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November 21, 2012

The entire Christian calendar is based on a miscalculation, the Pope has declared, as he claims in a new book that Jesus was born several years earlier than commonly believed.


The 'mistake' was made by a sixth century monk known as Dionysius Exiguus or in English Dennis the Small, the 85-year-old pontiff claims in the book 'Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives', published on Wednesday.
"The calculation of the beginning of our calendar – based on the birth of Jesus – was made by Dionysius Exiguus, who made a mistake in his calculations by several years," the Pope writes in the book, which went on sale around the world with an initial print run of a million copies.
"The actual date of Jesus's birth was several years before."
The assertion that the Christian calendar is based on a false premise is not new – many historians believe that Christ was born sometime between 7BC and 2BC.
But the fact that doubts over one of the keystones of Christian tradition have been raised by the leader of the world's one billion Catholics is striking.

Dennis the Small, who was born in Eastern Europe, is credited with being the "inventor" of the modern calendar and the concept of the Anno Domini era.
He drew up the new system in part to distance it from the calendar in use at the time, which was based on the years since the reign of the Roman emperor Diocletian.
The emperor had persecuted Christians, so there was good reason to expunge him from the new dating system in favour of one inspired by the birth of Christ.
The monk's calendar became widely accepted in Europe after it was adopted by the Venerable Bede, the historian-monk, to date the events that he recounted in his Ecclesiastical History of the English People, which he completed in AD 731.
But exactly how Dennis calculated the year of Christ's birth is not clear and the Pope's claim that he made a mistake is a view shared by many scholars.
The Bible does not specify a date for the birth of Christ. The monk instead appears to have based his calculations on vague references to Jesus's age at the start of his ministry and the fact that he was baptised in the reign of the emperor Tiberius.
Christ's birth date is not the only controversy raised by the Pope in his new book – he also said that contrary to the traditional Nativity scene, there were no oxen, donkeys or other animals at Jesus's birth.
He also weighs in on the debate over Christ's birthplace, rejecting arguments by some scholars that he was born in Nazareth rather than Bethlehem.
John Barton, Professor of the Interpretation of the Holy Scripture at Oriel College, Oxford University, said most academics agreed with the Pope that the Christian calendar was wrong and that Jesus was born several years earlier than commonly thought, probably between 6BC and 4BC.
"There is no reference to when he was born in the Bible - all we know is that he was born in the reign of Herod the Great, who died before 1AD," he told The Daily Telegraph. "It's been surmised for a very long time that Jesus was born before 1AD - no one knows for sure."
The idea that Christ was born on Dec 25 also has no basis in historical fact. "We don't even know which season he was born in. The whole idea of celebrating his birth during the darkest part of the year is probably linked to pagan traditions and the winter solstice."

37 comments:

  1. If Pope Benedict had only read Blessed Mary of Agreda's "Mystical City of God" ( of which has the blessings of the Holy See) as many of the other Popes had done, he would have found out that the donkey that our Blessed Mary rode on, was in fact, in the stable, and just after the Birth of Jesus, an oxen also came into the stable to help keep the Infant Jesus warm as it does get very cold in Dec. in the Holy Land. +JMJ+

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    1. At Christmas time it always happens that there are articles that appear in Newsweek, CNN and others that question the fact that Jesus is the Son of God.
      They always try to cause some doubt at a time when the world is celebrating His birth.
      The time of his birth is not important.
      It is important that He is the Son of God, born in a stable, who's blessed Mother is a virgin and St. Joseph was his foster father and nothing can change that.

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  2. If Pope Benedict had only read Sister Mary of Agreda's "Mystical City of God", of which has the blessings of the Holy See for those that read a few pages each day, as many of the other Popes had done, he would have found that the donkey that our Blessed Lady rode on was in fact in the stable and an oxen came into the stable just after the birth of the Infant Jesus to help keep Him warm from the cold Dec. night air. +JMJ+

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  3. So, What happened to the donkey that our Blesssed Mother rode on going to Bethlehem. I'm sure that St. Joseph didn't let our Blessed Mother, who was very pregnant and about to give birth walk all the way ther.

