Mary is not a virgin by the Bible accounts

[Gawdzilla Sama]

In other related news, the raging controversy regarding the vital determination as to whether a unicorn's horn spirals clockwise or counter-clockwise has taken a major step forward with the discovery on an actual virgin reported to live deep in the Matto Grasso.

[Crossless2.0]

I'm at a point where arguing about Mary's alleged virginity (or whether Jesus "really" rose from the dead and ascended into the sky, etc., etc. ad nauseam) is as good a use of my time as arguing with a five-year-old whether there's really a monster under her bed. Full grown assholes who seriously entertain such nonsense deserve scorn, not serious debate.

[KevinM1]

The virgin birth doesn't bug me as much as the idea of immaculate conception.  I mean, okay, Jesus is the tragic hero of the story, so a origin story based on fate/divinity mixed with humble origins makes a ton of sense narratively, especially since the story is trying to create and market a religion.  And, we still enjoy those kinds of stories today (see: Star Wars as an obvious example).  Plus, it's not like Christianity is the origin of such story hooks.

The immaculate conception, however, bugs the shit out of me.  According to Catholics, god simply hand waves away Mary's original sin when she's conceived because she's fated to give birth to Jesus (god picks 'em when they're real young, apparently).  If he can do that for her, why not everyone else?  Why create a son destined for torture and death?  Why not simply be more efficient and cut out the middle steps?  It's pretty obvious that he can if he wants to.

And I know Christians will give the same song and dance about free will, god wanting people to come to him willingly, testing our character and rewarding us with heaven, and that it's a Catholic thing, not entirely endorsed by other sects, blah blah blah.  But it's just so dumb, and once again calls into question this purported perfect being's plan.  Plus, for Catholics, at least, it's proof that Jesus' sacrifice was completely unnecessary when it comes to absolution/atonement of one's inherent sinful taint.  Daddy can simply wipe the slate clean whenever he feels like it.

It baffles me that people just let this shit go, turn off their brains, and simply defer to authority in funny hats.

[Minimalist]

I figured she was supposed to be a virgin until Jesus' birth? Then her and Joseph could go at it all they want.

For most protestants yes, however older branches like Catholics, Coptics and Eastern Orthodox; most of them believe in the "perpetual virginity of Mary". This is mostly because, Catholics moreso than the others, consider marriage to be a sacrament and mostly indissoluble.

But only since the 12th century.  Including marriage as a sacrament seems to have been a reaction to the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars.

[Homeless Nutter]

Mary was indeed a perpetual virgin. Jesus was a butt-baby...

[vorlon13]

Jesus siblings would have had half a dose of original sin, right ?

Joseph would have contributed his 50% share, but Mary's subsequent offspring since Jesus would not have had her contribution to their original sin quota.

Wonder how this was accounted for upon their demise ???

[Crossless2.0]

Jesus siblings would have had half a dose of original sin, right ?

Joseph would have contributed his 50% share, but Mary's subsequent offspring since Jesus would not have had her contribution to their original sin quota.

Wonder how this was accounted for upon their demise ???

They were only responsible for believing half the shit people claimed about their brother.

[LastPoet]

I figured she was supposed to be a virgin until Jesus' birth? Then her and Joseph could go at it all they want.

In those times, a maiden getting pregnant was like death so... if the story is real, can't blame her for the excuse. "OMG, GOD MADE ME PREGNANT!!!"

Awesome Mary.

[Minimalist]

[LastPoet]

The pillow talk would be awesome to hear.