G'day Jerry,

Your points about the relative status of shepherds, sheep dogs ... and women, in biblical times, are well made ... in fact I was thinking of another post making just the connection that you made ... that the Christmas story is one of annunciation to the meek and lowly.

A friend told me the other night that in the traditional manger scene, in the churches at which his father was minister, the Wise men are not part of the Christmas display. They are placed far away at the other end of the church and slowly moved up ... to reach te stable on the last day of the display, just before it is packed away for another year - so playing down the "upper class" element's presence in the Nativity.

Regards,

Bob Bolton