Editor says, what if Noah's Ark had been discovered? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s). This story was published in the December 2012 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.

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Richard Byrd wrote on Google+ The would have found Gilgamesh.?

Brian Gaugler on Facebook: A fascinating idea, it would definitely seem to confirm Christanity as being absolutely true, without a doubt, which I imagine would have a huge, huge, huge impact on the world.

Robbie Taylor commented on 2012-12-31 22:28:45 ~ Nephilim? Aliens in charge of the whole operation, obviously

Jackie Rose commented on 2012-12-31 22:56:58 ~ There really are giants in the world...suffering from a disease called gigantism, which is where the myth probably came from. If our government could engineer the DNA to make these giants stronger and longer-lived, well that would indeed be a boon to our country...although hardly a Biblical miracle.

Eric Oppen commented on 2012-12-31 23:57:52 ~ that would knock a lot of theories into a cocked hat, wouldnt it?

Tom B commented on 2013-01-01 13:02:24 ~ Reminds me of "Monster Ark"

Jeff Provine commented on 2013-01-01 17:58:16 ~ So the sons of Anak would be in Canaan post-flood, but the Nephilim came up pre-flood, of which Noah and his sons were the male human survivors. Did they have Nephilim blood in 'em or was there another round of "God's sons and the daughters of man"?

Mike McIlvain commented on 2013-01-02 13:34:47 ~ Superb movie outline.

Jared Myers commented on 2013-01-02 20:57:06 ~ Regardless of your religious affiliation, I think a lot of us would have paid some cash to see the look on the faces of Richard Dawkins, Chris Hitchens (RIP), and David Silverman once Christianity is confirmed in this fashion. :-D

Jackie Rose commented on 2013-01-02 21:06:45 ~ Actually, I don't think that the appearance of gigantism patients would have confirmed anything but the presence of the disease...causing the resulting legends.

Editor says, what if the magi had kept their promise to King Herod? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s). This story was published in the December 2012 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.

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Editor says, according to Matthew's account an angel tells them not to alert Herod, and they return home by another way.
[1] Quote from the great man, Robbie Taylor.

Jackie Rose commented on 2012-12-13 17:39:42 ~ Then presumably Herod would have raised Jesus to a high government post, and he would be known and revered throughout the centuries as the model of a wise and caring official.

Allen W. McDonnell commented on 2012-12-13 18:01:14 ~ Several problems with this scenario, for one thing the date of Christmas comes from the Catholic church decision to co-opt the winter solstice festival. Evidence suggests the birth was in a much warmer time of year, late spring or early fall depending on the scholar you chose to believe. Secondly the monk who calculated 1 AD is known to be off by several years, the birth might have been as early as 7 BC but could not have been later than 3 BC based on things like Herod's death which has been calculated as being as early as 4 BC and as late as 1 BC. If you believe the record in the New Testament then the Christ child was born and as much as 2 years old when the Wise men appeared. After the wise men departed Herod ordered all the male children age 2 and under slaughtered in Bethlehem. Joseph fled before then with his family to Egypt. Herod died while the family was in Egypt and they returned to Israel but turned aside from Bethlehem to live in Nazareth. We are not told exactly how long they resided in Egypt but it was long enough for Herod to die and news of his death to be spread to Egypt. Oh and lastly Herod did not see the Christ child as his rival, but rather as the rival to his heirs mirroring the way that Saul saw David as a threat to his blood line heir Johnathon.

Richard Roper commented on 2012-12-13 18:15:05 ~ A very good reply. I'm not sure if bethlem was in Judaea, Herod's kingdom The calender is at least four years out, when the present system was set up around 610 AD. The original calendar was based on APC, after the passion of the Christ, set at 28 AD. But the birth may have been in 7 BC.

Jared Myers commented on 2012-12-14 03:58:34 ~ This might actually not change the end-result of the Gospel accounts that significantly -- the only difference being a greater poli-socio acceptance of Christianity during the life of Christ due to Herod's influence. Could the crucifixion of Christ have been the precursor to a Herodian rebellion against the Roman rulers and Jewish religious leaders who put him to death?

Eric Oppen commented on 2012-12-14 06:05:45 ~ Turning Herod _good?_ Look, this is only God we're talking about---there are limits on what even HE could do!

