Mumsnet being defamed/libelled about Christmas?

Hate to be a nitpicker, but since we all agree that naming things accurately is important, I feel compelled to note, annoyingly, here that the term "immaculate conception" does not refer to the way Mary became pregnant with Jesus.

In RCC/Christian teaching, the miracle/mystery of how Jesus came into being is "the virgin birth." Mary herself is "the immaculate conception", a term that refers to how she herself came to being in her own mother's womb. Mary is called this because she supposedly was/is the only human ever conceived without the stain of the "original sin" all humans are said to have inherited from Adam & Eve (according to Christianity).

(Calling the conception of Jesus "immaculate" would only make sense if Jews back then viewed sex as dirty, which they didn't.)

As for the idea that Mary didn't get the chance to give consent before God made her pregnant with Jesus, the story of the Annunciation in the gospel of Luke says otherwise. In Luke's account, the angel Gabriel came to the betrothed Mary well beforehand, telling her what will happen in the future. Though initially alarmed by Gabriel's visit, Mary responded to what he told her about God's plan for her by saying "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word."

That sure sounds like consent. Which means the (not new) idea that the God of Christianity forced Mary into childbearing against her will is BS, as is the claim that Jesus was the product of a bodily violation that occurred against Mary's will.

So no, Christmas does not celebrate rape culture! Thank the Lord, lol.

We do a whole salmon stuffed with lemon and herbs and cooked in a fish brick. None of us like turkey!

Actually I had real respect for the single dad of a boy I taught who cooked spaghetti bolognaise for Christmas dinner because it was their favourite.

Men can experience immaculate conception too you transphobes!

Put it this way, it’s not less unlikely.

This is blatantly not real OP

Wonderwxman

Down with Howard Blake!

“Church leaders in Ireland” don’t respond to Mumsnet posters 🤣🤣🤣 unfortunately.

I’d love to get into a bunfight with the archbishop of the diocese 😂

There really was a post along these lines last year!

So glad they fell for the "we're not trying to ban Christmas entirely" line. Fall in behind me, ladies, we're going after The Snowman next.

Roast pheasant- extremely cheap, roasts in no time. Allow roughly 2 birds to serve 3 people. There will be almost no boring left overs either.

Like The Times would write something in that tone I do hope their legal team have fun with the infringement of logo.

Venison for Christmas dinner. Really tasty and doesn't take forever to cook.

Trying to decide on an alternative to Turkey. None of our family likes it.

I hear that Greece is nice this time of year.

I'm just surprised someone hasn't called for a gender neutral nativity yet. Men can experience immaculate conception too you transphobes!

Not only that, they can totes get pregnant if they want to, you terfy terfs!

Haha! On the 'why do you use MN thread' I put I loved the Christmas section as well as FWR.

Awesome.

Oh that supposed 'mod' name. Bless. Half term isn't it?

My kids have left school and when they were in primary there was never a nativity anyway because not inclusive. There were Christmas shows and plays, but never a nativity. Not one time. Church school included. That's since 2000.

You can tell they are teenage boys. Lol. Silly things

Aspie

Agreed. Though I have to say - and it's bizarre, given that I'm an atheist - that I found myself perusing the Radio Times last Easter and commenting on how little religious content there was!

I was talking to a British Jewish bloke a few days ago and we agreed that religion has no place in Xmas.

Ruins Easter too. I mean, who wants to listen to all that religious stuff when you are trying to stuff your face and watch The Great Escape?

We're still thinking about what to have on Xmas day this year. I did consult Bunbury for ideas, but as she's a Kiwi, she witters about throwing shrimps on the barby...Quite how they go with sprouts is beyond me, but that's our Germaine for you.

What the fuck?! I would like to ban the xmas topics in all honesty until December, but 'Mumsnet wants to ban xmas' is just ridiculous I think this is fake, to be quite honest. Noone would be daft enough to print that surely..

I always do a ham and DP does bubble and squeak, and on Boxing day that is what we eat with mince pies or whatever we have from xmas day. Someone else puts it out on the table/tidies it away. Means I do no cooking at all on Boxing Day.

Saturnalia sounds more fun, tbh.

Ha! TBF I've never been keen on the whole teenage girl raped by God story. Ban Christmas, and all its patriarchal storylines.

Yes turkey crown, I can’t be sticking my hand up a turkeys arse. I put my stuffing underneath turkey crown instead, no fiddly bones or veiny stuff to deal with.

I also go to the farms local Xmas events to traumatised child be seeing the lives turkeys running about.