Biblical scholars have debunked the blind belief that Jesus was born on Dec. 25 time and time again. That is not myth, legend or subjective opinion -- that is fact.

Nothing about Christmas would be the least bit recognizable to the Jewish itinerant preacher who was born, as near as anyone can estimate, sometime in the spring roughly 2,015 years ago.

I've been struck by the ads and billboards atheists have purchased this year suggesting that Christmas is a myth. Struck. Not offended or angered. Just struck. And they may be right.

Jesus was born into the same world that you and I live in today. Jesus was born to a broke teenage mother. He was born into an occupied nation ruled by outsiders.

He told me not to be afraid, that I had found favor with God. "You will be with child," it said, "and give birth to a son. And you are to give him the name Jesus."

The Christmas story has what all great stories must have: the characters become changed, the shepherds leave their flock, the wise men follow a star, a young father trusts a dream and a girl becomes the mother of God.

The right wing punditry is at it again this year, stirring up a sense of victimization by claiming there is a "war on Christmas". In fact, Christianity wouldn't exist without the eclectic collection of ideas and practices that were the diverse roots from which it grew,

I have to admit it. Like millions of other Americans, I've allowed the holidays to decay into a frenzy of shopping, feasting, gift-giving and wassail-soaked merriment. But all is going to change. I have seen the light.