ABC asks (but in the wee hours): Was Jesus married? (Christianity takes another hit.)

AP News ^

[Happy2BMe]

ABC asks (but in the wee hours): Was Jesus married?

The Associated Press

    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 Tuesday, November 3rd, at 3:35 a.m. (The prime time slot on Monday is occupied by Monday Night Football.)
    "You can't talk about this subject without intriguing people or offending people," Vargas said earlier this week. "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 in 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 after 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 speaks to several theologians who either discount the story or assert that it is possible. 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.
    It drew some immediate criticism, particularly from a representative of the Catholic League, who said ABC News relied too heavily on the opinion of the Rev. Richard McBrien of Notre Dame, who believes Mary Magdalene's importance has been historically understated and that it's possible she was his wife.
    "The facts themselves scream out that this is a crackpot theory," said Joseph DeFeo, policy analyst for the Catholic League.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

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

There is nothing in scripture that says that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute.

She did follow Jesus along with several other women of whom we have three called by name, Mary Magdalene, Joanna the wife of Chuza and Susanna.

Jesus did cast seven demons out of her. That would have been after the start of His ministry making it highly unlikely that they were married before then, (would you marry a woman with seven devils in her?) and it is unlikely that they would have been married afterwards as those are the most heavily covered years of his life and it would have been mentioned.

Therefore, using the only records we have the conclusion must be that ABC is to put it kindly, very mistaken.

[Wings-n-Wind]

As for the proponents of the "Rev." McBrien </using terms loosely>

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

[SedVictaCatoni]

public gatherings of Christians, etc. being banned by the polititians and judges

This is puzzling. What instances have there been of "public gatherings of Christians" being banned?

[Happy2BMe]

"This is puzzling. What instances have there been of "public gatherings of Christians" being banned?"

Oh - you didn't hear about that?

Too many to list - check here.

[Happy2BMe]

“Watch out that no one deceives you.

Exactly!

[nosofar]

The ABC special speaks to several theologians who either discount the story or assert that it is possible. Vargas said ABC found no proof that Jesus had a wife, but couldn't completely discount it, either.

Vargas is really an alien mind-eater from the planet Nuttkase. It can't be proven, but it can't be completely discounted either. (sarc)

[harpo11]

Actually, I do not think Jesus had time to get married. He was truly a busy man on a great and everlasting mission. He just had no time for romancing or marrying. I cannot fathom Him wanting to settle down when He had so much to do in so little time on Earth.

Anyway, Mohammed did have time to gather 7 wives while only permitting his followers 4.

But, whatever, ABC, CBS executives think they are such big shots, (that is until they really meet the really Big Guy face to face in another realm), in plotting their devious little hit pieces on Christian traditions and beliefs and a great President, but I still have the zapper (TV monitor) to zap their foolish programs and stupid advertisers and products from my home.

[Oztrich Boy]

making it highly unlikely that they were married before then, (would you marry a woman with seven devils in her?)

And is there any reason why Mary Magedala could not have had seven devils (spiritual explanation)/psychological problems (rational explanation) develop *after* her marriage? There is a least a decade of life of the adult Jesus for which there are no records.

[deannadurbin]

Whoever would bother writing or producing this drivel must spend a lot of time with cocaine.

[Happy2BMe]

"Whoever would bother writing or producing this drivel must spend a lot of time with cocaine."

Agnostics and atheists quite enjoy viewing material degrading Christ to nothing more than a "mere, mortal man."

It supports their positions of "There is no god - therefore I am god." and "If there is no god, I don't have to answer to anyone but me."

[Plumrodimus]

Why is this such an outrage? A Jewish Rabbi is usually married.

[Happy2BMe]

"Why is this (Christ being married) such an outrage?"

Anybody?

[JennysCool]

Jesus was WAYYYYY too smart to get married.

[Lessismore]

Before long there will be claims that Jesus was gay,

Mid 30's, travels a lot, no visible means of support, hangs out with 12 unmarried guys?

Not gay?

[MHT]

Elizabeth Vargas is, and always has been, a true lightweight (she couldn't even read without muffing it). I went so far as to call GMA about her, then never watched again as they lifted her profile and canned other more competent "journalists".

Stephie's ratings on Sunday are sinking faster than the Titanic. ABC and CBS' bad choices finally are coming back to haunt them.

Long live FOX NEWS!

[Paul Atreides]

Because Jesus Christ was above the carnal. Just as God did not impregnate Mary by appearing in human form and bed her down.

[MEG33]

It isn't based on what the Bible says.

[Ff--150]

Why is this such an outrage? A Jewish Rabbi is usually married.

LOL! Got flame suit on! He was a Rabbi, folks...

[MEG33]

I think there's an off Broadway play that characterizes Jesus this way.(Gay)

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

And He let her suffer for 10 years while living with her only to heal her later? Bit of a stretch.

Besides either demons (Bible) or psychological problems (you) don't appear overnight. So if by the time He healed her at age thirty or thirty-one she had seven demons they would have had to show up quite some time before. Now despite what some men claim women do not immediately change on their wedding day so there would have been at least a few years of wedded bliss. So, the question is where are the children? They only claim one.

So they must have been married only a short time which means that they must have been married after the demons were thrown out. So we are back where we started.