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Nothing new here. I've been a Christian for over 40 years and I can't remember the first time I heard and learned that Jesus was not actually born on December 25 but I do know I've heard it in church almost every Christmas as far back as I can remember.

As to Dionys statement concerning BC/AD, the Western calendar is dated from the birth (albeit miscalulated at the time) of Jesus of Nazareth who was revealed as being the Christ. (BTW, Christ is His title, not His name.) Even those who use BCE and CE would have to admit that the "Common Era" is dated from the same event as is BC/AD.

Actually, as significant as the birth of Jesus is, the early Christians did not feel it was necessary to celebrate it. What defines Christianity is not His birth, but His death and ressurection. And that has been celebrated from the beginning of Christianity. In a couple of months we'll hear about all the pagan symbols in Easter including the name "Easter". But as the date of the birth of Christ is unimportant, so also is the date of the death/ressurection of Christ unimportant. What is important is that the Christ was born, He was nailed to a cross and placed in a tomb, and He was ressurected from the dead. And as Ripley would say, "Believe it or not!" The choice is yours.

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