MORE than a third of Church of Scotland ministers do not believe in the virgin birth of Christ, a central tenet of Christian faith.

A [u]Sunday Times[/u] survey of kirk ministers found that 37% believe the traditional story of Jesus�s birth, which forms part of the nativity, should not be taken literally.


St Luke�s gospel recounts how Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel and was told that she would give birth to the son of God.

However many ministers said they believed that, like the resurrection, the virgin birth should be interpreted metaphorically rather than as a description of actual events.

Earlier this month the second most senior churchman in England said Britain could no longer be considered a Christian country. David Hope, the Archbishop of York, cited a lack of faith in the virgin birth as an example of the increasing secularisation of the country.


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/a...90-1416247%2C00.html