... that christian's required their saviour to be born of a Virgin? A woman that was both de-sexed and de-humanised by a patriarchial and condescending hierarchy is not a good role-model!
2007-02-16 00:53:03 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Seems I've done more research that some Christians. The Virgin birth doesn't enter the early Christian tradition until Matthew which was written some 60 years after jesus' death. In fact Paul, who is the earliest writer included in the NT, doesn't even mention her and Mark, the earliest gospel, mentions her twice but not in a very flattering way!
2007-02-16 01:13:43 · update #1
* There is nothing wrong with the human body or sexuality. As a pagan I see sex as a spiritual experience unless it is harming someone. As long as it is between consenting adults there is no shame, and is spiritual. I do however understand what the bible says about sex outside the marriage and I admit I am hard on Christians who condemn me to hell for not being a Christian, but then they do this without being married.
If they did not judge me, I would not hold them responsible for their breaking the bible commandments. *
2007-02-16 01:01:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
We actuallly do not know when the account of the Virgin Birth entered the tradition, as there was an extensive oral tradition among the early Jesus Movement (called this before the actual title of Christianity was recognized). Matthew was the first to write the account of the virginity of Mary in relation to Jesus' birth.
The use of the virgin birth motif was very common among the Greeks and Romans during the time of the early church and conveyed a strong message to the pagans of his time that Jesus was, indeed, God.
As for de-humanising and de-sexing Mary, that was not the author's original intent. In-depth study of the community which Matthew was addressing and an examination of the over arching theme of the Gospel points to Mary as a powerful expression of total obedience to the will of God. In Jewish society, an unmarried woman had no social value to speak of. By accepting the additional stigma of pregnancy without a husband, Mary showed that she believed and trusted in God to provide and care for her. That the Savior of the Jewish people (according to Christianity) was born from such a woman is proof of God's loving care for even "the least of these".
2007-02-16 09:34:07 · answer #2 · answered by pelican3 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus has to be born of a virgin to demonstrate that His birth is the work of the Holy Spirit and not that of a man. Mary's sexuality and womanhood was not degraded in any way by this process.
2007-02-16 09:16:39 · answer #3 · answered by seekfind 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christians did not require that Jesus be born of a Virgin, God required that.
2007-02-16 09:09:06 · answer #4 · answered by birdsflies 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Women's bodies and sexuality are not shameful. Mary did not stay a virgin forever.
The reason Jesus was born of a virgin is to show that He is the son of God, not Joseph.
2007-02-16 09:12:13 · answer #5 · answered by Laura H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Apparently, she wasn't a role model for you. Then again, you do take after Satan. GOD made it so Jesus was born to a virgin. Not christians. Perhaps if you read the bible and stopped listening to what other people say, you might have known that. Thank you and GOD bless.
2007-02-16 09:01:03 · answer #6 · answered by cookie 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You've missed the point .... He was born of a virgin because He had no natural father, His father was God.
Btw, it is not our requirement, it was written in the Old Testament ... so you'd say it was a requirement of the Jews :)
2007-02-16 08:57:03 · answer #7 · answered by arewethereyet 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Christianity did not require a virgin....God did....... get over it.
2007-02-16 08:58:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Nothing. Nothing at all.
2007-02-16 09:00:39 · answer #9 · answered by Sick Puppy 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