quote:
. The virgin birth (not unusual from a mythological point of view) helps establish that Jesus was more than simply a prophet. For Christians, that IS one of the core beliefs.
Jar,
That statement is part of the Nicene Creed, right. I've read that the original prophecy used a term that could as easily be interpreted as meaning "a young woman". Also read many scholars who dispute that Isiah was referring to a Jesus but rather to someone in his own time.
Virgin births were a feature of many mythologies but didn't seem to be part of the Jewish view. I think it was the influence of paganism, gentiles whatever. I certainly don't thint it's scripturally necessary.
Do you believe in the virgin birth? Do you believe some one could be considered a christian who didn't believe in it?
Sometime during my high school years I stopped being a christian when I read through the Nicene creed and realised I could not honestly say I believed most of the stuff in it, and rather than try to come up with some scientifically "correct" Christianity I just dropped the whole thing.
peace,
lfen