The Virgin Birth or the Immaculate Conception? A post-Christmas reflection.

Christmas is behind us now, well and truly. But I did happen to be in church over the season and my eyes and ears fell upon this...

'The virgin is with child and shall bear a son, and she will call him Emmanuel.'

The origin of Christmas, right? Before anything you may think you know, this is what the first Christmas was all about. The Christmas Story as it's called these days. It's a fact. It's not politically incorrect. It just is.

But how did a virgin conceive a child? Frustratingly for many, this is a matter of faith. And this blog is not about faith.

It's about a matter of getting things right. How so?

This is something that has annoyed me for some time now. A very popular confusion. But writers have to be very careful about this kind of thing and not fall into such traps. It goes to credibility.

A great many people think that Mary conceiving the baby Jesus without the act of procreation is called the Immaculate Conception. This is downright wrong!

Put aside any annoyances you may have about religion and 'how can people honestly believe this' and remember this about getting things right.

The Immaculate Conception is the term used to describe how Mary herself was conceived - that is, without sin. Mary was conceived pure and without sin. She is immaculate. It is her conception, not Jesus'. The Immaculate Conception is not the ability to conceive a child without the act of procreation as so many popular sit coms and movies and standup comedians, and even everyday people like you and me, like to bandy about in a glib and quite igorant fashion. Okay, so it gets a laugh. Ha! Not so funny when you know that it's soooo wrong.

So there you have it. 

You can still laugh if you want, but you and I know different. And I make no apologies for robbing anyone of a laugh. There's plenty of humourous stuff out there. Perhaps someone should try something original.

I hope your Holidays were full of peace and joy, that your New Year has begun with new opportunities, and continues with prosperity in whatever way that has meaning for you!!