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To: Tax-chick
Perhaps I was unclear. The “silly premise” to which I referred is the contention that it could be “shown” - that is, proved by scientific experiment or incontestible historical data - whether Mary gave birth to children other than Jesus. I’m sure you realize that the references to Jesus’s “brothers and sisters” in the Gospel do not name the parents of those people, and so the only obvious historical source provides no information on the question.

Yet, we do NOT have "uncontested" historical data on that subject, do we? The references we have in Scripture indirectly name the parents of the brothers and sisters of Jesus as Joseph, the carpenter, and Mary, the mother of Jesus. Used in the manner that they were implies that these were Jesus' familial siblings and not cousins or just kinfolk, as some want to insist it does.

I have asked several times now to just assume that it could be proved incontrovertibly that Mary was not a "perpetual virgin" and to explain if and how this knowledge would or should affect the views of her. Are you unable or unwilling to address this question? It was asked seriously and not as any kind of "gotcha". It boils down to whether the honor and respect that Mary is given within Christianity is based on truth or wishful thinking. My respect for her is not at all diminished by her having a normal marriage that produced other children. If it does with others, then they should just admit it and not hem and haw around the question.

126 posted on 09/24/2013 1:47:50 PM PDT by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)
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To: boatbums
The references we have in Scripture indirectly name

Another way to say "indirectly name" is "do not name." Scripture (2 Kings) names David as the father of Hezekiah, directly, and yet, David was not Hezekiah's immediate male progenitor at all, but an ancestor many generations preceding.

This is to say, we're back to really not having the information, if we read Scripture.

127 posted on 09/24/2013 1:51:14 PM PDT by Tax-chick (Prioritize!)
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To: boatbums

I never should have taken that logic class: it made me impossible.

Nonetheless, having a lot of Charlie Brown in me, I’ll say that reverence for Mary is unique in that it is always related to who her Son is, while respect for my mother, for example, is because of who she is as an individual. OldTax-lady stands on her own, regardless of her children, while Mary always stands in relationship to Jesus.


128 posted on 09/24/2013 1:55:36 PM PDT by Tax-chick (Prioritize!)
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