[phil413]

Where in my post did I imply that Mary’s perpetual virginity had anything to do with salvation? You read way too much into my post.

BTW, I’d be interested in knowing of any Protestant leader who’s comfortable that dogma.

[metmom]

Where in my post did I imply that Mary’s perpetual virginity had anything to do with salvation? You read way too much into my post.

Here.

BTW, I have heard that both Luther and Calvin believed in Mary’s perpetual virginity which would be anathema to modern day protestants.

But it appears that you did not mean it the way it reads.

BTW, I’d be interested in knowing of any Protestant leader who’s comfortable that dogma.

The Catholic church has its opinion on Mary....

IIRC someone posted some dictum by the Catholic church that certain doctrines about Mary are required to be believed or the person was *anathema*, IOW, they were required to be believed for salvation.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Luther and Calvin held an opinion that Mary remained a virgin throughout her life. They were both quick to add that this opinion in no way gave Mary any special abilities or characteristics or role in God's plan of salvation, nor the church any reason to venerate her, pray to her, or look to her for salvation, forgiveness or grace.

"Nay, rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God. We see that Christ treats almost as a matter of indifference that point on which the woman had set a high value. And undoubtedly what she supposed to be Mary's highest honor was far inferior to the other favors which she had received; for it was of vastly greater importance to be regenerated by the Spirit of God than to conceive Christ, according to the flesh, in her womb; to have Christ living spiritually within her than to suckle him with her breasts. In a word, the highest happiness and glory of the holy Virgin consisted in her being a member of his Son, so that the heavenly Father reckoned her in the number of new creatures."