RNS Morning Report: Witches and wise men: A look at the spookier origins of Christmas lore

2022 has been a whirlwind of huge news stories, and RNS has been there every step of the way. We have big plans for the next year, but we need your support. Will you join our community and help us grow in 2023? Top Stories Nearly 1,000 faith leaders call for Christmas cease-fire in Ukraine (RNS) — The signers are advocating for a cease-fire to happen from Dec. 24 through Jan. 19, which is the 12th day of Christmas in the Orthodox calendar.   Witches and wise men and ‘old magic’: A look at the spookier origins of Christmas lore (RNS) — Pagans and Christians alike can rediscover the ‘reason for the season’ in the old stories and deepen their own beliefs.   With the Afghan Adjustment Act on life support, refugee agencies pray for a miracle (RNS) — Unless a floor amendment gains traction in Congress, some 76,000 Afghans who were airlifted out of Afghanistan before the U.S. withdrawal may lose their legal status in 2023.   Black atheist leaders quit Black Nonbelievers over alleged misconduct by president (RNS) — Mandisa Thomas said she mishandled a ‘personal situation’ during a recent cruise held by the prominent Black secular group. RNS Opinion Signs invited Jews to visit the Temple Mount. Why Israel’s chief rabbi forbade them. (RNS) — Jewish nationalists bent on affirming the Jewish connection to the Mount have increasingly visited the site.   Why early Christians wouldn’t have found the Christmas story’s virgin birth so surprising (The Conversation) — The ancient Mediterranean was full of tales of legendary men born of gods. ICYMI Giant menorahs, helicopters, candy cannons announce the arrival of Hanukkah (RNS) — In the face of growing antisemitism, many Jews are taking to the streets and making the eight-day Festival of Lights very public and very flashy.   A scholar of Jewish studies airs a few inconvenient lessons of Hanukkah (RNS) — Prominent Middle East archaeologist Eric Meyers offers a view of Jewish uprisings, including those that followed the Maccabees, and their actual consequences. In Other News ‘Bling bishop’ accused of defrauding parishioner to fund lavish lifestyle Rick Warren: The purpose-driven pastorpreneur   Talk to Us We want your feedback on the RNS Morning Report — what you think we're doing right and what we should be doing differently. Send us an email at Comments@ReligionNews.com Subscribe to other RNS Newsletters. Forward this email to a friend. View the archive of past newsletters. Religion News Service is free to read, but it's not free to produce. If you value our reporting, please consider making a donation today at religionnews.com/donate. If you prefer to mail a donation, please address to: Religion News Foundation, PO Box 1808, Columbia, MO 65205. Yes, I support the work you're doing! Forward this email to a friend