[Buddha-l] Free Skeptic e-book

[Dan Lusthaus]

Eric wrote:
>we know
> that Jesus's birth day is the 17th of June

(Adopting the skeptical tone:)
Since, if he was born at all, it would have been either in Israel (Nazareth)
or Judea (Bethlehem), the day would be subsumed under the Jewish calendar,
which has no "June". Nor was a census taken in year 1... nor would shepherds
be out in late December in the Jerusalem-Bethlehem area... etc.

Most cultures have some sort of festival that provides lots of light and
illumination at this time of year, since it is the coldest, darkest, longest
nights, etc., of the year, and therefore depressing. Time for a festival to
cheer people up with a light show and other heartwarming accouterments.
Christmas successfully defers the depression/suicide period to Jan. and
Feb. -- when the lights come down and the bills have to be paid.

(Skepticism can be healthy -- it can also lead to cynicism)

A heartwarming lesson about the first Noble Truth, and mujo (impermanence)
as Eternal Recurrence.

Dan