ABC Special Explores if Jesus Had Wife

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 10.30.03 | DAVID BAUDER

[mhking]

NEW YORK — ABC News correspondent Elizabeth Vargas concedes her network is stepping into a theological minefield with its one-hour exploration of whether Jesus Christ had a wife.

The ABC News special, "Jesus, Mary and DaVinci," is scheduled to air Monday at 8 p.m. ET.

"You can't talk about this subject without intriguing people or offending people," Vargas said Thursday. "We're trying to do it as respectfully as we can."

ABC screened the special for some reporters and religious leaders on Thursday. The program is based on the best-selling novel, "The DaVinci Code," which claims to be partly grounded on historical fact.

The book asserts that Mary Magdalene was Jesus' wife — not a prostitute, as in some teachings — and that she fled Jerusalem with his child following his crucifixion.

The story was kept alive for centuries by a secret society that included the painter Leonardo DaVinci, who supposedly inserted clues about it in his art, the book claimed.

The ABC special outlines the theories and speaks to several theologians who either discount the story or assert that it is possible.

The show unravels like a mystery perpetuated by secondhand gossip. Vargas said ABC found no proof that Jesus had a wife, but couldn't completely discount it, either.

Vargas, who was raised a Roman Catholic, said her own parents said to her, "Oh, my goodness, what are you doing?" when they found out she was working on the story.

She said she was never aware of the power struggles and political intrigue that went into how her faith is taught today.

"For me, it's made religion more real and, ironically, much more interesting — which is what we're hoping to do for our viewers," she said.

It drew some immediate criticism, particularly from a representative of the Catholic League, who said ABC News relied too heavily on the opinion of Father Richard McBrien of Notre Dame, who believes Mary Magdalene's importance has been historically understated and that it's possible she was his wife.

"I think it was not sufficiently balanced," said Joseph DeFeo, policy analyst for the Catholic League. "The majority of the people who spoke believed in either the plausibility or the outright truth of (book author) Dan Brown's claims. The facts themselves scream out that this is a crackpot theory."

The show even drew criticism from Nikki Stephanopoulos, mother of ABC News correspondent George and the communications director for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. She the special might offend people who believe that women have a more prominent role in the church.

[exile]

I don't know if he'd be able to be a loving god with some broad constantly nagging him to take out the trash.

[TradicalRC]

Father McBrien also made a list of the "Best Popes". No surprise to me that #1 was John XXIII. All the liberals love that guy.

[nmh]

"notice how what GOD SAID or what ChRIST SAID doesn't matter............"

You got it! It's ALL about what fallible man has to say.

[bert]

....she was supposedly the grail, holding Christ's blood (descendents).......

All most. The Grail was a vessel holding the blood of Christ. As a cup it is a metaphor for the child of Jesus who holds the blood of his father.

MM his wife, fled with their child to France. The Priory of Scion is the keeper of the secret and the descendents.

The ABC piece is bound to be based on HBHG, the Messianiac Conspiriacy and other derivative works.

[NeoCaveman]

According to author Dan Brown, DaVinci's, The Last Supper, portrays Jesus with ELEVEN men.... and Mary Magdalene, seated to his immediate right.

The "woman" in the portrait is DaVinci himself, not the most manly of men was he.

[eastsider]

Askel!!! Great to hear from you.

Yes, Holy Blood, Holy Grail was about Jesus' bloodline. According to the book, the wedding at Cana was really Jesus' wedding to Mary Magdalene. After the crucifixion, Mrs. Jesus moved to southern France, and her children by Jesus eventually became the Merovingian kings. I don't recall whether the book claimed that Jesus survived the crucifixion and moved with his family to France or not.

The meaning of the title of the book had to do with the "sang real" (the real blood) as opposed to "san grael" (the holy grail); that is, that the search for the holy grail (the chalice Jesus used at the last supper that contained his blood) was really the search for the Jesus' bloodline.

Or something like that, anyway. It's been a while : )

[Bobby777]

yep, essentially a political identification and not a spiritual thing ... isn't he involved in the "Jesus Seminar"?

[bert]

But the REAL implication behind the show is that the gospels are wrong.....

Well not quite.

The thought being conveyed is that the Gospels are more like the New York Times reporting of the news from Iraq. They report some truth but they fail to report and actually supress much of what is happening.

[TradicalRC]

"she was never aware of the power struggles or political intrigue that went into how her faith is taught today"

Okay.

The DaVinci Code is a work of fiction, not a scholarly expose.

Some people are more intrigued by a lie rather than the Truth.

[meowmeow]

Tell truth about Jesus = Be labeled racist, fruitcake, Bible-thumper, closed minded, un-inclusive, intolerant and be condemned.
Tell lies about Jesus = Be labeled intellectual, open minded, progressive and get big ratings.

[Xenalyte]

What if Jesus DID have a wife? That doesn't negate the value of his teachings.

[F16Fighter]

"Nah, maybe WW IV--we're fighting WW III right now. Its just hardly anybody calls it that...yet.

Then again, you may be right. We might still be fighting WW III."

Ain't EVER going to be that railroad car or USS Missouri that Muslim Mullahs, Clerics, and Ayatollahs will be signing "Terms of Surrender."

This isn't merely WW III, it's the last war.

[Spok]

For me, anything put out by ABC News is to be avoided. Trying to parse the seeds of truth from mountains of lies is just too darn tedious.

[F16Fighter]

"AND He's a Yankee Fan"

"Uh, evidently NOT. Hee hee."

As per Babe Ruth's arrangement with the Almighty, when it's the Red Sox vs. the Yanks, God wears a Yankee cap ;-)

[F16Fighter]

"What if Jesus DID have a wife? That doesn't negate the value of his teachings."

Naaah -- it only obliterates and invalidates the entire Bible and the premise of Eternal Salvation.

Satan is working overtime -- his time to deceive grows short.

[F16Fighter]

"Its already happened. Unless Mookie Wilson is... (oh nevermind)"

Hey -- If George Burns can "play" God.....

[Xenalyte]

How, exactly, does it invalidate the entire Bible? (I'm not trolling.) If he was married, does that mean I get to go out and kill and steal and covet?

[philosofy123]

I purchased the DaVinci Code last week, and I am having a hell of time reading this thing. It was drummed up to be one of the best books in the past five years by a book reviewer. I cannot follow the story. It is very boring.

[aruanan]

ABC Special Explores if Jesus Had Wife

ABC Special Explores Whether Jesus Had Wife

[mike_9958]

it only obliterates and invalidates the entire Bible and the premise of Eternal Salvation

Oh come on.... geez we are not that shallow. The idea of religion is not bent on the bible's historical "fact". I've been a practicing Catholic my whole life and read and enjoyed both of Dan's Brown's books. I like how he mixes some facts into his books to give the reader the idea that this "could" be true. It adds a spice to the story... leaving you pondering after you read it.

Religion is belief system to me - it is what I believe it is. (It is personal in all cases) I don't think ABC will change my mind - but I do enjoy a good story and look forward to the show. Different perspectives are always thought provoking.