tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123697.post3372066967033076072..comments2023-10-17T06:08:27.032-05:00Comments on Grantian Florilegium: Dating Christmasgileskirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11546229381528820614noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123697.post-64611462440503894862009-12-17T12:13:18.406-06:002009-12-17T12:13:18.406-06:00I am a little late chiming in here, but I think th...I am a little late chiming in here, but I think there is an additional aspect of the timing that is interesting. The early church fathers were clearly more attuned to the sense of "story" in God's dealing with us than are we "moderns". They would also have been much more attuned to the rhythms of pastoral seasons (as I sure is implicit in the earlier comment.) I suspect that there was a very deliberate decision to place Christ's birth at that point in the annual cycle that is the very first indication of the coming rebirth of the earth in spring. Just when things look the darkest, Christ appears, bringing light to the world. This seems to reinforce the overall structure of the Scriptures as a whole.Austin Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01592546327943832367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123697.post-40272030128525718122009-12-01T00:06:00.063-06:002009-12-01T00:06:00.063-06:00That is a very interesting take on the timing, and...That is a very interesting take on the timing, and the second time I have heard that in the past week. Thanks.<br /><br />Lawrence Underwood<br />Mobile, AlabamaLawrence Underwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00261364748415423970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123697.post-62859120329304585392009-11-30T12:20:11.996-06:002009-11-30T12:20:11.996-06:00Ever nice add Shawn........Ever nice add Shawn........Scribblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17519849257050570182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123697.post-54505271405144241742009-11-28T21:25:06.967-06:002009-11-28T21:25:06.967-06:00This is an excellent history of the Christmas trad...This is an excellent history of the Christmas tradition. I read one argument for a winter Christmas that few seem to consider. the Church fathers judged Palestine as it was after 70 AD and shepherds were only out in Spring and Summer. But when the Temple still stood, a steady stream of sacrifices was needed by the priests for their daily and holiday sacrifices, and so shepherds would be out "watching their flocks by night" in nearby Bethlehem, where fodder and water were more available than in Jerusalem, and away from the sheepfolds of their homes. So a winter birth is more possible than usually stated.<br />Rev. Shawn Keating<br />Mobile, ALUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10556288295332697337noreply@blogger.com