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    1. Remember they had to escape to Egypt and when Herod died they returned. A very long and hard trip both ways.I think they kept the donkey

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    2. What other mistakes have they made? What other lies have we been taught? If we are given the wrong information, will we be judged for believing it?

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    3. As chrisitians, we don't "believe" written history is absolute. Nor do we believe humans are infallible. If you are putting your faith in historical accounts of anything, you are putting your faith in the wrong place.

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  4. At this very late date in time, what difference does it make whether Christ was born six or at a minimum two years prior to anno Domini?

    Are we going to redate all historical events because of this speculative opinion, even by biblical scholors mentioned above, although we are still not certain in what year BC he was born?

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  5. It is time the Pope disclosed these errors and corrected them.

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  6. This is nothing new. This has been known and taught by the Catholic Church for years. I think it must be that the secular media is now becoming aware of a long-accepted truth.

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  7. Not quite "refreshing" news...this information is old news.

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  8. Not quite "refreshing" news. This information has been widely known for quite some time.

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  9. Well, that's why it is refreshing. It was fresh quite some time ago, and now it is "refreshed"!

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  10. What does this jackass know? He wasn't even there!

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    1. don't be so ignorant

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    2. I don't think you understand the meaning of ignorant.

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  11. All religions including Christianity are part truth, part fabrication. Over time the amount of manipulation of various events has only increased and been compounded with stronger beliefs being based on an increasing amount of layers of lies. This article/book is largely irrelevant because Jesus is largely irrelevant. When he was born and what calendar was put in place is completely non-important. What is important is how people of all religions are being duped and manipulated by the top echelons of those religions. The elites in Jesus's day were just as manipulative, greedy and egoistical as today's elites. The truth of everything is within each of us - the key is to see within yourself. All else outside of you is just illusion created by people trying to confuse and control you.

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  12. All religions including Christianity are part truth, part fabrication. Over time the amount of manipulation of various events has only increased and been compounded with stronger beliefs being based on an increasing amount of layers of lies. This article/book is largely irrelevant because Jesus is largely irrelevant. When he was born and what calendar was put in place is completely non-important. What is important is how people of all religions are being duped and manipulated by the top echelons of those religions. The elites in Jesus's day were just as manipulative, greedy and egoistical as today's elites. The truth of everything is within each of us - the key is to see within yourself. All else outside of you is just illusion created by people trying to confuse and control you.

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  13. Our misguided Pontiff is breaking the golden rule, tampering with the things that are pure and precious to all christians, The Gospels!
    I guess the Holy Father didn't read "Poem of the Man-God" by Maria Valtorta, recounts the Gospels account but in Jesus words! And to say no Angels announce the birth of Christ is sooo wrong, Holy Father, take a chill pill!!! I'll pray for You!!!

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    1. Poem of the Man-God is banned by the Vatican.

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    2. No it's not! Our Lady of Medjugorje said: if a person wants to know her Son, read "Poem of the Man-God", every word is TRUE!!! It was the BEST 4200 plus pages I've ever read, and proud of it:-)

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  14. So Jesus was really born in a manger ? I understand his
    parents were black and he was black until Leonardo de vinci
    painted the last supper. At that point he became a white man
    and all his disciples became white. Is that why we are never
    shown any picture of Jesus before the last supper was painted ?

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  15. Well maybe "the big papa" has some interesting things to say in his new book but so what? What benefit will there be to anyone? Oh, that's right, another several million bucks into the coffers of the vatican! Meanwhile,more children will be abused and die. But as long as the filthy catholic church gets another wad of cash, that's all that matters to these wolves in sheep's clothes. The judgement day is near folks!Come Lord Jesus!

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  16. "But the fact that doubts over one of the keystones of Christian tradition have been raised by the leader of the world's one billion Catholics is striking"

    Whaaaat???? A keystome of Christian Tradition??? Since when the exact date of the Lord's birth became a dogma of faith??? It is a well known fact that the calendar has been changed at least once to compensate for inacuracies in the calculations of Christ's birth. The Pope is quoting history.

