So, what do biblical storytellers talk about in September? Christmas, of course!
And that was the focus of our September meeting, as Tom gave us insights into the cultural and political settings behind that oh-so familiar Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke.
Things like: Arch angels – comforting or terrifying? The low social standing of shepherds (they were grouped with butchers, doctors and others who were ritually unclean from touching blood). And ways that the politics of the Birth-story setting of early AD Palestine reflected the time (80-90 AD) when Luke was writing the story.
So next time you’re telling The Christmas Story, yes, you’ll probably keep the fluffy sheep, and sweet baby for the children. But you might want to let the message of some of the politics, danger and social stigmas slip in there for the adults.