[RnMomof7]

From this Calvin says it's unknowable. That is certainly a denial of her alleged ever-virginity being a truth.

The reason I think that the church has taught that is that they do not like the idea of the birth canal of Mary involved in anything after the birth of Christ..it all goes back to the whole Jewish "clean and unclean " laws..

One thing is certain.. even if that was true, or even if Mary became a prostitute after the birth..it has NOTHING to do with our salvation. Mary and her sexual life is not a question of import to our eternity

[Forest Keeper]

The reason I think that the church has taught that is that they do not like the idea of the birth canal of Mary involved in anything after the birth of Christ..it all goes back to the whole Jewish "clean and unclean " laws..

That could well be, although it would seem to pose a problem with God's good command to be fruitful and multiply. If one is so blessed I would think it would be a good and Godly thing to give birth. I've never really understood the logic behind the idea that Mary later having sex would be a defilement. Lev. 12:1-4 :

1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. 3 On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. 4 Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over.

I always thought that ceremonial uncleanliness had nothing necessarily to do with sin, it just meant that one had to wash (be purified) before one could partake in certain activities. Men were unclean for "having a discharge", but since God set it up that we procreate in this way I don't see how anyone can find something "wrong" with it. Babies are blessings FROM God, so why would some think that God would not want to further bless "Blessed Mary"? :)

One thing is certain.. even if that was true, or even if Mary became a prostitute after the birth..it has NOTHING to do with our salvation.

Amen. I take what I think is reasonable inference from the Bible that Mary did go on to have other children, but I would never question someone else's profession for not thinking so.