From the Mesa Tribune, Letters to the Editor, Sunday, December 28, 1997:

                        Nativity Story

It's that time of year that necessitates the retelling of an old, old
story.  It's about a man born of a virgin, with only a number of
shepherds present.  He became known as "the way," "the truth," "the
light," "the life," "the word," "the son of God," and "the Good
Shepherd."  He was pictured carry a lamb on his shoulders.

Sunday became sacred and known as "the Lord's Day."  Dec. 25th was
celebrated as his birthday with bells, candles, gifts, hymns; and
"communion" was observed by his followers.  From Dec. 25th until the
spring equinox were the "40 days" which was to become known as "Lent."
He was finally placed in a rock tomb and after three days he was removed
with giant celebrations, festival and great joy.

His followers believed that there would be a "day of judgment" when
non-believers would perish and believers would live in heaven or
"paradise" forever and ever.

Who was this God=Man?  His name was "Mithras" and he was worshipped in
the 6th century B.C., in Persia and India.  From about 100 B.C.E. dto
the end of the occupation, he was a popular pagan god for the Roman
Legionnaires in Israel.  We have Saul/Paul to thank for the invention of
the Christian religion with his efforts to match his particular
Messiah's "miracles" with Mithras'.

At the "Council of Nicea," which took place almost four centuries after
the supposed life of Jesus, the 318 bishops of the early Christian
church cobbled together the Bible much as we know it today.  It was put
together using letters, manuscripts, and brochures then in use by the
many Christian sects.  In an unfortunate happenstance, the gospel of
Luke was included by the margin of one vote.  Just think, if not for
that anonymous bishop, wer would not have the nonsense of the Nativity!

                  Bill Hooks
                  Arizona Secular Humanists
                  Mesa

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