Why is it important for some Christians to believe that Mary had no children after Jesus?
I know not all Christians believe this, but there are many who do and some of them get very angry when others comment on it.
I can understand the whole Jesus being married thing and why most won't consider that possible. But why would Mary having other kids after Jesus was born be a big deal. It doesn't negate the virgin birth.
2007-04-17 03:16:46 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Oh, thanks for answering!
2007-04-17 03:17:30 · update #1
I've always thought Jesus had at least one half-brother but I'm having a "senior moment" and I can't recall his name. (James, maybe?) Whether this is a Biblical fact, I can't say. Because sex and reproduction are deeply related to women's supposedly evil nature and to original sin (see St. Augustine), the church retroactively declared Mary a perpetual virgin at the first Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, before inventing the Trinity at the Council of constantinople in 381 AD. The celibate bishops of those times universally imagined that Christ was pure (of woman's taint) and must therefore also be a perpetual virgin. Of course, anything true believers imagine is not required to be literally or actually true. If people were allowed to believe Mary had children after Jesus, it wouldn't negate the virgin birth scenario, but it would certainly negate Mary's perpetual purity. The patriarchs of Christianity were bigoted misogynists down to the roots of their souls. The only reason Mary is even part of Christianity is because there is no denying that every man must have a mother.
2007-04-17 03:46:23 · answer #1 · answered by Diogenes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If Christians would read their bible, they would know that Mary did have other children. I am a christian and it upsets me so much people who pick and chose to believe instead of taking the entire word of God for what it is. No where does it say that you should believe what you want to be as truth and the rest as a tall tell or a up lifting fictional story. Anyone who says that Jesus was her only child I would simply say that it was her only child CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT! There are 3 passages that shows he had siblings Matthew 12:46-50, Mark 3:31-35, Luke 8:19-21.
2007-04-17 03:24:40 · answer #2 · answered by ashwa83 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
St. Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary? The brother of James, Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. It's important for christians to believe the whole bible not part of it. Not to pick and choose which ones they want to believe. We must believe the bible, some things we might not understand but just accept by faith - we believe it and that settles it , can't add or take away from the bible. I agree with you what's the big deal it doesn't negate the virgin birth.
2007-04-17 03:34:46 · answer #3 · answered by Rose 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus had to be unmarried and a Virgin in order for the wacko desert people to buy into the idea that the Crucifixion, which happened to a lot of people, was somehow a ritual sacrifice.
Therefore their little tiny brains reject anything that deviates from the ritual sacrifice scenario, because then they might have to face the possibility that they aren't 'saved' from things that go bump in the night, or some other bullshit.
It's like telling a Pacific Islander that the daughter he just tossed into the volcano might have messed around a little on Prom night.
He's going to get pissed.
2007-04-17 03:34:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't know who believes this, but it is definitely false (if you believe the word of God). The New Testament mentions Jesus' brothers several times. One of Jesus' "stepbrothers" even wrote a book of the Bible (James)!
As for pureness - that has only to do with sin. The Bible is clear that no one is sinless, not even Mary. And marriage, also, is not a sin. Neither is sex (within marriage).
2007-04-17 03:27:36 · answer #5 · answered by TWWK 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Catholic doctrine states that Mary had to be completely sinless her entire life (immaculate conception) so therefore she had to be a virgin.
I believe that God would not have had two people get married and then not consummate that marriage, it makes no sense. Joseph and Mary had other children after Jesus was born.
2007-04-17 03:22:44 · answer #6 · answered by Last Ent Wife (RCIA) 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it doesn't make sense. The Bible is clear about it, Mary married Joseph! Can you imagine Joseph married to Mary... but no sex. Doesn't make sense. Jesus had brothers.
Catholics think Mary stayed a virgin until her death. I don't know why, but the Catholics promote complete abstinence. There is no such thing in the Bible! Sex in marriage is not a sin. Someone who stayed a virgin his/her whole life is not better than someone who was married.
Can someone tell Catholics to read the Bible please...
2007-04-17 03:23:01 · answer #7 · answered by Gui 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The word "virgin" in ancient Hebrew means "young girl". It wasn't until the Council of Nicea (?) that it was decided that Mary was a "virgin" in the modern sense of the word, because the religion was competing with another religion... that had a virgin birth in it.
2007-04-17 03:23:40 · answer #8 · answered by Paul Hxyz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because Christianity is moronic. And what's the big deal with Jesus being married and having kids?
2007-04-17 03:24:55 · answer #9 · answered by Barbara V 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's mostly Catholics who believe this. According to most Catholics, Mary is the pure and holy Queen of Heaven. They view her as virginal and pure.
2007-04-17 03:19:45 · answer #10 · answered by BAnne 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