A Mini-Course by Dr. Bart Ehrman

The Dark Side of Christmas

Unveiling the profound suffering and complex realities behind the nativity story

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Beyond the tinsel and traditions, what darker truths does the Christmas story hold?

Course Overview

Beyond the Carols and Cheer: Exploring the Dark Side of Christmas

Many of us celebrate Christmas as a season of joy, carols, family gatherings, and gift-giving, but the original Christmas story isn’t all light and cheer. In The Dark Side of Christmas, Dr. Bart Ehrman explores a more complex, often-overlooked darker Christmas narrative in Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

Bart will examine how these Gospel accounts highlight that the birth of the Son of God did not come without profound suffering, challenges, and even sorrow. Why would the authors include pain and struggles in their birth narratives? Is it perhaps because that's just the way it happened? Or are they trying to tell us something many of us have never stopped to consider?

Join us to discover how these ancient stories reflect the full spectrum of human experience during the holiday season. For those who have experienced hardship or loss, this course also offers a space for understanding and reflection, showing that Christmas has always held a place for both joy and sorrow.

Key Topics Covered In This Mini-Course

  • The Nature of the Gospel AccountsExplore why the nativity stories in Matthew and Luke, while rooted in tradition, convey deeper meanings intended by their authors, beyond mere factual reports.
  • The Complex Portrayal of Jesus' BirthDelve into the reasons why both Matthew and Luke reveal that Jesus' birth was accompanied by significant pain and suffering for others, rather than solely joy.
  • The Census JourneyDiscuss the necessity of the widespread journey for a census and why Jesus' birthplace had to be Bethlehem. Was it essential, or could he have been born elsewhere?
  • Mary’s Difficult JourneyReflect on the hardships faced by the Holy Family, questioning why Mary, in late pregnancy, traveled long distances without shelter to give birth.
  • The Tragedy of Innocent LivesExamine the profound ethical and theological questions raised by Herod's massacre of infants, and what it reveals about loss and grieving parents.
  • The Family's ExileInvestigate the implications of Joseph and Mary becoming immigrants in Egypt, highlighting their stark struggle and its alignment with prophetic fulfillment.
  • God’s Plan and Human SufferingExplore why Gospel writers suggested the Son of God's arrival coincided with and even exacerbated existing misery, and what this reveals about divine intention amidst suffering. Ultimately, is the Christmas story a joyous tale or a complex narrative of pain and redemption?

Your Instructor

Dr. Bart Ehrman

James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies Emeritus · University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Dr. Bart Ehrman
Bart D. Ehrman is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he taught from 1988 until his retirement in 2025. Recognized internationally for his scholarship on the New Testament and early Christianity, Professor Ehrman has written or edited thirty three books, including six New York Times bestsellers. His college level textbook The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings has remained the best-selling text in the field for more than twenty-five years. His scholarly works have been published by Oxford, Harvard, Yale, and other premier academic presses, and his books have been translated into twenty-seven languages, reaching millions of readers worldwide. Beyond the classroom, Professor Ehrman is a widely recognized public scholar. He has produced nine acclaimed courses for The Great Courses, in addition to numerous online courses available through BartEhrman.com. His books and courses have sold more than two million copies. He also writes for his charitable blog, The Bart Ehrman Blog, which has raised millions for organizations addressing poverty, homelessness, and hunger. In addition, he hosts the weekly podcast Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman, available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms, where he brings cutting-edge biblical scholarship to a global audience.

Included With Enrollment

Bonus Resources & Lifetime Access

Your registration includes lifetime access to the 2-Lesson Online Course, all course materials, and a complete companion library.

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PDF lesson guides

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Questions for reflection

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Additional reading list to dive deeper

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Audio downloads for listening on the go

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Transcripts of the lessons

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Self-assessment quiz

Bonus Lecture

Did the Christmas Story Really Happen? Lecture 3: Where Did the Later Legends of Jesus' Birth Come From? And Why Were (and Are) They So Influential?

Charity Donation

$1 from your purchase is donated to charity: water

Support clean water initiatives worldwide with a portion of your enrollment.

Course Enrollment $39.95

Enroll in "The Dark Side of Christmas" today. For $39.95, you receive lifetime access to all 2 lectures with Mr. Dr. Ehrman and all companion bonus resources.

From Course Participants

What Students Are Saying

There is no one more knowledgeable or better at explaining complicated topics in New Testament studies than Dr. Ehrman. The scholarship is excellent but presented in clear, accessible portions.
R.G.
Roberto GamarraCourse Participant
Dr. Ehrman is knowledgeable, articulate, and engaging to listen to. The flow of information is logical and well paced, making complex ideas easy to absorb.
D.C.
D. CobbCourse Participant

See What Most People Miss About Christmas!

2 insightful lessons, the Q&A recordings, audio downloads, and 6 bonus resources. Lifetime access.

Frequently Asked

Questions & Answers

Is this a LIVE mini-course?

This mini-course features two 50-minute lectures and a live Q&A session, recorded on December 7th, 2024. If you purchased this course after Dec 7th you will be watching a recorded version of the live course. Your purchase also grants you lifetime access to the lectures and Q&A, plus advanced notifications of new live lectures and online courses.

What is Bundled Vs Regular Pricing?

A single lecture with Dr. Bart Ehrman typically costs $14.95. However, you can take advantage of a special bundled price for two 50-minute lectures and a Q&A session for just $24.95.

Are any other discounts available?

Yes, if you watch Dr. Ehrman's "Misquoting Jesus" show on Youtube or listen to the podcast, you'll find a discount code in there. Bart also offers a discount to paid members of his blog at ehrmanblog.org.

Do you offer a money-back guarantee?

Absolutely! If you don't love the mini-course, send us an email and we will refund 100% of your investment. You will have 30 days from the date of your purchase.

Alternatively, this course is available through The Biblical Studies Academy (BSA), our premium membership and training community.

Backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee · Lifetime access to all course materials

$1 from your purchase is donated to charity: water.