I am sort of overdosing on theology at the moment since I am working night and day on a new presentation, but I guess there are some brain cells left to think about our last class.

I think it is a little sad that Barth and Brunner became such enemies over the virgin birth, because the friendship they dropped was probably more important than their points of view. Obviously they could not just, "agree to disagree" about such a nebulous subject that nobody can prove one way or the other.
Keeping a little mystery surrounding Jesus' birth sounds like a good thing- sort of the way having a swimsuit on is supposed to be sexier than nothing at all. (Of course in my case, neither option is very sexy!) American culture insists on swimsuits, but it would be dumb to go to war with the Europeans over the fact they don't wear swimsuits (My country needs all the friends it can get!) Two theologians who won't speak to each other over the virgin birth missed out on all the fun they could have had arguing together about the issue!

We over analyze issues. Some people would rather go to a lecture on heaven rather than go to heaven because, "inquiring minds have to know". I think Jesus incarnate in a pre mass media age so he wouldn't have to answer reporters' questions like, "Tell us now, how were you conceived?" Even if he answered such a nosy question, the people who didn't want to believe in the virgin birth would discount whatever he said, thinking he was protecting the family honor.

Personally, I think it would be trickier for God to make a bright star shine out over the spot where Jesus was born than to instigate a pregnancy. But I haven't heard of anyone getting all worked up over whether the star was there or not.