[HarleyD]

The virginity of Mary was indeed important and I do not hold a gnostic view. Christ had to be born of a virgin in order to be separated from the sin of Adam. However, Catholics believe (wrongly IMO) that Mary's womb had to be immaculate so that Christ could be unstained from sin. So God did something "special" for her to allow this.

Why I believe this is the wrong view is simply because I believe our sin is not passed through the mother but through the father. All wombs are holy and pure but sinful regeneration occurs through the man. This was one of the purposes of circumcision-to remind man that every time he procreates, he is creating a sinner. Thus there is no need to manufacture an immaculate conception.

Christ's virgin birth was necessary because He could not be a son of Adam, stained and tarnished by the sins of the world. It was through Adam that the world was condemned. Not Eve.

Unfortunately I am unable to prove my hypothesis. While I have plenty of females who may or may not wish to be test cases, I have no way to create a virgin birth.

[adiaireton8]

I think you missed my point. My point (and this thread) has to do with Mary remaining a virgin *during* the birth of Christ. Please re-read my post.

-A8

[Biggirl]

Did not both Adam and Eve have sinned by latter for picking the apple from the tree and the former for accepting the apple?

Also remember that they both were punnished by God. Also what it means that sin came into the via Adam is that it means both Adam and Eve. So both human males and females have a fallen nature. That is why both males and females are baptized, it is to remove the original sins in both.