sandy whitelinger
Veteran Member
She wasn't married when Jesus was concieved.
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How could Mary have been a virgin?
- Thread starter logician
- Start date
A. Ben-Shema
Active Member
Don Penguinoini
Modi.
A. Ben, you haven't been here for a long time.
logician
Well-Known Member
How do you know, do you have a copy of the marriage certificate?
Don Penguinoini
Modi.
A. Ben-Shema
Active Member
Yes, I've been very busy. Did you miss me? :sarcastic
Not really. There is a large segment of Christianity that understands the myth.
Don Penguinoini
Modi.
I actually did. You are good at posting threads with high post counts.
A
angellous_evangellous
Guest
Obviously we have everything atheists could ever ask for. DNA testing, fingerprints, and even divine poop.
Quiddity
UndertheInfluenceofGiants
In the OT, it was not uncommon for mothers to vow there children to a life to God.
1 Samuel 1:
10 In her bitterness she prayed to the LORD, weeping copiously, 11 and she made a vow, promising: "O LORD of hosts, if you look with pity on the misery of your handmaid, if you remember me and do not forget me, if you give your handmaid a male child, I will give him to the LORD for as long as he lives; neither wine nor liquor shall he drink, and no razor shall ever touch his head."
St. Anne (Mary's Mother) did just that for her daughter. Mary was then to serve the Lord at the Temple, as women had for centuries (1 Sam. 2:22). A life of continual, devoted service to the Lord at the Temple meant that Mary would not be able to live the ordinary life of a child-rearing mother. Rather, she was vowed to a life of perpetual virginity.
Catholic Answers goes on to note,
However, due to considerations of ceremonial cleanliness, it was eventually necessary for Mary, a consecrated "virgin of the Lord," to have a guardian or protector who would respect her vow of virginity. Thus, according to the Protoevangelium, Joseph, an elderly widower who already had children, was chosen to be her spouse. (This would also explain why Joseph was apparently dead by the time of Jesus adult ministry, since he does not appear during it in the gospels, and since Mary is entrusted to John, rather than to her husband Joseph, at the crucifixion).
So it's not far fetched that Mary would remain a virgin. You can almost see her as one of the early forms of nuns.
1 Samuel 1:
10 In her bitterness she prayed to the LORD, weeping copiously, 11 and she made a vow, promising: "O LORD of hosts, if you look with pity on the misery of your handmaid, if you remember me and do not forget me, if you give your handmaid a male child, I will give him to the LORD for as long as he lives; neither wine nor liquor shall he drink, and no razor shall ever touch his head."
St. Anne (Mary's Mother) did just that for her daughter. Mary was then to serve the Lord at the Temple, as women had for centuries (1 Sam. 2:22). A life of continual, devoted service to the Lord at the Temple meant that Mary would not be able to live the ordinary life of a child-rearing mother. Rather, she was vowed to a life of perpetual virginity.
Catholic Answers goes on to note,
However, due to considerations of ceremonial cleanliness, it was eventually necessary for Mary, a consecrated "virgin of the Lord," to have a guardian or protector who would respect her vow of virginity. Thus, according to the Protoevangelium, Joseph, an elderly widower who already had children, was chosen to be her spouse. (This would also explain why Joseph was apparently dead by the time of Jesus adult ministry, since he does not appear during it in the gospels, and since Mary is entrusted to John, rather than to her husband Joseph, at the crucifixion).
So it's not far fetched that Mary would remain a virgin. You can almost see her as one of the early forms of nuns.
Don Penguinoini
Modi.
I mean, only 200 years ago, they even had ID cards, and oyster cards. And passports!
:sarcastic
sandy whitelinger
Veteran Member
What we know about Mary comes from Scripture. Scripture says she was betrothed. Joseph wished to become unbetrothed because of the pregnancy but God intervened and convinced him that this was of the Lord.
Now if you wish to learn something that's fine. If you wish to be ridiculous then just have a good day but be honest about it.
logician
Well-Known Member
THe problem is, scripture is a story of fiction, not historical fact, you're the one being ridicluous.
logician
Well-Known Member
I did'nt say there wasn't. But there is a larger segment that believes literally in the virgin birth.
Ever hear of the Apostles Creed? Many churches have their congregations recite this weekly, are you saying people are mouthing words they don't believe?
A
angellous_evangellous
Guest
Where is the historical fact I wonder?
A
angellous_evangellous
Guest
Possibly not in the way that an outsider hostile to their religion would characterize "myth" and "belief."
logician
Well-Known Member
Possibly not in the way that an outsider hostile to their religion would characterize "myth" and "belief."
I'll take that as a yes.
A
angellous_evangellous
Guest
Wonderful. I hope for your sake you show more competency in reviewing that which you want to know.