The divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and of the Christian church has been encountering various challenges in recent times. The popular Dan Brown novel The Da Vinci Code casts aspersions on Jesus, suggesting, among other things, that there was a sexual relationship between Him and Mary Magdalene, and also that they produced offspring whose lineage can be traced to the present day.

The book has been read by more than 60 million people worldwide, and was so successful it was made into a movie, which grossed $224 million in its first weekend of international release to become a hit at the box office – despite being criticised by Christians and getting bad reviews from movie critics. It is also expected to reap another windfall, following its recent release on DVD.

Earlier this year, a Florida State University professor of Oceanography, Doron Norf, sought to offer a scientific explanation for when Jesus walked on water, specifically on the sea of Galilee. Norf declares that Jesus was actually walking on ice and not water.

A study done by himself and a few colleagues points to a rare combination of optimal water and atmospheric conditions around the period when Jesus lived (some coincidence) for development of a unique, localised freezing phenomenon that Norf and his co-authors call “spring ice”.

Norf also claims that it would have been difficult for observers to discern the difference between the ice and water from a distance. This was supposed to explain why it went unrecognised by any of the disciples.

Around the time of Norf’s declaration came the news that there was a discovery of what was purported to be the lost gospel of Judas. It turned out to be a translation of a translation, which was written around 300 AD from a Greek original.

The gospel of Judas tells us that Judas was Jesus’ only true disciple to whom he imparted secret mystic knowledge and whom he asked to turn him in to the Romans in order to free his spirit from its fleshly prison.

The text indicates that Jesus had asked Judas secretly to betray him. One quote from the text states “you will be cursed by the other generations and you will come to rule over them”. The text was found in a cave in Egypt in the 1970s, passed from one antiquities dealer to another and ended up in Hicksville, NY.

After failed attempts to sell it, it was purchased by the Maecenas Foundation for Ancient Art, which restored and translated it and it was subsequently published by the National Geographic Society.

Last year, the high court in the US ruled that the Ten Commandments can be displayed in public only if they are part of a historical display, but not as a stand-alone religious symbol.

How ironic it is that the Ten Commandments have been removed from US courthouses, but witnesses are required to take an oath, swearing on the Bible.

Many schools and municipalities fearing litigation steer clear of any religious celebrations or symbols.

There is no longer any organised school prayer, effectively removing prayer in schools. The proposed teaching of “Intelligent Design” to counter the teaching of evolution has sparked considerable controversy.

“Intelligent Design” is the concept that “certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause and not a process of natural selection as stated by evolution”. In essence, it supports the existence of a superior being.

A US federal court ruled that a public school requirement for classes to teach Intelligent Design was a first amendment violation. Religious expression in schools has been muzzled.

Do not be misled into believing that the developments in the US are inconsequential to Jamaica. Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller recently proclaimed her spiritual alliance, and was criticised by some Jamaicans.

This is surprising, considering that we have long held the record for having the most churches per capita and traditionally a deeply religious country.

Amidst all the allegations, mixed signals, insinuations, deleterious arguments and actions, Christians must remain resolute in their faith. Non-believers – many of whom have an insatiable need for rational explanations – need to understand that some things transcend logic and reason, the omnipotence of God being one of them.

In an age where there is an increased offensive to cast doubt on Jesus’ integrity, confine religious expression to places of worship and to separate religion from both public and private institutions, Christians need to launch their own offensive by being living testaments of virtue, and by the spreading of the gospel.

This festive season, let us not forget the origins and the true meaning of Christmas, that of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, who walked the earth to die and offer salvation for our sins.