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The Magi ,,, were they women?

Feb 10, 2004 7:17AM PST

I thought this was a fun read.

LONDON (Reuters) - The Three Wise Men who followed the star to Bethlehem bearing gifts for the baby Jesus may not have been all that wise -- or even men.

"Magi is a word which discloses nothing about numbers, wisdom or gender embodied in the term," a Synod spokesman said Tuesday after the revision was agreed by the Church of England's parliament which meets twice a year.

In the authorized 17th century King James bible used by up to 70 million worshippers in Anglican churches around the world, the gift-bearing visitors are referred to as "The Three Wise Men."

Now they are to be called just "Magi" and no longer gender-specific in the Anglican prayer book.

The decision was greeted by mocking newspaper headlines like "The Three Fairly Sagacious Persons" and "Is it unwise to call the Magi men?"

Anglicans are debating whether words like "Chairman" can be replaced at committee meetings by more neutral words like "Chair."


http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/reuters20040210_119.html

Angeline
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

Discussion is locked

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Re:The Magi ,,, were they women?
Feb 10, 2004 7:24AM PST

Hi Angeline,Of course they were women !! When have you ever know a man to attend a baby shower.Happy

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Re:The Magi ,,, were they women?
Feb 10, 2004 7:40AM PST
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There is a certain wisdom to that statement,
Feb 10, 2004 10:35AM PST

but customs differ over time and cultures. I'm wondering if it would make any difference?

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Also, Angeline...
Feb 10, 2004 10:09AM PST

Also, Angeline, were there 3 "Wise Men"? They brought 3 gifts, but does that mean that there were 3 men?

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Old trick question in bible class.
Feb 10, 2004 10:36AM PST

We only know a plurality of Magi went there and brought 3 types of gifts as would befit a royal birth.

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Re: Also, Angeline...
Feb 10, 2004 1:09PM PST

Hi, J. (and all).

A STRONG recommendation for a very Christian film (actually, made for television's Hallmark Hall of Fame) starring Martin Sheehan as "the Fourth Wise Man." I keep hoping the Hallmark Channel will reshow it -- maybe this Easter. If you MUST have a synopsis, click the link.

-- Dave K, Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!

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Chairman?
Feb 10, 2004 11:24AM PST

Hi Angeline,
No need to refer to them as chair, it is perfectly ok to refer to them as chairperson, and indeed has been quite often in the past.
Therefore the three wise men could be refered to as the three wise persons.

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Re: The Magi ,,, were they women?
Feb 10, 2004 1:03PM PST

Hi, Angeline.

Given the role of women in society at the time (little education, restricted travel etc.) it's almost certain that whether wise or not, the Magi were men.

-- Dave K, Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!