BBC: Most ‘do not believe in nativity’

20 December 2008 · 18 Comments 

BBC News today published an article regarding a poll of Brits asked if they believe the story of the christian nativity is based in fact.

The majority of Britons do not believe the Biblical story of the birth of Jesus, a survey has suggested.

Of 1,000 people questioned, 70% doubted the account, according to the British Market Research Bureau.

Almost a quarter of people who described themselves as Christians shared their scepticism.

The church that commissioned the poll, St Helen’s Church in Bishopsgate, London, have produced a short film of what they claim is “sound evidence” supporting their biblical account:


(Watch this in situ)

John and his fellow disciples are asking if you want to know God. They aren’t offering some mystical path to enlightenment. They’re saying they met him — saw and touched and heard and lived with him. They’re saying they can tell you all about him, and make the introductions.

This is their “sound evidence”? I’m underwhelmed, to say the least.

The BBC also quote a pundit in the form of (the hardly unbaised) evangelical christian Simon Gathercole:

Simon Gathercole, a new testament scholar at Cambridge University, said people were sceptical because they were not aware the origins of Christianity were anchored in real history.

“Jesus was born while Augustus was emperor of Rome just before Herod died… we’re talking about events that are anchored in real history not in ancient Greek myths.”

I’d disagree. People are sceptical because they’re are aware of the story and there’s no evidence whatsoever to support it being considered as “fact” apart from in the christian scripture.

As the old saying goes, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. The christian scripture most certainly isn’t that.

BBC News: Most ‘do not believe in nativity’

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