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.

[mvonfr]

(I will get flamed for this post, I know)

You may want to take a look at the Gospel of Mary for a better idea about her possible status.

Further, you may want to consider exactly how much respect or following would an unmarried rabbi get.

[AFMobster]

If Jesus was married, would it change anything that he said or did? Would it change why he had to come to earth? Would it change his message? Remember, Jesus himself said that he had to fulfill the law. It is my understanding that the Jews at that time, considered the first law that God gave was to be fruitful and multiply. Personally, I don't think it matters one bit whether Jesus was married or not. Besides, the Bible is NOT a biography of Jesus, but of his ministry from God. So, what does it matter if he had a wife or not. There was a book published in 1949(?) that addressed this very question. I think the title was “Was Jesus Married?”, but I can’t remember the author. I do remember the author saying that if Jesus hadn’t been married, then there would have been serious questioning of his “Jewishness”, and even fewer people would have listened to his message. Also, the life expectancy at that time was what? Late 20’s, early 30’s? The author went on to say that perhaps that is why Jesus didn’t start his teachings until after he was thirty, because maybe his wife had died by then, or worse, had left him by then. Remember when Jesus was questioned about divorce and what he said? Could that question have been because the questioners knew that he had a wife that had left him? What I am saying is, if Jesus was married, would it change our belief in Jesus and God? If it does, then maybe we need to get back to the basics of our belief in God, because we are becoming too much like the Pharisees and Sadducees; concentrating too much on rules, human introduced doctrine, and such and not on the message that Jesus brought us. This “debate” takes away from the message! God loves us and will forgive us, but only by accepting the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. So tell me, where does the question of whether Jesus was married or not even enters into that picture?

Okay, so much for what I've got to say, so I'll just shut up and log off. Besides, I've got to get ready to go to a football game. Take care folks.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

It is only a theory that requires the healing to have occured after the point in time you assume the ministry began.

When her problems began is speculation although rooted in logic. But when she was healed is not speculation but must have been after His ministry began as it is recorded that the beginning of the signs was at Cana.

So she must have been healed after that point.

[Ciexyz]

Is the Catholic League still around?! When I was a kid in the late 50's/early 60's, my friends would always say, when I suggested we go to the movies, "We have to check the Pittsburgh Catholic to see if they say we can go." Meaning, the bishops had to approve it first, or my Catholic friends couldn't go.

[Cicero]

McBrien of ND and Curran of CUA were the two priests who led the revolt at the time Pope Paul VI issued Humanae Vitae. That refusal to accept the encyclical on birth control and abortion was the protest action that began the Catholic liberal dissent movement in the U.S.

McBrien has been quoted as a Catholic "expert" by the NY Times and similar sources more than any other person. He used to be matched by Frances Kissling, but her credibility has faded in recent years. Whenever the liberal press wants an "expert Catholic theologian" to give them the quotes they want, they turn to McBrien.

[Oztrich Boy]

Cana is recorded as the first public display, not the first.

[StupidQuestions]

Yes. One of his brothers could well have been the bridegroom. That wedding does appear to have been in the family. Jesus' mother traveled some distance to get there and the Bible says Jesus' disciples were there as well. Generally, when you are invited to a wedding you don't bring all your friends --- unless the wedding is in the family.

[Ciexyz]

What is so offensive about the claim that a 40ish 1st Century Jewish man was married?

Jesus never made it to age 40.

Tradition states that he was crucified at age 33 for our sins, died and rose again.

[Oztrich Boy]

ignore previous post by me

[Ciexyz]

3:35 a.m. LOL

A good time slot to air the Reagan miniseries, if CBS insists on airing that hatchet job at all.

[Former]

I find the whole thing to be typical of the media.. so unsurprising. Man's foolishness to look for folly, instead of the value. I agree that the fact what only really matters is, do you believe? Did "God come and dwell among us?" I watch man suffer all of the time, mostly by his own doing, myself included.
God saves us all..
if we would only listen, instead of asserting our own will.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Cana is recorded as the first public display, not the first.

Incorrect. The record, which is what we are going on, says it was indeed the first.

This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. John 2:11

If it was the beginning of signs then it was the first sign.

[mhking]

According to my Satellite guide (and my system), the special is scheduled at 8P ET on both my ABC channels (WSB/Atlanta; WABC/New York), and after MNF on the west coast (I've got KABC/Los Angeles).

Sharon won't get pre-empted (at least not 'cause of this; now with any luck, MNF will run into overtime....)...

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Oh sorry. I just read your reply not the whole thread.

[mhking]

The AP story is wrong on the time - it's scheduled (according to my satellite system which is current as of this morning) for Monday night at 8P ET, just before MNF. It'll run after MNF on the west coast.

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[Theo]

"Was Murderin' Mo a child molester"? Film at 8.... < /sarcasm >

[Oztrich Boy]

Tradition states that he was crucified at age 33 for our sins, died and rose again.

Unfortunalely tradition has serious problems

Jeus born in time of Herod the Great (d.4BCE)
John the Baptist began his ministry in 28CE
Jesus began his ministry sometime after that
Jesus's ministry lasted 3 years

Do the math.

[Captain Peter Blood]

I don't agree that Christianity is taking a hit from this at all. How do we know that Jesus was not married? We don't. The Jewish faith revers to Jesus as a Prophet, not the son of God. In Dan Brown's book, "The Da Vinchi Code", he mentions a number of books on this subject and the history of the Gospels. Now although the story in his book may be somewhat fictional a lot of what he writes is based on a research. The History Channel just had a piece on who wrote the bible and confirms a lot of what Brown wrote in his book. There is a great deal we do not know about Jesus and his life. I for one don't find it impossible that Jesus may have been married and that it was Mary Magdalene.
Remember the Vatican has a lot of information in it's archieves and libraries that they have never released to the world.

[secret garden]

Does McBrein harbor a secret wish to be Episcopalian? He'd fit right in with the delegates at this year's general convention.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

John the Baptist began his ministry in 28CE

Where did you get that date from?

Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, Luke 3:23

Three years of ministry makes Him about 33 at the time of the crucifixion.