This should come as no suprise
Not all that long ago I posted about how 1 in 33 Anglican ministers don't believe in God. The posting is here (scroll down half-way).
Now we have this little nugget from the head-honcho for the Anglican Communion stating that it's no longer a requirement to believe in the virgin birth.
Here's some of the article from The Australian; (emphasis mine)
From correspondents in London December 20, 2007
The leader of the world's Anglicans has described the Christmas story of the three wise men as nothing but a "legend" and has said not all followers must believe in the virgin birth of Jesus.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has picked apart elements of the Christmas story, including how a star rose high in the sky and stood still to guide the wise men to Jesus's birth place.
Stars simply don't behave like that, he told the BBC during an interview. Dr Williams said there was little evidence that the three wise men had existed at all. Certainly there was nothing to prove they were kings.
The only reference to the wise men from the East was in Matthew's gospel and the details were very vague, he said. "Matthew's gospel says they are astrologers, wise men, priests from somewhere outside the Roman Empire, that's all we're really told. It works quite well as legend," he said.
He went on to say that while he believed in it himself, new Christians need not leap over the "hurdle" of belief in the virgin birth before they could join the church. He said the virgin birth was "part of what I have inherited". And on the timing of Jesus's birth, he said the son of God was likely not born in December at all.
And by the way, don't believe the lie that Anglicanism is supposedly "The 4th Branch of Christianity". It's just another generic Protestant denomination among thousands. Gussied up and trying their damndest to look Catholic, to be sure... but but when push comes to shove, heresy is heresy. Just ask Dr. Williams.
You scooped even the New Oxford Review on this, VSC. Nice job.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I wonder how many Catholics know that Mary's perpetual virginity is an article of faith that they MUST believe if they consider themselves Catholic.
ReplyDeleteParticularly when it's so easy to draw the parallels between the Ark of the Covenant and Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant -- both contained the Word of God and the Bread of Life.
ReplyDeleteHe's so intent on relating what Matthew's gospel really says. Funny he says Matthew's gospel says the wise men were astrologers, though, when it doesn't.
ReplyDelete