Oh Little Town of Bethlehem...

Ah, and the wonderfully objective mainstream media decides to participate in a little 'Christmas season' fun...

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/12/27/clashing.clergy.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

In total fairness, one cannot legitimately fault the media for reporting this. In the time since it was first posted (27 December, 2007) it has grown in hits to be ranked in CNN.com's 10 Most Popular stories; rather telling as much about the independent readers as it is about CNN.

Beyond that, of course, lies the very real sadness involved in the story itself. Yet another example of extrabiblical or even contrabiblical pseudo-'Christianity' being exploited by the world to undermine or reject the real deal. Rather shameful to think of the people who witnessed, or read/heard about, this outbreak of fisticuffs between 'Christians' who walked away believing that this physical (daresay even carnal) 'Christianity' at work in Bethlehem and amongst those who profess Christ and yet do not do the things that He said (perhaps fisticuffs amongst the brethren is excused by Christ in the fictitious 2nd century Gospel of Thomas?) really does represent Christianity.

Not meant to be scathing, but rather thought provoking. The one thing I know, regardless of when Jesus was born, was that He was born, He did die, and His tomb was found empty. That being said, merry Christmas (365 days a year!) and happy New Year!