Where did this idea that Mary was raped by a Roman soldier come from?

Question

I've heard people say it on here several times, and it was an option on a multiple choice question in a test about What kind of Christian are you.

Answer 1

According to some Ancient Non-Christian Sources the idea that Jesus was an illegitimate chiled of a Roman soldier out of Mary -

The Church Father Origen wrote an apologetic work refuting the claims of Celsus, a late second-century eclectic Greek philosopher and polemic writer against Christianity. Preserved in Origen's work is the claim of Celsus that Jesus was an illegitimate child of a certain Roman soldier named Panthera from Mary, who had been turned out by her husband because she was convicted of unfaithfulness.These claims are related to the references in the Talmud to the figure of Ben-Pandera. According to the early third century Acts of Pilate, a Christian apocryphal work, the elders of the Jews stated to Pilate during the trial of Jesus that he had been conceived through fornication.-

Answer 2

Wow, never heard that one before, but there is a certain logic to it. Certainly more logical than immaculate conception. The Romans were not known for compassionate treatment of those whose lands they occupied, and culturally speaking neither admitting a rape nor accusing a Roman soldier were viable options back then. So I can see where someone would postulate something like this. I think Christians would find it very upsetting, and it is no more likely to be correct than any other theory. Absent any evidence, I think that more suffering than enlightenment comes from advancing such a theory; we should be cautious and kind with it unless and until there is evidence to support it.

Answer 3

Another black propaganda against the Catholic Church. Mary came from a priestly class just like her cousin Elizabeth. Her mother was Anna and her father was a priest. You will find all this in the Protoevangelium of James. Although it is a non-canonical gospel it does not mean that the stories there about Mary are not true. The gospel just did not meet all the requirements of canonicity.

Here is an excerpt from an article about this gospel.

An important historical document which supports the teaching of Mary’s perpetual virginity is the Protoevangelium of James, which was written probably less than sixty years after the conclusion of Mary’s earthly life (around A.D. 120), when memories of her life were still vivid in the minds of many.

According to the world-renowned patristics scholar, Johannes Quasten: "The principal aim of the whole writing [Protoevangelium of James] is to prove the perpetual and inviolate virginity of Mary before, in, and after the birth of Christ" (Patrology, 1:120–1).
Peace and blessings!

Answer 4

I may have revived a long dead rumor with a series of questions I asked about three weeks ago. The first question was sincere, and I reall wanted an answer. But, some of the answers were so lame, I couldn't help but develop the theme. What a waste of time and points.


http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ajw.NtxG4gqpotz4nItU2aHty6IX?qid=20070429031148AApy6ot

It was never my intention to upset, or slander anyone, or their beliefs. I was trying to illustrate how people are so out of touch with history, reality, even their own minds.

Answer 5

This is a new one to me.

I've always believed that Mary had an affair, and became pregnant. And during those times, adultery was illegal, and punishable by death (only for the female part of the population, though), and the myth of a virgin birth and a Messiah was spreading in Jerusalem, and, in order to escape death, Mary claimed an immaculate conception.

Sounds reasonable to me. People will say all kinds of crazy stuff to escape death.

Answer 6

first time i heard that one i stopped reading after luigi mario


super mario n e one ?

http://www.therockalltimes.co.uk/2002/12/30/virgin-mary.html

An obscure Belgian academic, eager for his two euros worth of fame, has put forward the theory that Mary was not a virgin when she conceived Jesus, but instead had been raped by centurion Luigi Mario from Rome — then serving with the Red Brigades in the Holy Land.

Answer 7

I had heard this before.
I always figured it was a Jewish fabrication, sort of like the tale that Jesus' body had been stolen by His disciples.
They were out to prove that Jesus could not have been the Messiah, much less Divine.
I wonder why they didn't just open the tomb to prove that Jesus was still in there?
OH, yeah...He wasn't.
Hmmm...I wonder what our own politicians would have done?

Answer 8

Well rationally we all know she had sex with someone,other than the brainwashed minions of the church of course. I suppose it's as good a theory as any,although considering how well people of that time watched over their property/women it's much more likely that Joseph was the father. But of course they couldn't admit that since pre-marital sex on her part could have gotten her killed.

AD

Answer 9

Her soul magnifies the Lord (Luke 1:46-55)!





Hail, Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.

Answer 10

Or she had premarital sex, which at that time was punishable. So what did she do? She claimed she was a virgin and since virgins can't have babies, it MUST be the son of god.

She just liked to sleep around.