Many thanks - a useful discussion starter. Have included it on church blog stbarnacles.wordpress.com/ Hope that's OK!

This is an excellent video! The link at the end is not working though.

I was considering burning this to DVDs and handing them out as tracts, but I would first of all like your permission and second of all, like to know about the broken link.

I probably won't check vimeo very often but feel free to email me a estoydemoda@gmail.com

I enjoyed your video on a friends blog and plan to post it on my own. I'm in California, USA. Your last name caught my eye because it's quite uncommon, and as it was my maiden name. May God bless your work.

Great thanks. My middle name's smith ;)

Happy Christmas.

Hi there,
An interesting video. But why no mention of Constantine and the Council of Nicea which was where the decision of HIS birth and its timing was decided. The timing of Xmas was not decided by the Gospels but in 325 AD at Nicea. Xmas or "Yule" was formerly a pagan festival, and like many Christian churches being built on former pagan sites, so Constantine placed the celebration of Ieshuouah's birth on an important pagan festival. Christianity extols the Nicene Creed so why not the historic facts within it.
Kindest regards
Ray Hudson

Hi Andy,
Liked the video. Is it possible to get the 3 min version as a download too?
Kind regards

No one at the moment, but if the 3 min version were to be available I was going to see if you'd be happy for me to show it at a carol service?

Awesome stuff.

I would like to Digg this... it would be particularly useful for there to be a digg link on the St Helen's/xmas site itself.

Blessings.
Pete M

Great video Andy. St Helen's gave me and my church permission to make DVDs, so I made 100 (the longer version, we felt the short one is a little too brief) and a team distributed them personally, along with Carol Service invites and an intro letter, to homes in the area. We also have a link on our church website.

Many thanks for this. I've posted it up at thebookofshadow.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-and-couplehood.html

Personally i have to agree with Raymond Hudson.
The early church never celebrated the nativity of Jesus - most likely because He is the one whos goings forth are from everlasting (Micah 5:2). Should Christians be looking to syncretise something that has its roots in Babylon? Is this not spiritual adultary?

Please have a look at this teaching from Last Trumpet Ministries: Christmas: The Hidden Reason of the Season

video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1861647673385647049&hl=en

'And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free' John 8:32

every blessing

Very polished video, but lacking in substance if you're really investigating whether or not the nativity actually happened.

The first point to bear in mind is that there is NO non-biblical confirmation for the Nativity. In fact, much of what we do know of the time contradicts the biblical account. It's doubtful, for example, that Jesus was even born in Bethlehem because the only evidence of a census is one conducted by Quirinius, but that did not occur until ten years after the death of Herod.

Another point worth consideration is that, despite Andy Pearce's conclusion, there really isn't any 'compelling stuff' said in the bible about the Nativity. Mark & John don't mention it at all, while Matthew & Luke are different in almost all respects; Luke has Gabriel, Caesar's decree, a manger & shepherds, the presentation at the temple, etc. Matthew has none of this; he has a house, a star, Magi, gifts & concludes with the escape to Egypt & the slaughter of the innocents etc. Luke makes no mention of these.

And of course, nowhere in the bible is there any reference what-so-ever to a stable, 'wise men', the number of Magi, the date of Jesus' birth, etc.

Hi Alun.

This may help:

sthelens.audiop.org.uk/downloads/download/51394/TU08-050.mp3

I agree what you said regarding how human tradition has changed the biblical accounts of Jesus' birth. However if it were all a lie, which is the big point I think you're trying to make, then the detail of events that is in the gospels / eye witness accounts would expose them as fiction.

Quirinius' census would have taken over ten year to complete which explains the timing mis-match. The talk I've posted above explains that a bit.

What evidence have you to suggest that Jesus wasn't born in Bethlehem? Don't you think the residents of Bethlehem would contest the gospel accounts if they were false?

This is real flesh and blood history about the real Jesus who walked the earth and who reigns as King now.

Thanks for engaging with the film. Hope you've found it useful.

Happy Christmas.