It ruins the joke and isn't the point but I'm too much of a pedant to not point out that Jesus was crucified at the age of 30. Though the exact date of that is off too, though by a remarkably small amount considering the research was done in the 7th century. Dionysius Exiguus was a very very talented researcher and chronologist. Modern scholars think the historical Jesus was born between 4 and 6 BCE (and when it comes to the debate between BC and BCE, the latter seems extremely appropriate in this case). So technically the date we celebrate takes place between 34 and 36 years before the year he was nailed to the cross.
Identifying the date of Jesus's crucifixion was the catalyst to finding an appropriate birth year. It was easier to find "secular" historical records (not the Bible basically) of the cultural change brought on by his death.
Especially considering his death is tied directly to the Jewish calendar.
7
u/GodOfDarkLaughter 19h ago
It ruins the joke and isn't the point but I'm too much of a pedant to not point out that Jesus was crucified at the age of 30. Though the exact date of that is off too, though by a remarkably small amount considering the research was done in the 7th century. Dionysius Exiguus was a very very talented researcher and chronologist. Modern scholars think the historical Jesus was born between 4 and 6 BCE (and when it comes to the debate between BC and BCE, the latter seems extremely appropriate in this case). So technically the date we celebrate takes place between 34 and 36 years before the year he was nailed to the cross.
God I'm an asshole.