehem."

So, yeah, they have the whole thing in Rome, but they broke off a piece for these vatos.

[The Genealogist]

14. I can't imagine JesusDaddyGhost being very happy with a relic being broken up like that...

but what do I know. I am just a lowly atheist.

[Major Nikon]

15. Still more believable than the original story

[brooklynite]

12. The tourists love souveniers...

[Permanut]

16. Perfect companion piece..

to the wood fragments from the ark.