Archbishop jumps the shark about halfway through interview

In a recent interview, the Archbishop of Canterbury was refreshingly honest about the Christmas story.

There was scant evidence for the Magi, and none at all that there were three of them, or that they were kings, he said. All the evidence that existed was in Matthew’s Gospel. The Archbishop said: "Matthew’s Gospel doesn’t tell us there were three of them, doesn’t tell us they were kings, doesn’t tell us where they came from. It says they are astrologers, wise men, priests from somewhere outside the Roman Empire, that’s all we’re really told." Anything else was legend. "It works quite well as legend," the Archbishop said.

Further, there was no evidence that there were any oxen or asses in the stable. The chances of any snow falling around the stable in Bethlehem were "very unlikely." And as for the star rising and then standing still: the Archbishop pointed out that stars just don’t behave like that.

Wow. All true and shockingly reality-based. But then he goes off the rails in a big way.

But in spite of his scepticism about aspects of the Christmas story, as told in infant nativity plays up and down the land, he denied that believing in God was equivalent to believing in Santa Claus or the tooth fairy.

"The thing is, belief in Santa does not generate a moral code, it does not generate art, it does not generate imagination. Belief in God is a bit bigger than that," the Archbishop said.

What the heck is he talking about here? Does he even know who Santa is? Santa is all about a moral code. In an attempt to get children to behave, he rewards "good" children and punishes "bad" children. And he doesn't visit your house unless you believe in him. Doesn't that sound exactly like God?

As far as Santa not generating art or imagination, the U.S. Post Office can show him six million letters to Santa annually that contradict that idea. Not to mention the pics below. Sure seems like art to me.

Ho ho ho!