We rarely spend enough time focusing on the completely human element of scandal surrounding the birth of Jesus. According to the moral teachings of the day, not only did Joseph have every right to break off his engagement with his mysteriously pregnant future wife, but by all accounts, Mary could’ve been stoned in the village square for infidelity. The religious folks of the day would’ve correctly cited that stoning her was “justified” by law. That’s some dogmatic and unforgiving doctrine.

Mary and Joseph lived in a religious culture that called for harsh treatment of unwed women who became pregnant. People were no more inclined to accept her explanation that “God did it,” than we would be today. It was an outlandish explanation. God simply does not do this sort of thing, right? The very idea offends our sense of morality, not to mention our scientific and theological sensibilities… just as much as it did in that day and age. Imagine how it might go over tomorrow if you had to explain to your own parents and neighbors that you were pregnant (or your fiancé was pregnant), but that your child was “God’s only son.”

On top of Mary’s outrageous claim, I always think about the gossip and the couple had to endure – talk about disgraceful!

continue reading @ the Huffington Post here…