[zeek]

So, it seems that we all agree, albeit for different reasons, that the Gospel records on the matter of the virgin birth and Jesus' birth in Bethlehem are incomplete and lack the supporting evidence. The more unusual the claim made the more evidence required to merit its acceptance. Divine conception is rare to non-existent in the recorded history of human experience. Therefore, the evidence sufficient to warrant belief is extremely high. There are far simpler explanations for putative divine birth beginning with the fact that the New Testament writers sought fulfillment of prophesy in the life of Jesus. Because of a mistranslation of the Septuagint, they believed the messiah would be "born of a virgin". No doubt they believed it was THE SPIRIT that inspired them with the notion that Jesus was BORN OF A VIRGIN. Likewise they looked into the Hebrew scriptures and THE SPIRIT gave them all kinds of "reasons" to believe that Jesus had been BORN IN BETHLEHEM because, after all, it was required by prophesy.

On this point our experience in the "Local Churches" and "The Lord's Recovery" is invaluable. Because, you will remember, THE SPIRIT showed us all kinds of reasons to believe we were in the LOCAL CHURCHES and THE LORD's RECOVERY. So we have some insight into what it like to be led by the SPIRIT into improbable beliefs. Because, I think, we all also agree that, despite what we thought was the SPIRIT'S leading, the Local Churches are not likely actual Local Churches and that the Lord's Recovery is not likely the actual Lord's Recovery, right? If anyone thinks I'm wrong about this, they need to get themselves back into The Local Churches and The Lord's Recovery immediately. Because if they are what they claim to be then that's the place that EVERYONE needs to be.

But, still, apart the whisperings of THE SPIRIT we don't have enough evidence to warrant belief that a divine birth or even a birth in Bethlehem occurred as opposed to what I just suggested. Sooooo, if we hadn't already bought into these beliefs as children indoctrinated into them or as adults with some other compelling motivation to convert to them, there is no way that any of [us] would be discussing these propositions as in any way tenable.