You can learn more about the earliest depiction of the nativity here: www.the-art-minute.com/the-earliest...

So, yes to women and women's roles being brought to light in Christian history. But also yes to keeping animals and nature in general in artistic depictions of the hope represented in Jesus.

I think it is much more likely that women were in the room helping to deliver Jesus than that there were a bunch of animals. But I also think that modern Christians sometimes run into issues when they interpret things that historically have deep symbolic meaning as strictly literal.

We also see this in many of our oldest Christmas carols. In this list, animals are mentioned in 3 of the top 5 oldest carols: www.oldest.org/religion/chr...

It is not even based in Luke's account of Jesus's birth, but in Isaiah 1:3 reads, “The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger…” Nature's recognition of the savior seems to have been deeply meaningful to many historical Christians.

Love this actor from shadow and bone!

Just finished this book and loved it! The beginning was a bit slow for me, but boy was the second half worth it.

This is bonkers

Where is this at?

Lovely! My fall garden was a total fail, glad to see someone got some crops!

Many cultures do!

OMG