It's the holiday season, which means one thing – it's prime Nativity scene time.
The Nativity, or the birth of Jesus Christ, is as closely associated with Christmas as Christmas trees and tinsel. In fact, it's even more, because what is Christmas, if not a celebration of the Birth of Christ?
The first recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th was in 336 CE, during the reign of the Roman… https://t.co/QgJTd88OrT— RetroNewsNow (@RetroNewsNow)1514222231.0
Don’t forget to hate refugees as you set up a nativity scene celebrating a middle eastern couple desperately lookin… https://t.co/AA1B1QrPBA— UndocuMedia (@UndocuMedia)1514216735.0
Someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war, or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Most likely, they cannot return home or are afraid to do so. War and ethnic, tribal and religious violence are leading causes of refugees fleeing their countries.
Mary and Joseph weren't refugees, you illiterate. They were going to Bethlehem TO REGISTER WITH THE GOVERNMENT. https://t.co/3kGMYvE3DD— Ann Coulter (@Ann Coulter)1514265766.0
Erm assuming the story is true, then yes, in #Bethlehem they were NOT refugees, but in #Egypt they very much were #refugees. They went there to avoid having their #baby killed by the authorities. Pretty much meets the definition. #Mary #Joseph #Jesus #Nativity #Christmas
— Daniella Argento (@DaniArgTG) December 26, 2017
Egypt and Judea were part of the same country.
— Andrew Byler (@DAndrewByler) December 26, 2017
Even more continued taking Coulter to task.'Country' is a term not best applied to the pre-modern world. Herod was the ruler (king?) of Judea and his influence and authority did not extend to Egypt. Roman systems were different to ours. The fact is Mary and Joseph sought REFUGE in Egypt ergo they were REFUGEES.
— Daniella Argento (@DaniArgTG) December 26, 2017
I'm an atheist and a socialist and probably everything you hate most, but I know my bible better than you. They fled to Egypt under fear of death. They were emphatically refugees from terror.
— Lissa Evans (@LissaKEvans) December 26, 2017
When it was all said and done, one Twitterati had a final note:Actually, no. When the Holy Family flees to Egypt, they meet the current definition of refugees: those fleeing "conflict or persecution." And the word the angel uses in Joseph's dream in Matthew (2:13) is "φεῦγε" (pheuge), from which comes the word "refugee," the one who flees. https://t.co/BUBUqoaxxZ
— James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) December 26, 2017
Let that be a lesson to you, Ann Coulter. Even plebs can read the Bible.But even if the Holy Family fleeing into Egypt did not meet the current definition of refugees (and they do), modern-day refugee families still deserve our care and protection, because each refugee possesses infinite dignity and worth. They are our sisters and brothers.
— James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) December 26, 2017