Oh, which verses have been posted here that discuss other children of the Blessed Mother?
Second, even if I were to say, “Ok, the only child born of Mary was Jesus”, what does that have to do with any of us at all. I’m really missing something here.
Great question. I have NO CLUE why some post-Reformation Protestants have decided it's important to say that the Blessed Virgin Mary had other children.
Keep in mind that EVERY major Reformer publicly stated that the Blessed Mother remained a virgin. It was much later that Protestants decided that this was a Catholic-only belief.
” have NO CLUE why some post-Reformation Protestants have decided it’s important to say that the Blessed Virgin Mary had other children.”
It is what the text states. It’s not a particularly important point.
And it’s not a new Protestant position. Tertullian (the “Father of the Latin Church” took the same position) (virgin before, not after).
“Keep in mind that EVERY major Reformer publicly stated that the Blessed Mother remained a virgin.”
Who cares? Martin Luther was also a nasty bigot.
A very basic belief of Protestantism is that men are fallable, and only God is reliable. That these mere men agreed with the point, and yet are also very much fallable men, is proof of concept.
One reason I have for believing and teaching that the Blessed Virgin Mary was a virgin before, during and after the birth of Our Lord is to show that God is awesome and wholly good. His works know no bounds. As Mary said, "All generations shall call me blessed. Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is his name." Mary wasn't ordinary because God did extraordinary things to her.
“Oh, which verses have been posted here that discuss other children of the Blessed Mother?”
Post 27
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2377539/posts?page=27#27
>>Oh, which verses have been posted here that discuss other children of the Blessed Mother?<<
Post 27 is a good start.
>>I have NO CLUE why some post-Reformation Protestants have decided it’s important to say that the Blessed Virgin Mary had other children.<<
I think a lot of them are saying there is enough evidence to show it was possible. Take my position, for example. Based on what I am reading, especially when looking at strongs G80, it is very reasonable to assume Jesus had brothers. It is also possible he did not.
It is like when I argue against those who believe in MMGW. It is not that I firmly believe there is NO MMGW. Rather, I am questioning their strong conviction that there IS, and based on scant and contradictory evidence.
IOW, I am not arguing MMGW with them. I am arguing their absurdly tenacious grip on an opinion as though it was irrefutable fact while they completely ignore relevant evidence that contradicts their position.
And that is what I am doing on this thread as well. The issue for me is not whether Mary had other children. To slightly reword the above:
It is not that I firmly believe Mary had or did not have kids or sex. Rather, I am questioning their strong conviction that she didn’t, and based on scant and contradictory evidence.
IOW, I am not arguing Mary’s perpetual virginity with them. I am arguing their absurdly tenacious grip on an opinion as though it was irrefutable fact while they completely ignore relevant evidence that contradicts their position.