Who is going to have sex with another person's wife? Not a normal person.
So Mary is the singular wife of God? Unbelievable. But if Mary was the wife of God, then she and Joseph both broke with God's will when they married. How could Mary serve two masters if she had two husbands? It makes no sense to me that Mary and Joseph would have married if she already had a husband. And given this view of Mrs. God, perhaps you may understand why we Protestants are sometimes suspicious of whether or not Catholics actually worship Mrs. God. :)
SEX is not the only reason people get married.
I know that, but it is a holy and intimate part of it. God approves of sex within marriage. It seems to me that Joseph was being more than a good sport about all this. :) I don't understand why he is denied.
An older Joseph could provide protection to Mary's virginity.
Well, so could the Temple if that's where she came from! Why couldn't Jesus have grown up in the Temple, just like His mother did? I'm sure a few regulations could have been overlooked, seeing as how this was God's child and all.
If you would have read the Infant Gospel of James, as was posted earlier by our Orthodox friends, this explanation would have become more clear.
I did read it, way way back, when Kolo first showed it to me. So sure, what you are saying is consistent with that, but THAT'S WHERE YOU GOT IT. :) My problem is that it does not appear to match scripture.
Who ever said that?
It seems to me that Joseph was being more than a good sport about all this. :) I don't understand why he is denied.
MAYBE they didn't have Viagra back then... Sex isn't one of those "things to do" when you are 70 years old, especially if the GIRL took a vow of virginity.
Well, so could the Temple if that's where she came from! Why couldn't Jesus have grown up in the Temple, just like His mother did?
You are trying to rationalize the faith, again. Why did Christ become a man? Why did Christ die on a cross? Why is there air??? Who knows the mind of God. One can ascertain many reasons for Jesus growing up in the situation that He did, rather than being raised within the Temple.
My problem is that it does not appear to match scripture.
Does the Bible say that Joseph and Mary had sex? Don't you find Mary's reply to the angel strange? Why wouldn't it be like Hannah, if Mary was just an ordinary, betrothed woman about to enter into a sexual relationship?
Regards