US TV set for 'Jesus wife' storm

BBC ^ | 10/31/03

[nypokerface]

A leading US TV news reporter has said her network is taking a risk with a news special which asks whether Jesus Christ had a wife.

ABC's Elizabeth Vargas said Jesus, Mary and Da Vinci, to be shown in the US on Monday night, was being made "as respectfully as we can".

But she admitted: "You can't talk about this subject without intriguing people or offending people."

The programme is partly based on the best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code.

The book alleges Mary Magdalene - a biblical figure widely thought to have been a prostitute - was actually Jesus's wife.

The book also asserts Magdalene fled Jerusalem with Jesus' child after his crucifixion.

This story was supposed to have been kept alive by a secret society that included the medieval painter and inventor Leonardo Da Vinci.

Da Vinci left clues about the story in his art, the novel alleged.

ABC have already screened the special, which talks to some theologians to try and unravel the theory, for some journalists and religious leaders.

'Crackpot theory'

It has already drawn criticism from a representative of the Catholic League, Joseph Feo, who said the news special had relied too much on the opinions of Father Richard McBrien of Notre Dame.

Father McBrien is said to believe the historical importance of Mary Magdalene had been under-rated.

Mr De Feo said: "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."

Vargas said ABC had not found any proof as to whether Jesus had a wife, but could not completely discount the theory either.

"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.

[GSWarrior]

'The Christs' would seem adequate

Yes, that might work. How about 'My Two Dads'?

[Belial]

And where on earth did you get that idea?

Ask and ye shall receive:

"The Scripture says that He, the Lord, came walking in the Temple, with "HIS TRAIN; I do not know who they were, unless his wives and children;" (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 13. page 309)

[SoothingDave]

No, I didn't say that I believe the idea. I just wonder about it.

OK. Then consider my objection to the idea. God requires nothing in order to be complete.

SD

[N. Theknow]

Doubt this shows up in The Apochrypha but it does sound as if it comes directly from The Acrockofcaca.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Vargas said ABC had not found any proof as to whether Jesus had a wife, but could not completely discount the theory either.

ABC is run by child-molesting Nazi KKK communist Satanists.

I haven't found any proof as to whether this is true, but cannot completely discount the theory either.

[Armed Civilian]

Why not explain that Mary the mother of Jesus is not a perpetual virgin. She has children by Joseph that are alive when Jesus is an adult.

[job]

Well said.

[gulfcoastgumbo]

A Christian man gave me the book to read, saying "It's very good could it be true?" And a Jewish woman asked the same thing...they lost the point just because their religion wasn't named. The underlying problem with this book is it attack us all. Stripped down it's about paganism...and if ABC can't see that i would be suprised. I bet the fems loved it, all about the almighty godess!!

[Buggman]

Vargas said ABC had not found any proof as to whether Jesus had a wife, but could not completely discount the theory either.

I have not yet found proof that Vargas rapes small dogs, but I cannot completely discount the theory either.

[Buggman]

LOL Darn, you beat me to it.

[Buggman]

The answer is we don't know if he was or was not married, but who really cares and why?

It actually screws with Christianity's theology a lot. Several times in the NT, the point is made that the Church (by which I do not mean the RCC) is to Christ as a bride is to her husband. If Christ is already married, He would have to be a divorcee or a polygomist, neither of which is consistant with the picture of His perfection, which is in turn necessary in order for Him to be a perfect sacrifice in our place.

[Snowy]

Don't many of the "Royals" throughout Europe and the UK (Old monarchys) believe they are decendants of Christ (Royal blood, holy lineage)? Preserved and protected by the Knights Templar or some other secret group? Seems I've heard that one surface more than once....

Read, "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown. The author did a lot of research in the matter and it's an excellent book.

[Sloth]

Excellent observation. Christ HAS a bride.

[Sloth]

You know, I bet this investigation is based on methodical, hard-core scholarly examination almost as much as this picture of Jesus, generated from a combination of wild guesses and the skull of some random guy:

[eleni121]

Monophysitism, Monothelitism, Nestorianism, Apollinarianism, and on and on. So many heresies and here is the latest assault on Christianity that seems to smack of the ABC Arianism - the heresy that claimed that Jesus Christ was more fully human and less divine or divinely inspired. Fatih it seems is a human quality that needs constant attack by those who believe they have the "answers" to the infinity and those answers do not include divinity.

Kazantzakis' novel - "The Last Temptation of Christ" was made into a film (Scorcese) that approaches this type of thinking about Christ's nature although the film does redeem itself somewhat at the very end. BTW-The Greek Orthodox Chruch anathemetized Kazantzakis for writing his book.

[Eaker]

The programme is partly based on the best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code.

Ping

[proud American in Canada]

"Why would the fact that Jesus was possibly married upset anyone, besides Catholic Priests of course? "

Okay, I don't want to make light of a serious topic... but let me make light of a serious topic. Let's say definitive proof comes out that Jesus was married. Can you imagine the reaction of the priests who spent their lives bypasing opportunities to make love, to adhere to their vows of celibacy?

"crestfallen" wouldn't even begin to describe it. :( ;)

[proud American in Canada]

"notwithatenfootpole bump"

LOL! Very true.

[proud American in Canada]

"Saturdays, at 9pm, it's Meet The Christs!"

LOL!

[proud American in Canada]

"Look for a hilarious episode hinging on a misunderstanding of the word "stoned"."

LOL! Please ping me so I can set my vcr. ;)