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.

[Paulus Invictus]

If that's your belief, then that's fine! I'm not arguing, simply commenting upon the subject.

[itsahoot]

"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.

Sure doesn't do much for Christianity, which is the real purpose I guess.

[itsahoot]

The answer adopted by the Church is the Trinity. It is important to note that it is an logical extrapolation and not expressly described anywhere in the Bible.

Uh, maybe it is... check here One God or three?

[itsahoot]

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

Maybe you should just spend more time with the Bible, it is an excellent book.

[GWfan]

Jesus is married....to the church. The Bible is full of passages that depict Christ as the bridegroom and the church as his bride.

[paulklenk]

Hardly. The Trinity is a fundamental doctrine of Christianity, but is never mentioned in the Bible.

You're party right, partly wrong.

Although the word 'trinity' is not found in the bible, neither an overt discussion about the concept, the existence of the trinity is still fully supported in both the Old and New Testaments.

If you're truly interested in what the Bible has to say, and don't mind doing a little reading as homework, I can recommend the following article by Arnold Fruchtenbaum, and Jewish man who recognizes Jesus as the Messiah. He's laid out the proofs of the trinity as well as anyone I know:

The Trinity, Part One by Arnold Fruchtenbaum

The Trinity, Part Two by Arnold Fruchtenbaum

Besides this article, there are tons of discussions and studies outling why we believe in the three persons of the trinity who are the one true God. Continue to do research and you will find a lot of good reading.

Of course, if you're not interested in what the Bible has to say, but merely want to spout your unfounded, unresearched opinions as fact, you can do that, too.

[Jim Cane]

I own both, as well as some other books by Knight & Lomas, 'The Hiram Key', and 'Uriel's Machine'.

Well, it looks like we've built the same library.

[Jim Cane]

You know, depciting Jesus as a middle easterner makes a lot more sense than...

This:

[nightdriver]

"So depending on which fairy tale you believe, he's either married (coptic editors), or silent on the matter (roman editors)."

So is there also a claim that He left progeny? If so, then all the prophesies in the Old Testament concerning Him are wrong too and, like you say, the entire story is just a fairy tale and we have nothing to argue about.

[Paulus Invictus]

He didn't say that Jesus was married, merely speculated about his "train." I repeat: There is no doctrine in the Church regarding Jesus being married and whatever Brighm might have speculated (if he did), it didn't make it into a doctrinal statement ever.

[dyed_in_the_wool]

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.

B-b-b-b-butttt, th-th-th-th-that's n-n-n-n-not what the P-p-p-p-pope said!

[GrandEagle]

The Acrockofcaca.
LOL (if it wasn't so sad....)

[PFKEY]

God knows what is in your heart, and you will be accountable for it to Him. Best of luck.

Holds true for everyone of us. I don't think luck plays any role unless you believe in the concept of election of one individual over another. If that is the case the best of luck you.

Otherwise, I'd repeat what the Bible states in Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

[PFKEY]

Christianity contains an enormous amount of doctrine and theology that isn't in the Bible.

False religions claiming to be Christian have enormous amounts of doctrine and theology that isn't in the Bible.

[PFKEY]

She has children by Joseph that are alive when Jesus is an adult.

Very true, although there are some religions who would disagree or misinterpret what the Bible says.

[Ogmios]

Thank goodness some one has a sense of humor around here.

Thank you!!!

[go_tigers]

bump

[maestro]

........Grrrr. (smile)

:-)

(back at ya.)

:-)

[Conservative til I die]

Yawn, why do the networks give credence to these widely dispeled myths? I'm not trying to stick my head in the sand and say this just can't be true because I just can't believe it, but seriously, what do the networks go on when they put out these specials? What some liberal professor says? What some long extinct sect posited in the first century?

[Conservative til I die]

It makes a difference because it's a lie. You do realize that there were hundreds of "gospels" that sprung up in the 1st and 2nd century, don't you? Saying everything and anything about Jesus and the Apostles. Obviously not all of them could be true, since they all contradicted each other. THe Catholic Church settled the matter on the accuracy and trufthulness of the New Testament 1700 years ago, and I see no reason why all of a sudden these other gospels become true just because "Hey, I don't see what difference it makes."