Most Britons do not believe Biblical story of Jesus' birth: Survey

London, Dec 21 (ANI): Most people in Britain do not believe the Biblical story of the birth of Jesus, a poll of 1,000 people by the British Marketing Research Bureau has revealed.

According to the poll, youngsters were particularly doubtful about the nativity, with 78 per cent of 16-24-year-olds saying they were not convinced of its historical reliability, reports the Telegraph.

Overall, the poll found that 70 per cent were skeptical of the baby's birth in a manger to a virgin mother.

Almost a quarter of those questioned who described themselves as Christians admitted they did not believe certain aspects of the Bible's teaching about Jesus, the survey commissioned by St Helen's Church in Bishopsgate, London, found.

Skrine, curate of the church, said the survey showed that "most of the UK believes that the accounts of Jesus's birth aren't good history".

He added: "Combined with a general lack of understanding about the real meaning of Christmas, this leaves people without the hope that Jesus offers."

Simon Gathercole, a new testament scholar at Cambridge University, said people were sceptical because they were not aware the origins of Christianity were anchored in real history.

He added: "Jesus was born while Augustus was emperor of Rome just before Herod died. We're talking about events that are anchored in real history not in ancient Greek myths." (ANI)