why is the virgin birth metaphor so commonly misunderstood?

Question

Because the story is metaphorical. The virgin birth is a commonly-used metaphor to represent the awakening of consciousness (enlightenment experience) where one experiences oneself as not identified with the physical body, brain, and personality (hence, the symbolism of a new realization or new birth that is not of the body). It has NOTHING to do with Mary, mothers, or actual birth. It was used to describe Jesus' and Buddha's enlightenment; literalists then came along and destroyed the metaphor.

Answer 1

That's one I've never heard...hmmm.

Answer 2

Ha ha ha LOL ... This person said..

34Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee,

I am sorry but I couldnt help but be amused at the phrasing of this.. the holy ghost came upon her? SO I guess it wasnt a virgin birth after all since god "came" upon mary LMAO. \

I know it has nothing to do with the actual question but it cracked me right up to read that... lol Kinda reminds me of all the other mythology where the gods slept with mortals and knocked them up..lol

PS I just thought of something else... if the holy ghost knocked mary up while she was married to Jesus then isnt that adultery? I mean in every way that counts it could be considered that mary was unfaithful to her husband with god.. I mean she did give birth to another beings child and not that of her husband, if it is to be taken literally as so many Christians point out. Now if it was metaphorically speaking then I can see it would make more sense.

Answer 3

Who EVER said it was a metaphore? You?

Why would the 1st century Christians have sacrificed EVERYTHING, including their lives and properties, for a metophore?

Since most of the people in the Bible stories were still alive at the time the Bible was written, why are there NO (as in zero) documents refuting the veracity of the New Testament?
Mary was alive.
Peter was alive.
Mary Magdalia was alive.
All of the apostiles were alive, until Stephen was stoned and James, the brother of Jesus, was beheaded with the sword of Herod.
Why would they write lies?
Why would they die for lies?
Why would you believe that lies are metaphores?

Answer 4

I can't speak for Buddhism, but it is not a metaphor in the Christian belief system. It is necessary for scripture and prophecy to be fulfilled. With no human father, Jesus' identity as the only son of God cannot be challenged.

Answer 5

Yeah, yeah. I saw this as an answer to a question about Mary and just knew you were very impressed with yourself! Couldn't resist posting it separtely, huh? Proves I was right.
Here's something to consider, you are fulfilling prophesy in a couple of ways:
1. You are wise in your own conceit; which will get you nowhere with God.
2. God takes the foolishness of the world to confound the wise. You sound really confounded to me.
3. In the last days men will be ever learning and never come to a knowledge of truth.
Chew on that a while Godzilla!

Answer 6

Sorry; the virgin birth literally happened as a result of the Spirit of God and was not a metaphor. Nice try a*****e.

Answer 7

here comes the ignorant christians to usher in a wave of "read the bible, your wrong" crap. Actually what you said makes a lot of sense because the bible really wasn't made to be proven truth just stories and metaphors to live life by.

Answer 8

If that were the case then Jesus wouldn't be The Seed of the woman.

Answer 9

Interesting theory, Have you let Isaiah in on it? Clearly Christ believed God and the prophet Isaiah as he fufilled these prophesies in this physical realm. Firstly, Jesus himself interprets this passage as referring to him. Jesus said: "For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was reckoned with transgressors’; for what is written about me has its fulfilment" (Luke 22:37, RSV). The quoted verse is Isaiah 53:12.
Jesus agreed with the prohesies of Isaiah 53 which predates him and we have written record of it from 250 BC..Jesus was in agreement with the prophets before him and did fufill the prohesies of Isaiah which foretold of him as Savior who would atone for sin with his life.
Isaiah 800 years before Christ made prophesies of the coming Messiah that he would be a Savior and atone for the sins of his people with his blood. Christ did teach from Isaiah and referenced Isaiah 53 as the prophesy he must fufill.
funny how God and Isaiah and Christ himself did not know of this metaphor.

Answer 10

Your saying, in essence, that the Bible is a book of fairy tales? I think you're very mistaken. The virgin birth is not a metaphor.

Luke 1:26-38 says, " 26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

34Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

36And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

37For with God nothing shall be impossible.

38And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her."

These verses are NOT saying that Mary was impregnated by the Holy Spirit or by God. God caused baby Jesus to grow inside of her. The angel was telling Mary what was going to happen.

I believe that the Bible is 100% accurate, with no errors. You need to read this passage that I posted for you to read and really think and pray about what it is saying. May God Bless you.

Answer 11

Oh, so the birth is a metaphor? Is the death too? Maybe all of the NT is? So them that would mean it was a FICTIONAL STORY>>>>