Poirot

appreciate your honesty however believe it or not I was not quoting or trying to quote CS Lewis. The 'omniscience' AJ thought he was so smart he caught me out. Again at the end of the day there are people who are lot smarter than me that believe and a lot smarter who don't believe. Turning the arguement as to how credible/smart/gullible CS Lewis was just conveniently takes people away from having to examine the claims of Christ and look at their own natures. If AJ is half as smart as he thinks he is (which I doubt) he would know that.

Poirot,

It is quite possible to believe in virgin birth in humans and for the belief to be rational; see the Russell case
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_case
and also consider artificial insemination.

If a female is pregnant and the hymen is intact then the mother to be is a virgin.

1; God of Christianity is not a "sky god", that is paganism. God is Holy character, able to create, change and destroy matter, actions that bless others and living wisdom revealed, all to build community and righteous society.
2. Jesus came to enlighten us on the fact we have failed but forgiveness and restoration are available and the price has been paid for those that recognize their need a new life.

Christianity is living together in community and restoring those that have failed.

Is Mise, Exactly; "If a female is pregnant and the hymen is intact then the mother to be is a virgin". Mary mother of Jesus was conceived by artificial insemination so was a virgin "not having lain with a man"

Josephus: Mary mother of Jesus was conceived by artificial insemination so was a virgin "not having lain with a man"

Mary was betrothed to Herod Antipas, one of King Herods sons, He was friends with the Man who would eventually become Augustus Caesar. Antipas went to Augustus inauguration in Rome where Mary was raped by Augustus. Antipas came home in disgust & Herod thought he was going to take over the throne & had Antipas killed. Leaving Mary pregnant. She was living with her Aunt at the Temple as Cleopas was one of the Chief Temple Priests. Mary was married off to an old man (Joseph) who had just lost his wife & had a couple of kids to look after. Joseph was retired to Nazareth. (Out of the way.) Herod went looking for the child, to kill him, as he thought that the child would claim his Kingship.

Other names Joshua was know by, Yeshua na (bastard in Hebrew). Yeshua ben Strada. Strada was a Roman Soldier, another contender for Yeshua illegitimate father. Yeshua na Notzri. All found in historical writings of the time.

Another problem. The Angel told Mary to name the Child Immanuel, She named him Yeshua & everyone calls him Jesus. ;-)

So endeth the lesson.

Jayb,

There were several persons called Jesus during the time of Herod and the Jesus of Christianity was not the one of whom you write. Where are the earliest historical sources of your material