My deepest self-definition is that I am a Christian, by which I mean that in Jesus of Nazareth I believe I see the meaning of God most clearly. This experience of an in-breaking divine presence is what I believe created the Christmas traditions that you refer to in your question. Certainly during this season they are omnipresent.
It was more than two thousand years ago that the historic figure we call Jesus lived.
The Nativity Story
This time of the year, within a few weeks of Christmas, I reflect again on the dilemma facing the Church.
The Christmas story, of the child being born in a stable, the angels singing, the wise men arriving with their gifts, and then the flight into Egypt to avoid the slaughter of the innocence by Herod, has an extraordinary appeal. And of course an enormous commercial reality has been built up around it over the years.
Tony Flannery
Will give two talks in the Community Centre, Newport, in December.
Thursday, December 5th. 7.00pm
Science and our Image of God
Thursday, December 12th. 7.00pm
A new look at the Christmas Story
Admission free; All welcome
