Why is there that stupid myth of Pope Joan?

Question

I think anyone who believes in this story is a stupid ignorant (well I can't really finish)

Answer 1

The female pope? There never was one, but people will say that to discredit the church. I don't know how that rumor got started, but for some reason, it's popular.

"Most scholars dismiss Pope Joan as the medieval equivalent of an urban legend.[1] The Oxford Dictionary of Popes [2] acknowledges that this legend was widely believed for centuries, even among Catholic circles, but declares that there is "no contemporary evidence for a female pope at any of the dates suggested for her reign," and goes on to say that "the known facts of the respective periods make it impossible to fit [a female pope] in."

The legend of Pope Joan was initially discredited by David Blondel, a mid-17th century Protestant historian, who suggested that Pope Joan's tale may have originated in a satire against Pope John XI, who died in his early 20s. Blondel, through detailed analysis of the claims and suggested timings, argued that no such events could have happened."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Joan

"Extra credit: At some point Pope (Popess?) Joan made it into the Major Arcana of the Tarot deck as a high priestess, a symbol of secret knowledge... The name Joan, a feminine version of John, was attributed to her much later; other chronicles say her name was Agnes, Gilberta or Jutta."
http://www.who2.com/popejoan.html

Answer 2

Why? Obviously because some people are extremely gullible, especially if a story sounds like it might reflect negatively on God's Church. Duh! Have they noticed that there is NO historical record of any such event? Have they noticed that the story itself first appeared about 600 years after it supposedly happened? Have they noticed that the complete historical list of Popes, including the years they were in office, is a matter of public record?

Answer 3

Pope Joan? What?

Answer 4

there was a female pope from childhood she had been dressed as a boy and maybe even believed she was male. she worked her way up through the priest hood and became pope that is going back many century's. a time when women could not work so were often forced to pretend they were men.

Answer 5

Because people want any excuse to make fun of the Catholic Church.

Answer 6

To spur confusion, debate, and intrigue!

Think DaVinci Code...same concept. No Truth.

Answer 7

I'm unsure, but it's generally been discredited by historians.

Answer 8

because it is true in that you can not prove it wrong. (it was most likely started by heretics trying to undermine the word of God, but that does not mean that it is untrue.)