Goal:
To place the story of the birth of Jesus in the context of other legends surrounding religious figures. To understand the story as a conglomeration of several references in the Bible.

Preparation:
Make copies of “What to look for in Jesus’ birth stories.”
Read “Background for Teachers”
Gather Bibles

Introduction:
UUs can enjoy the birth legend of Jesus at Christmas time without worrying about whether it is true or not. We realize that such stories as this one and those about the births of other great prophets cannot be scientifically true, yet many of us like to hear them. Why? Because the stories remind us that these great and good people were admired and loved and honored long ago as well as now. They are myths that may not be true on the outside, but are true on the inside, in our hearts.

Activities:
Read “The Birth of Jesus,” “The Birth of Buddha,” and “The Birth of Confucius.” Discuss some of the similarities and differences in the birth stories (ie: the angel, the elephant and the unicorn all announce the births and the presence of music in the sky). Talk about how people with imagination, coming from different countries, paint ideas differently. Each one introduces symbols that are meaningful to them. Help your kids see myths not as untruths but as imaginative responses to religious questions.

Find the story of Jesus’ birth in the 4 gospels in the New Testament: Mark, Matthew, Luke and John. Using the chart “What to look for in Jesus’ birth stories,” find the sources for each question in each of the 4 gospels. Notice similarities and differences. Which version are you most familiar with? You may also wish to see the Cheat Sheet.