10 Comments

Funny I should read this today, my girls are reading about the Persians at the moment, and they have a very similar story to the Jesus story.

It's been an interesting experience teaching the girls all these Greek, Roman, Egyptian gods and all the similarities that run through it, especially as we're in one of the most Catholic countries in the world and have had to resist their indoctrination from family members since birth!

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I had no idea Catholics make up 3/4 of the population in the Philippines, Leon. That is fascinating!

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It greatly influences the politics too. Also you can’t get divorced here. You get annulled. Very difficult and long process too. Of course abortion is a no no. Every business meeting, etc, starts with a prayer. On Sundays they hold masses in the shopping mall. It’s everywhere. My mother and father in law go to mass every day. Every single day. They’re not particular pleased at our failure to indoctrinate our kids haha

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You'd think folks like your parents-in-law would appreciate the news that the suite of ideas contained within their faith is far older than the relatively-modern Roman Empire. To me, that makes the Church more legitimate. Not less.

Oh well. Your girls, at least, can appreciate understanding their history.

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Hmmm, I think I see where you’re coming from and understand your point, but I imagine the idea that Jesus might really just be a story based on older stories would probably complete destroy their worldview!

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Haha, you're right, Leon!

Religious authorities always seem to encourage literal belief. But I think more profound truths can be recovered from allegorical interpretations.

An allegory is truer than a literal interpretation because it applies to many lives simultaneously. Unlike, say, a biography.

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Yes completely right.

Thanks so much again for sharing all this info in small chunks, it’s quite funny how often I’ll read something here and then have the girls mention something similar. I wish I’d had their education!! I was a small country town school kid, history was Australian white colonial explorers and that was it!

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Today's horoscope matches the zodiac 2,000 years ago. Back then the sun was in Virgo in September, which meant that Virgo reappeared in the night sky in December. Nine months before the winter solstice is the vernal equinox, named for Venus, the goddess of pregnancy.

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Outstanding! Thank you for the comment, Chris!

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