If the Christmas story happened now

[Gawdimold]

Would you believe it?

Not all Christians subscribe to the belief in immaculate conception anyway

For nearly 2 millenia religion was used to control the masses.

Could it happen now?

Social media already does.

That’s what I thought? I went to catholic school with nuns I’ll have you know
immaculate conception was what we were told mary pregnancy was when a virgin

I think it's an interesting thing to think about. Would I believe it? No I don't think so.

It's generally believed that Mary was 15/16 years old. I think there would be questions about someone so young being pregnant. I think Joseph was quite a bit older?

Incidentally I used to work as a MH support worker, one of my patients was pregnant with God's child. Or so she claimed.

Btw, Thread topic is Christmas, not faith,not religion. Globally all things Christmas.

I am not a Bible avid reader, but I am fairly sure Mary was rather surprised when the Angel announced the pregnancy as she was, you know, the Virgin Mary. That is her actual title in my branch of Christianity, which is Catholicism indeed.
She would have to be at least 18 these days. We were told she was 15-16 at the time of announcement. Though I do know her age varies depending on country/ area indeed.

Immaculate conception is about Mary’s conception, not Jesus’. Something about her being born without original sin I believe, although I’m not Catholic and don’t know the details.

No, no, no. It was Jesus who was born without the original sin and he is God himself = the Son of God = the Holy Spirit

John the Baptist birth is a miraculous one too. His mother was far too old at the time. She was related to Mary.

https://www.catholic.com/tract/immaculate-conception-and-assumption

I think they're all joke worthy.

All faiths are joke worthy. Each and every one
i think you’ll find most faiths have their own commentators who joke and poke

Prof. Brian Cox would be on every current affairs programme giving his expertise on the star of Bethlehem.
Mary would have a visiting schedule for shepherds.

And she’d never open the door to let the wise men in, so the presents would be left on the doorstep - or delivered to a random address if they used Evri - and nicked.

Mary would be feted as an influencer. Interview with Jimmy Kimmell and red carpet events. Woman of the year. The Van Tulleken brothers trying to explain the mechanics of virgin birth

@IKEAJesus
If noy specifically in the Bible, I am not believing in it. It makes no sense with the rest of the story. Bible says of the exceptional births of John and Jesus.
Yes, Mary was great and an example to follow, but I am not taking additions to it.

I’m a Catholic and not offended. If my faith can’t stand up to this then it isn’t going to get me very far.

If a couple with the woman about to give turned up out of the blue and set in this country do I think they would be given room. Possibly, probably by a poorer family. Worryingly I expect I’d turn away as I’m a lone female. I don’t always stop to help homeless people.

We need to hold on to the safety net in the UK - whoever you believe the father is you have a homeless baby are we funding social services to assist and look at safeguarding?

We know how asylum seekers are treated. Again the poorer nations take the most refugees.

lighthearted - there would definitely be health and safety on keeping babies in cattle sheds. I bet the shepherds would be on social media. I’m sure the couple would prefer some kind of bank transfer or Amazon voucher to gold

Yes, @IKEAJesus is right, it's Mary that is supposedly immaculate ie without sin. It's a common misconception that immaculate conception refers to Jesus being conceived without a man being involved. Christians do believe that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and also that Jesus was without sin as @MushMonster said. However, immaculate conception is the Catholic idea that Mary was also without sin. Protestants don't agree, as we believe that Jesus was the only person that never sinned, because he was God in human form, and therefore was able to be the perfect sacrifice to atone for the sins of everyone.

Of course because obviously a woman/girl can get pregnant by immaculate conception.

This of no man involved in the conception is always a tough point to get through LOL
Prophecies is another one.
But I think we all believe these days that a child born in poverty, displaced, prosecuted and with marked different circumstances to others around them, can become a great leader tomorrow. And move masses if their message resonates with them. A message of Peace, fairness and equality. Someone with a pure heart. For me all this sinless, without original sin, immaculate... equals of pure heart, childlike, without any macheavellian thoughts or actions. We are asked to control our anger, greed, envy, lust, amongst other and nurture our understanding and giving nature. Giving without any expectation to receive back.

Will Jesus reach the masses via social media/ TV these days? I think so, but it feels too impersonal. I think writing his own books would be the best option.

Would his followers still be prosecuted and killed for their believes? I think that would not be the case today, at all. At least on secular countries.

I think society has improved much over these centuries past.

Be kinda interested in how yer man jesus was the only white lad in the middle east and why he never seemed to go back to his mother and 'father or do anything with them. 3 wise men too? I am dubious.

I did. Well there was a few empty bottles of blossom hill somehow on the table the next morning that i cant account for but still.....

There are plenty of people with light skin in Middle East, particularly in the area he was born in. So it was not impossible.
But it is only someone's imagination at play.
If born today, I think he would be mixed race, with a family member from each corner of the world. Maybe?

Would he be called Jesus? Or would he have a unique spelling ? Jayzus-Balonz?

if it happened know Jesus would get an agent and a show
Yer fella walks on water? Water into wine? The loaves and fishes buffet. He’s a crowd pleaser