How on Earth would the "Fathers Of The Church" know whether or not Mary screamed. Were they there? Did they peer into her 'inviolate womb' to check things out? Did anyone there peer into Marys womb?
What evidence could St. Augustine possibly have had four centuries later that Marys womb was 'inviolate'?
It's precisely this kind of silliness which keeps me away from Churches.
It's not enough that Jesus healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and raised the dead. That just ain't good enough. Oh no, his mother had to have an 'inviolate womb'.
L
Perhaps because they had available the testimony of Mary herself?? Remember, she was entrusted to and lived with St. John for many years until her death.
"What evidence could St. Augustine possibly have had four centuries later that Marys womb was 'inviolate'?"
That same testimony mentioned above, passed down as oral teachings (aka "Sacred Tradition").
"It's precisely this kind of silliness which keeps me away from Churches."
Too bad.
"It's not enough that Jesus healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and raised the dead. That just ain't good enough. Oh no, his mother had to have an 'inviolate womb'."
You read it just backwards. God can have it any way he wants it. If he could raise the dead and pass through walls, he could certainly maintain Mary's vagina in whatever state he wanted it to be.
That was a rather late development over all. It was because of the view that birth pains are a punishment for Eve eating the apple (Genesis), and that if Mary didn't have original sin, then she shouldn't have birth pains. Many ECF's didn't talk about Mary's birth pains or lack there of, because it wasn't much of an issue at the time. It wasn't until the Arian and some Gnostic heresies in the 300 and 400's that you begin to see speculation about Mary.
There are still churches that don't get caught up in religion. Just look for a church that teaches straight from the Bible. The pastor and associate pastor of my church routinely tell us that no religion will get you into heaven, including our own religion. It's a relationship with Jesus Christ that will do it. They also encourage us to check their own Bible teaching against our own Bibles rather than just sit there and listen and take their word that what they're teaching is Biblical.
I was like you. For years I avoided church for the same reason you stated. We're all human, after all, and there is no perfect church, but if you can find one that teaches strictly from the Bible, you're in a good place. :-)