Jesus - the Lineage

It's highly likely that there are two answers to the issue of geneology in the Bible. First, at the time of the OT and even into the NT, who you are was defined in a great sense by clan and family relationships. We were only in the early days of general naming, people were known by some nickname that was often then connected to either a profession, physical feature, clan association or geographic locale. Geneology then was very important in determining how you were to be treated, what your social standing might be, how you were expected to behave or what rights you might have,The second big reason was an after the fact one. During the period after Jesus death, when a religion was being formed around his personna, it was necessary for the sake of the franchise to find as many legitimizing factors as possible. To support the idea that Jesus was the Messiah of OT prophecy, it was important to connect all the dots as described. This took some freedom with convention but was not out of character or tradition in either the time or culture.The bottom line is that while Geneology was important, it was not seen in the same straightforward linear model we use today.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Well, most of us Anglicans and most Catholics would probably fit that description.We get Baptized at birth. Parents and God-Parents stand in for the child during the ceremony and the infant is accepted into the communion.The child is accepted as a Christian from that moment on, but it is also recognized that the child is yet too young to make an informed decision. That takes place later when the child goes through Confirmation. At that time the child goes through a study period and then makes what is hoped to be an informed decision as an adult.Before confirmation, all responsibility lies with the parents, God-parents and community. The Confirmation service is when the child takes full responsibility for his or her own behavior.It is very much related to determining how a person should behave, how they should try to live their lives.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Yes, Phat and I have discussed just that issue. iano also brings it up. Mayhaps one day we can have a thread on that since I don't see how anything involving Faith can ever be objective.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion