Christmas debate

[Duncer]

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/baby-jesus-did-not-eat-full-christmas-dinner-claims-pope-2012112250010

[tenrec]

I'm speechless!

[Flyhalf]

This of course is a reputable, reliable source of hard news, and must be regarded seriously.

[sophie_1003]

Brilliant! Has pulled me out of a mood!

[wildwood]

I didn't know His Blessed Holiness was a comic too.

Bet the cattle beast was starting to look pretty tasty to Joseph!

[naomi24]

Only got to the end of the first paragraph before encountering a flaw.

//The pope’s new book claims that a stable would have lacked basic cooking facilities as well as vital ingredients like stuffing mix.//

There was no stable.

Should I read on?

[Nibble]

I'd be careful, naomi, it may raise questions you don't want to ask :)

[plautus]

Tut, tut! The only evidence that there was no stable comes from the Bible!!

[Flyhalf]

Naomi, you'd only pick holes in it, so I'd quit now if I were you.

[naomi24]

... doubt it - but it may raise some that I'll be very happy to answer.

[naomi24]

My last was to nibble.

[Nibble]

I think I prefer the OP's version, but for the Theists, here's a link to the "official" version

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/22/world/europe/vatican-pope-jesus-book/index.html

[naomi24]

:o)

[DTCwordfan]

No cows, no sheep, no shepherds, no angels grating their voices, no turkey and pud, but still a virgin birth.

Interesting perspective.

[Nibble]

But, if I really believed what I believed myself, then this is where I stand.....

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/religion-still-main-threat-to-churchs-credibility-2012112149839

[sandyRoe]

So what if there was room at the inn? Minor details don't detract from the importance of the central truth.

[naomi24]

If part is questionable, then so must the whole be.

[jomifl]

I particularly like this bit Nibble,
/He sees the pope as using "both faith and reason" in his efforts to bring the life of Jesus closer./
A powerful combination, guaranteed to find the 'correct'answer' to any question.

[atalanta]

If you actually go to Bethlehem, you'll find the "birthplace" is a cave. It is quite a feat of gymnastics for a mere human to squeeze in and down the steps, so you can be sure no animal much bigger than a rat could have done it. If no animals, then no manger, since that's a container for hay.
But you can't help wondering how a woman in labour ( or at least a heavily pregnant woman with a very swollen belly) managed to get down there.

[Duncer]

My last was to nibble.

You know I love it when you say that ;-)

[naomi24]

Haaaa! You nit!! Crying here. :o)