Alot of people(even ministers) say Jesus had brothers....?

Question

if so, why do catholics pray to the Virgin Mary who obviously isn't a virgin?

Then why not call her Emaculate Mary, not the Virgin Mary

Answer 1

Here is the definitive list of family members, relatives of Jesus. And yes, the New Testament even has the names and implied relationships:

+++Immediate family of Jesus+++

Joseph- His Divine Highness, (Ha Rama Theo also known as Arimthea)

Mary, Mother of Jesus

Jesus (eldest and first born, also referenced by the anagram Lazarus in John)

Mary Magdalene- wife of Jesus

Martha (Salome)

James (the Just)- first Pope murdered by Paul of Tarsus -founder of christianity who was arrested, tried and executed in Rome 65CE

Joses (Joseph)

Jude (Judas also known as Thomas the twin)

Mary (Miriam)

+++Cousins+++
Cleopas, younger brother to Joseph the Ha-Rama-Theo.

Simeon Cleopas
Mary Cleopas

For more information see:
http://one-faith-of-god.org/new_testament/apocrypha/jesus_family/jesus_family_0020.htm

+++Disputed history+++

I doubt you will ever get a straight answer to your question from those who continue support the religion of Paul of Tarsus.
See:
http://one-faith-of-god.org/new_testament/apocrypha/founders_christianity/founders_christianity_0010.htm

Jesus founded the Nazarenes, also known as the gnostics the arch enemies of the founders of christianity
See:
http://one-faith-of-god.org/new_testament/apocrypha/nazarenes/nazarenes_0010.htm

Answer 2

As I understand it from Catholicism, Mary is thought to be ever virgin. It is taught that she never had intimate relations with her husband, Joseph, and that she remained a virgin to the day she died. It is said she never had other children even though the scriptures clearly teach otherwise. It is taught that Jesus' half brothers and sisters were his cousins or relatives. The scriptures do not teach this, however.

As for calling her immaculate, that would be inaccurate. Mary was a normal human being and was inherently sinful as are all other human beings. The Immaculate Conception, by the way, does not refer to Jesus – it refers to Mary. According to this doctrine, Mary herself, at the time of her conception in her mother's womb, was preserved from the original stain of sin so that she could later on give birth to a perfect son.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 3

Couple things to consider on this question.

First, the Bible teaches that Mary was still a virgin at the time Jesus was conceived. No man was involved in his conception. It is for that event that Mary is referred to as the Virgin Mary. If her condition changed later, that does not affect her virginity at the time of Jesus' conception.

It is like a man who marries on a virgin. On her wedding night, she is a virgin, and can claim that for the rest of here life. That she later gives up that virginity to her husband does affect her right to say she was a virgin on the wedding night

Did Mary remain a virgin after the birth of Jesus? The Bible does not state that she did or didn't. The Bible does mention Jesus having brothers, but it states that the are the children of Joseph. It never states that Mary was their mother. One common tradition is that Joseph was an older widower when he married Mary, and the "brothers and sisters" were his from that first marriage, making them Jesus' step-brothers.. Joseph had no children by Mary. One support for the "older Joseph" tradition is his absense from later Bible records. It appears he died before Jesus reached adulthood.

So, according to the Bible, Mary was a virgin at the time of Jesus' birth, and those worthy to be called such. It is also possible for Jesus to have had "brothers", without Mary having been their mother.

Answer 4

How could someone who showed up 1500 or more years after the fact, relying on only the very obscure details provided in scripture, possibly know anything with greater certainty than those who:

1) Had actually been there with Jesus, Mary, and the apostles, and never, ever, met or saw ANY "blood" brothers or sisters of Jesus.

2) Had actually heard the story of the annunciation, the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, the crucifixion, and the resurrection ... from the Blessed Virgin herself... and yet never even HEARD of the existence of any siblings.

3) Had all of those same details confirmed by St. John, who was entrusted by Christ with Mary's care, specifically because Jesus had NO brothers or sisters, and Mary had NO other children.

4) Witnessed Joseph of Arimathea claim the dead body of Jesus, and place it in his own tomb, completely without the presence, assistance, or even the mention of ANY brothers or sisters of Jesus.

5) Experienced the descent of the Holy Spirit ... the Spirit of Truth ... on Pentecost ... along with the Blessed Virgin Mary ... and so were most certainly charged with faithfully preserving that truth.

6) Faithfully handed down the truth of the matter for the last 2000 years ... a truth that was fully accepted by all of the original protestant reformers, and their followers ... up until relatively recent times.

There is absolutely no definitive evidence to be found in scripture that denies the eternal virginity of Mary, and there is no historical record of any known sibling of Christ, yet we have a huge body of eye witness testimony and tradition, along with appearances by the Blessed Virgin herself, all of which serve to confirm the authentic Marian doctrines of the Catholic Church.

http://mariology.com

Answer 5

Because Catholics, like most Christians, mistakenly believe the bible to be a literal historic text which provides hard and fast rules for living and not the figurative volume of parables intended to be a guide for living that it actually is.

Answer 6

The Catholic Church AND the Orthodox Church believe Mary was ever-virgin. It is not just a Catholic belief.
http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/inquirers/evervirgin.aspx

Answer 7

And his brothers had the same dad as he did,Joseph. I bet they were glad they weren't the one who got indoctrinated into believing that they were the "son of God" After all that turned out to not be such a great deal.

As for anyone who still believes the "virgin birth" story,I can only wonder how someone that deluded functions in the modern world.

AD

Answer 8

It's Immaculate, for one thing.

And the brothers came after Jesus, not before. For cryin' out loud, people think Mary was only 14 or so when she gave birth.

Answer 9

Because the pope told them too, because they didnt want to get rid of their pagen goddess statues. Mary was a virgin when she had Jesus. Then she had other children after that were Joseph's.

Why do you have a masonic symbol by your name if your a Christian?

Answer 10

Mary gave birth to other children after Jesus was born. She conceived them the regular way. Jesus was immaculate conception.