    "Viva Cristo Rey!!"

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  17. May I suggest you check out "Caesar's Messiah" both book and now a documentary by Joseph Atwill. It totally debunks the Christian version of Jesus Christ and discovers Christianity was a myth perpetrated and developed by the Flavian Emperors and The Jewish Alexanders. It was backwritten. IF Jesus existed he was an Essene and information about him is only valid from The Dead Sea Scrolls. The New Testament is fiction. See also "Jesus and The Zodiac" by Rev Bill Darlison.

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  18. May I respectfully recommend you check out Historian Joseph Atwill's book "Caesar's Messiah". It has now been released as a documentary.It debunks Christianity as a fusion religion created by The Flavian Emperors and The Jewish Alexanders. It was backwritten to suit their agenda (control of the masses) "Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's" . Another book by Rev Bill Darlison "Jesus and The Zodiac" also disputes the existence of this fabled historical creation.

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    1. Since you do not possess any faith may I suggest finding out once and for all if God exists. If you are courageous enought that is and can overcome your fears. The formula is simple - go to your room close the door and get down on your knees - ask God to forgive you if he does exist for anything you have done to offend him and invite him into your heart to let you know he exists. God Bless you and I will pray also that he reveals himself to you so that your doubts will quickly vanish,

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    2. Actually Anonymous, I DO believe most certainly in the Universal Intelligence, the Source. I have a VERY personal relationship with the Christ Consciousness. I pray every day, for the planet upon which we live, all of humanity and my hope for our future in a world where people are able to move beyond the blinkers of what we have been brainwashed with. I am able to read books and watch documentaries which challenge fundamental belief systems. I believe the truth has been hijacked by organised religions for mind control.

      Thank you though for encouraging me to find God but do please do not assume because I question and debate accepted beliefs it means I have none of my own.

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    3. Anonymous, Your opinion that I do not have any faith is fallacious and presumptuous. I have complete belief in The Universal Intelligence, The Source of All. I also have a very personal relationship with The Christ Consciousness. That does not prevent me from appreciating how Spirituality has been hijacked by controlling forces as a means to subjugate the masses.

      Thank you for your advice to get on my knees and pray though. You might be surprised to learn I do so daily.

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    4. Apologies for double posts, I thought I had lost the first one

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  19. Pope Benedict I'm sure read read Sister Mary of Agreda's "Mystical City of God", of which has the blessings of the Holy See for those that read a few pages each day, as many of the other Popes had done, he would have found that the donkey that our Blessed Lady rode on was in fact in the stable and an oxen came into the stable just after the birth of the Infant Jesus to help keep Him warm. Don't let others lead you towards error besides St. Joseph, Mary and Jesus had to leave in flight so what did they ride on ''a donkey'' that was always with them.

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  20. blessed are they that hunger and thirst for rightiousness

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  21. In accordance to Islamic Qur'an, Jesus would have been born between August and October. Why? The Qur'an in Suran (chapter) 19, reveals that Mary left alone into seclusion and gave birth to Jesus under a date tree. She ate ripened dates as they fell on the ground. In the Middle East and even in California, dates ripen between August and October. Belqasem

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  22. I enjoyed reading a day by day journal of account of the Holy Families travel to Bethlehem, Joseph's meeting with the authorities, being turned away from inns and finally having using a cave of the shepards which Joseph played in when he was young. Shows what the wise men saw in the sky and their travels in intricate detail. The book is called "The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary" from the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich. Amazon.com says: This has become a classic in Catholic literature. Based on the mystic visions of the Venerable Anne Catherine Emmerich (born 1774, died 1824 and beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2004), a German Augustinian nun from Dulmen, it focuses first on the ancestry of the Blessed Virgin Mary, then on her childhood and early life, next on her life with Jesus and St. Joseph at Nazareth.

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  23. Apparently he was born on 21st August, 7 B.C.:

    http://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-122-birth-and-infancy-jesus#U122_8_0

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