Jackie Rose commented on 2012-12-14 13:29:01 ~ But if Jesus had won Herod's favor, then Jesus might be remembered as a wise and generous government official, as I suggested before.. assuming of course, that he was remembered at all. That's no way to start a major religion.

Jeff Provine commented on 2012-12-19 16:02:52 ~ "Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's," he said. Jesus would make a good official, but he'd have a lot of connections to stop a crucifixion... or maybe all the more enemies.

Editor says, what if the Flight to Egypt had failed? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s). This story was published in the December 2012 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.

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Editor says, according to Matthew's account an angel appeared and warned Joseph to take Jesus and his mother into Egypt.
[1] Tiberius Iulius Abdes Pantera (c. 22 BC - AD 40) was a Roman soldier whose tombstone was found in Bingerbruck, Germany in 1859. Historically, the name Pantera is not an unusual name and had been in use among Roman soldiers in the 2nd century. A historical connection from this soldier to Jesus of Nazareth has been hypothesized by James Tabor, based on the claim of the ancient Greek philosopher Celsus that Jesus's real father was a Roman soldier named Panthera. Tiberius Pantera could have been serving in the region at the time of Jesus's conception. The hypothesis is considered extremely unlikely by mainstream scholars, given that there is no evidence to support it.
[2] Quote from the great man, Robbie Taylor.

Jackie Rose commented on 2012-12-14 23:16:41 ~ But why would Herod's men kill Joseph and Mary while leaving his rival "baby king" alive? He would have to kill the child too, if only to stop him from growing up and taking revenge.

Sailorbarsoom commented on 2012-12-14 23:24:28 ~ I was wondering the same thing. Perhaps Herod wanted to get some of that divine mojo working for himself?

Robbie Taylor commented on 2012-12-15 04:09:22 ~ He moves in mysterious ways, my friends, His wonders to perform...

Eric Oppen commented on 2012-12-15 07:24:36 ~ When Jesus rallies the Gauls to his side, the Roman Imperium goes down before the mad Celtic tide, and he creates a Gaulic Empire that lasts a thousand years.

Jackie Rose commented on 2012-12-15 13:28:18 ~ Eric, I would think that Jesus would have been much more likely to rally the Jewish rebels, before finding allies among the Celts and other subjects of Rome.

Jeff Provine commented on 2012-12-19 16:12:57 ~ Separating the child from a Jewish upbringing is an interesting twist. Would John the Baptist have to go looking for him?

Editor says, what if the scribe and the pharisee had joined the Dance? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s).

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Editor says, thanks to Jared Myers for his contribution to the development of this story. The idea was originated from this rendition of Lord of the Dance.

Eric Oppen commented on 2012-12-25 21:42:55 ~ ??? I can't make head or tail of this. Explanation follows - Ed
1) The lyrics to Lord of the Dance: I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee, but they would not dance and they would not follow me;
2) John the Baptist is in some circles considered the last prophet of the Old Testament insofar as he was prophesying the coming of the Messiah
3) But of course JtB only features in the New Testament and Jesus was not accepted as the Messiah and is therefore excluded from the Tanakh
4)In the Gospel of Luke 1:19-20 Gabriel tells Elizabeth to call her son John and not Zechariah like his his father
5)Therefore, to get a Jewish Jesus, we assume that his father calls him Zechariah thus grounding him in the Orthox Faith. So that when the Ministry begins, it does so with him as a Rabbi, thus keeping Jesus in the same company as the scribe and the Pharisee
6) The foster parents reference is an airbrush change based on our AH Miracles One and Two

Jackie Rose commented on 2012-12-25 21:45:52 ~ I must say I agree with Eric. I don't know what difference their names would have made, especially since they were both good old names from the Old Testament...namely, Joshua and Jonathan.

Jeff Provine commented on 2012-12-26 15:10:37 ~ We'd have a very different modern system of Judaism, certainly. Perhaps even not a revolt in 70 AD if "Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's" encourages obedience to earthly kings.

Jackie Rose commented on 2012-12-26 22:18:18 ~ Jeff, I have heard an interesting numismatic theory about that famous quote. As I recall, Jesus looked at a Roman coin when he said that it should be given unto Caesar..meaning that Israel should honor only Israeli currency...making it an independent nation.