I went through the Christmas season with fresh eyes this year. I read the story of Jesus' birth and tried to look at it as though I'd never heard it before. I think that I am rejecting Christianity altogether. I absolutely believe Jesus was born, lived, and was murdered by crucifixion. However, I don't think he was the literal son of God. I don't think that he had to die to "save" anyone. I will admit I've struggled with the idea of salvation through the death of another for a long time now, so I'm really not surprised I came to this conclusion.
I have watched a lot of people, and think that people in general are kind and conscientious. I think that if hugely pregnant woman, or an eldery or injured person got on a crowded train or bus, SOMEONE will give them a seat. As I people watch, I see small acts of kindness every day, and it gives me hope for humankind.
I applied what I've come to believe about human nature to the story of the birth of Jesus, and something doesn't add up. Sure, I can believe there were no rooms available at any inn. But, I am 100% sure that if people knew there was a woman in labor with no place to stay, at least one person with a room would've happily given their room to her. I also believe that people would hear about that sort of thing going on- inns were much smaller then, and had a common dining area. So, for there to be absolutely no place inside for Mary and Joseph to stay and give birth, one can assume one of two things:
Theory 1: It didn't happen this way at all, and time blurred the real story into the story that exists today. Maybe they got into town and she was so far into labor that the stable was the first building they saw, so they went in there to have at least some privacy. This theory sits better with me because it doesn't imply active cruelty on the part of people or God.
Theory 2: God purposely turned people away from trying to help. I don't think God actively prods people into doing every single good deed. So, for this to happen, he had to go out of His way to make sure nobody heard of the situation Joseph and Mary were facing so that nobody offered them their room. Going out of his way to make sure the mother of His child had to give birth in a stable? Can anyone be so cold? Some may argue it was foretold it would happen that way. But if God is all-seeing, all-knowing, and having some control, he could've had it foretold in a different way. Accepting the story as told seems to make our Heavenly Father into a seriously cold hearted dude.
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