(no subject)

[pensnest]

I was watching an old QI last night, as you do, and there was a question about gospels and Jesus' childhood. Stephen Fry read an extract from what seems to have been the Gospel of pseudo-Matthew, one of the 'infancy gospels'. Something like this:

And, lo, suddenly there came forth from the cave many dragons; and when the children saw them, they cried out in great terror. Then Jesus went down from the bosom of His mother, and stood on His feet before the dragons; and they adored Jesus, and thereafter retired.

As Stephen Fry pointed out, Religious Education would have been a whole lot more exciting if something like this had been among the 'canon' gospels.

I wasn't aware of the 'infancy gospels', but it appears that among other things, this is where the legend of the ox and the donkey being present at the Nativity comes from. And, and, a whole bunch of animals, including lions, panthers and wolves, accompanied the holy family on their walk into Egypt. Sadly, it appears the dragons did not join this throng.

Comments

[dine]

I think dragons would improve almost ALL educational areas - but especially Religious Ed.

[pensnest]

Jesus Christ: Dragon Whisperer. It has quite the ring to it.

[rikes]

I knew about the infancy gospels, but not that they involved dragons. Cool! :D

[pensnest]

This one seems to be a list of Miraculous Things Jesus Did without any pretence at narrative. Fun, though.

[chalcopyrite]

and they adored Jesus, and thereafter retired.

I am struck by the image of a bunch of retired dragons sitting about in rocking chairs...

(What does a retired dragon do to fill its time? Do they play golf?)

[brandywine28.livejournal.com]

Oh God, the dragons! When was the last time I thought about the dragons?!

I went to parochial school, which means I learned most of this stuff, even the bizarre apocryphal tidbits, at age six, via puppet show. Insanity.