Three Wise Men may have been... women

[La_Serpiente]

Three Wise Men may have been... women

LONDON (Reuters) - The Three Wise Men who followed the star to Bethlehem bearing gifts for the baby Jesus may not have been all that wise -- or even men.

The traditional infant Nativity play scene could be in for a drastic rewrite after the Church of England indulged in some academic gender-swapping over the three Magi at its General Synod in London this week.

A committee revising the latest prayer book said the term "Magi" was a transliteration of the name used by officials at the Persian court, and that they could well have been women.

"Magi is a word which discloses nothing about numbers, wisdom or gender embodied in the term," a Synod spokesman said on Tuesday after the revision was agreed by the Church of England's parliament which meets twice a year.

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Three Wise Men may have been... women

[StopTheMorans]

1. read this today

and when will Christianity stop portraying Jesus as blonde-haired and blue-eyed (same goes for the pale complexion on most rendered versions of Mary)? no comment on religion in general, just that they should stop presenting historical inaccuracies as fact.

[stopbush]

7. Because if most Western Xtians' image of Jesus looked like the one

published in Scientific America, they'd start worshipping Odin and Thor!!

[BurtWorm]

2. Is it true that Magi were priests of the Persian Mithra cult?

Anyone know?

[arcane1]

8. don't know, but wouldn't surprise me

lots of other similarities between the two...

[catzies]

3. I send this out as an email every Christmas:

Do you know what would have happened if there had been Three Wise Women instead of Three Wise Men?

They would have asked directions,
arrived on time,
helped deliver the baby,
cleaned the stable,
made a casserole,
brought practical gifts, and
there would be Peace On Earth.

[Ilsa]

5. I love that one Catzies.

And it is so true.

[TrogL]

4. There weren't necessarily three wise anythings

There were three gifts. Magi brought them.

[LibertyorDeath]

6. Love it !