You know I don't remember any Elephants in the manger with Baby Jesus?

[Quixote1818]

I do however remember hearing their were DONKEYS! I think we should take back Jesus. If he were here today he would be throwing over the money table at Haliburton. Hanging out at the Gospel Rescue Mission serving hot meals to the homeless. Telling TV Evangelists that they are not suppose to talk about their faith in public and looking out for the environment which is sacred.

Either that or we remind everyone that Superman was a Democrat and so is Santa Claus!

[bigwillq]

1. That's a great subject line!

What a great post!

[PunkinPi]

4. I'll second that.

[Maat]

2. I would like to expand that to taking back...

religion and spirituality period.

All of the Master Teachers I know of (Buddha, Jesus) would never, never condone the behavior of these fundamentalists.

Unconscionable!

[idiosyncratic]

6. And beyond egotistical

They supposedly think their actions are going to hasten God's return to earth and hasten the rapture.

Who do they think God is?

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. Didn't one of the wisemen come in on an elephant?

And that's the last time history documented an elephant bearing a gift to an underprivileged family.

[RevCheesehead]

10. No method of transportation mentioned in Matthew.

Traditionally (perhaps from Gnostic texts or early writings), the wise ones used camels.

Matthew is the only Gospel to mention the wisemen.

[City Lights]

5. Imagine how Mary would be treated if she lived in the US today.

Pregnant and unmarried. There still wouldn't be room for her at the Inn unless she happend upon one run by a liberal.

[Ellen Forradalom]

14. Mike Royko wrote a column in the 60s called "Mary and Joe, Chicago Style"

on just that subject. It's in the book "One More Time: The Best of Mike Royko."

[pdx_prog]

7. ha ha....

I love that.....also....the true donkey bears a cross across it's shoulders and down its back. The story is that it's because Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem.

[quaoar]

8. Amen

Jesus would be real pissed if He found out that the Republicans have adopted him as their mascot.

[religiousleft]

11. Mascot indeed !

It's too true!! A tame little Jesus who supports the powerful. No room in masoctville The One who warned "Lawyers" (which probably includes politicos of all stripes) "heaping burdens on the poor and refusing to lend a hand in helping them"

[RevCheesehead]

9. I am seriously considering buying an Illuminated Donkey this year...

and NOTHING ELSE!!

I've joked with friends that the Donkey is an important symbol through Jesus' life. His mother rode on one on her way to Bethlehem. The Donkey witnessed his birth. And the Donkey carried him triumphantly through the streets of Jerusalem the week before his crucifixion.

I've also told them that my job as a preacher is to be a silly little jackass for Jesus...to realize that my job is NOT to draw attention to myself, but to proudly proclaim Jesus to the best of my ability.

On second thought, maybe I need to add the Baby Jesus.

[delete_bush]

12. just be sure to wrap him

in BLUE swaddling clothes.

[RevCheesehead]

17. Actually, I have several strands of BLUE lights...

Advent is coming, and it is now fashionably BLUE

[GingerSnaps]

13. So true LOL

:hug: :thumbsup:

[Ellen Forradalom]

15. Noah should've left those elephants off the Ark

They leave big turds behind that everyone else has to clean up.

[riverwalker]

16. Fundies would cluster bomb baby Jesus

Imagine, a dark skinned Aramaic speaking homeless immigrant in an Arab land. The kid would meet the fate of those in Falluja.
Those "pro-lifers" will kill ya every time.

[pamela]

18. I just spoke to my very religious/spiritual father who...

voted for Kerry. He is pretty upset about how Bush has tried to lay claim to being the "moral" choice. My dad is the kindest person I've ever known, and generally doesn't like dirty politics, but he said he thought the Democrats should have played dirtier with Bush. I was stunned because that is so unlike him.

I'm all for taking back Jesus. I made a post last Saturday about putting flyers on cars in Church parking lots but no one responded. I printed out the "God is not a Republican" flyer from Sojourners and distributed them at churches in my area. A group called "Concerned Believers" had some good info on their website, too. I'm hoping they stay active.

I loved your thread title, by the way. I want a "There were no elephants in the manger" bumper sticker.

[Quixote1818]

19. So lets print one up!

Contact me and we can get to work on one.

[e-mail]

[HappinessPie]

20. Not only was Jesus the original Liberal, but he also...

was down with prostitutes (Mary Magdalene) so he obviously was sex-positive! I never heard Jesus say anything negative about sex in the Bible (though if he did, please feel free to correct me because I am no authority... :) )