The New Baby: The Infant Controversy

"Let's talk about the infant controversy," suggested the tutorial leader. 

Even now, everyone who takes Religious Studies courses is not ready to believe the Christmas story. Students come from many cultures and have different academic backgrounds, but let's listen in on the student's comments at that tutorial held just before Christmas.

"That Christmas story about the God-man infant is only recounted from a Christian perspective."

"Do you think that other religions might tell it differently?"

"I do. Other religious persuasions might not tell it at all."

"Mary was a virgin to whom an angel appeared. He told her that she would bear a child."

"Joseph must have been furious."

"Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, the city of David, when Jesus was born, right?"

"Yes."

"Why were they there, anyhow?"

"Wasn't it something to do with a census taking?"

"They say that there was no room at the inn. Maybe that was a good thing for the infant, as there can be problems at inns."

"It probably was very noisy. Maybe there were people who were celebrating and getting drunk, too."

"But, a woman giving birth to an infant and placing him in a manger? I would have been terrified, if I was Mary."

"They were in good hands. According to a dream, Joseph was appointed by God to look after them."

 "I think that's a good thing, as any infant needs to be protected."

"Then, shepherds that were led by a star, came to visit them."

"So did three wise men riding on camels. They brought gifts and worshiped the infant."

"Joseph and Mary had to flee with Jesus, right?"

"How can this story possibly be true?"

"Who documented this for the first time, anyhow?"

"Where is this story recounted?"

"In the Bible."

"Anywhere else than in the Book of Luke?"

"Those are pretty humble beginnings for an infant, but such was the birth of Jesus."

"I want to know more about this."

"This is the greatest love story that I have ever heard."

"The birth of the infant Jesus is amazing, especially when you see the whole picture."

"The whole picture? You mean there is more?"

Thus, the controversy of the infant continues to rage on.