I recently read an article about a series of billboards which question Christian beliefs, posted in Florida, Ohio, and New Jersey by American Atheists. The signs prominently feature pictures of Jesus, Santa Claus, and devil images, and ask, “what myths do you see?”  According to American Atheists, the purpose of the campaign is not to attack Christians but to encourage them to ask themselves why one god (i.e. Jesus) is different from gods they call myths (i.e. Neptune).

The responsive outrage expressed by church officials and Christians alike is a timely reminder of the urgent need to remedy the superstition and error in Christian beliefs.  Science, archaeological discoveries, and the latest planetary revelation in The Urantia Book, bring us up to date: They expose and expand the inherent truth in Christian beliefs which can revive in humankind the vibrant living faith exhibited by early Christians.

1.  It is true that Jesus was not born on December 25th.   Archaeological discoveries repeatedly have pointed to the summer of 6 or 7 BC as the most probable date for the birth of Jesus.  Epochal  revelation confirms that Jesus was born on August 21, 7 BC.

2.  It is true that there was no bright star in the East when Jesus was born.  The extraordinary astronomic conjunctions that occurred in May, September and December of 7 BC inspired the appealing legend of the star of Bethlehem.

3. It is true that the three men who visited Jesus were not magi - wise men who used their astrological knowledge to lead them to the predicted king in the Land of Israel.  Rather they were three priests from Ur who were led to Jesus by the father of John the Baptist when Jesus was three weeks old.  They “had been told by a strange religious teacher of their country that he had a had a dream in which he was informed that ‘the light of life’ was about to appear on earth as a babe and among the Jews.”

4.  It is true that there was no virgin birth. Jesus was conceived with the participation of a human father.  Mary and Joseph had been married for months before the conception of Jesus.  Jesus was their first child and they eventually had nine children.

Removal of superstition and error in the Christmas story in no way diminishes its power to inspire; Jesus was a human and divine personality, who on Earth revealed the personality of the Universal Father to all humanity.

Our challenge is to harmonize what we know with the facts of science and the wisdom of a planetary revelation. To the believer this includes questioning the tenets of religion without losing faith in God or spiritual ideals; to explore objectively the latest planetary revelation in search of deeper meanings and values. The atheist’s challenge is to be open to the possibility of the reality of God - to be open to exploring an epochal revelation which presents unique answers to the big questions:  Where are we? Who are we? and why are we? - answers that can be found nowhere else.  And the writings in The Urantia Book additionally provide a unique and compelling portrayal of the life and teachings of Jesus which inspires the believer and non-believer alike to live a more meaningful life.

The alternative: believers can hold on to the error and superstition in their beliefs;  atheists can hold on to their assurance that there is no God.  Both can remain smug in their myopic and crystallized thinking - perpetuating the gulf between them.

One option maintains the status quo, the other presents new vistas of time and eternity that can dispel confusion and fuel the spiritual power of transformation.