Some 2,000 years ago give or take four to six years, because of calendar changes and various scholarly interpretations a baby was born in humble circumstances in Bethlehem of Judea.

Few will disagree that a boy named Jesus, son of Mary, was born. Fewer still will disagree that he died.

The issue is what happened next Did he rise from the dead, or didn't he? If he didn't, then Christmas has no real meaning, life has no central core, and humanity has no purpose beyond futility.

But if He did then every other philosophy pales into unimportance, every other issue shrinks into insignificance, and every person must consider the personal implications of such an event.