O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by; FOR many people it’s the old Christmas carols that draw them into church at this time of the year, and who would deny anyone their once a year opportunity to bask in the memory of their childhood or enjoy the romanticised idea of a Victorian Christmas? The problem, however, for those who have to interpret the Biblical text or who have to make comment on the present situation in the land of Jesus’ birth, is that most of the old carols greatly distort the reality of life in Bethlehem both as it was in Jesus’ time and as it is now.
I am writing this piece in Bethlehem and there is nothing still or dreamless about it.