[freebush]

Thank you all for the interesting threads. Can I say though that I am either not intelligent enough to see how this is fundamental to Christ and His ministry on earth, or intelligent enough to know that Christians should discuss these issues but they should never separate us. I mean, does my salvation depend upon how I view Mary, or does it depend upon how I view Jesus? Again thank you all.

[Claud]

If Mary did not have original sin there would have been no need for a virgin birth since it would mean original sin must be picked up some other way besides birth. Consequently, our Lord Jesus could have just been born the normal fashion and not have original sin. No need for the virgin birth.

There still would have been a need for a human birth, because if Christ was conceived naturally by Mary and Joseph, he would not have been divine. He would have been a natural human, nothing more.

Christ's conception was the moment when the hypostatic union came into being--a single person with two natures, human and divine. Mary provided the human nature, the Holy Spirit provided the divine nature.

Which, I think actually argues for the immaculate conception of Mary. Or else you're in the uncomfortable position of thinking that the Holy Spirit merged his divine nature with a human nature tainted with original sin. It's hard enough to fathom God condescending to take on flesh--but sinful flesh?