I lean more towards Ron's position (buy my book!)
(Published in Faith and Philosophy 2011. Volume 28, Issue 2, April 2011. Stephen Law. Pages 129-151) EVIDENCE, MIRACLES AND THE EXISTENCE OF JESUS Stephen Law Abstract The vast majority of Biblical historians believe there is evidence sufficient to place Jesus’ existence beyond reasonable doubt. Many believe the New Testament documents alone suffice firmly to establish Jesus as an actual, historical figure. I question these views. In particular, I argue (i) that the three most popular criteria by which various non-miraculous New Testament claims made about Jesus are supposedly corroborated are not sufficient, either singly or jointly, to place his existence beyond reasonable doubt, and (ii) that a prima facie plausible principle concerning how evidence should be assessed – a principle I call the contamination principle – entails that, given the large proportion of uncorroborated miracle claims made about Jesus in the New Testament documents, we should, in the absence of indepen
Comments
Tom Flynn's point of wanting to make it a holiday for Christians only, I would have thought, actually panders to 'right wing religious fantasies'.
These guys are talking from an American perspective, and, typically, seem to forget that this is a universal holiday in the Western calendar, not just in America.
Christmas has evolved into a secular event, which is all about family (at least where I come from) and the religious thing is an optional extra for those so inclined.
Regards, Paul.