Question about Jesus & Mary

[kelleigh1]

Ok, I'm not trying to start a religious debate here, but I have a legitimate question.

I've read The DeVinci Code and I saw the reports this morning on the discovery of what some believe is the tomb of Jesus and Mary Magdalene.

My question is this: why do Catholics not want to believe that it's possible for Jesus and Mary to have been married and to have had a child together?

I'm not Catholic and honestly have no religious upbringing, so I don't understand why the suggestion of Jesus having a family causes such an uproar. I'm hoping someone can explain it to me.

(And if this thread becomes an argument, I'll just request that it be closed and continue to be confused.)

 

[canwegosoon]

I am Catholic...and if Jesus was married it is OK with me...but I think the objectional part is that there would be a blood line, and people could claim to be decendents(direct) of Christ, with that potentialy could come claims of false gods.
I think the other problem is that some Catholics have a hard time questioning their faith and if the Pope deems something as a detrement to Catholic Belief, Catholics are susposed to follow his teaching. IMO the bible and early church(100ad) was started by people who had an adgenda, why today can we not read all these other gosples with out it undermining our beliefs?

 

[CheshireVal]

I'm not Catholic either, so I honestly don't know. But I thought since their priests have to be celibate, it's tied into that somehow.

 

[Mono~rail]

I've read The DeVinci Code and I saw the reports this morning on the discovery of what some believe is the tomb of Jesus and Mary Magdalene.

My question is this: why do Catholics not want to believe that it's possible for Jesus and Mary to have been married and to have had a child together?

I'm not Catholic and honestly have no religious upbringing, so I don't understand why the suggestion of Jesus having a family causes such an uproar. I'm hoping someone can explain it to me.

(And if this thread becomes an argument, I'll just request that it be closed and continue to be confused.)

Well, it isn't just Catholics that have a problem with the theory that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married. All the Christian religions don't like it, as far as I know. I'm not a very good teacher/explainer so I'm sure someone else will come along who can explain it much better than me, but I'm giving it a try anyway.

Jesus Christ walked earth as a man, but he was a man without temptation or sin. He was pure and holy as the Son of God. Mary Magdalene is mentioned very little in the Bible, and when she is mentioned, it is to describe her as a woman of extremely low virtue. Many believe that she loved Jesus Christ, but he did not reciprocate that love because he was a man without temptation. He had love for her as he did for everyone, but it wasn't a sexual love.

 

[cardaway]

I am Catholic...and if Jesus was married it is OK with me...but I think the objectional part is that there would be a blood line, and people could claim to be decendents(direct) of Christ, with that potentialy could come claims of false gods.

False Gods? If he had kids it totally debunks the whole story.

 

[Crankyshank]

It's not just Catholics that have an issue with it. My in-laws are very much opposed to the mere thought Jesus was married to Mary, and they certainly aren't Catholic. They subscribe to the belief she was a prostitute, thus "beneath" Jesus to marry her and also because he is the son of God and therefore beyond the needs of the flesh. Also, they believe the fact it isn't mentioned in the Bible means he wasn't married.

Most Catholics I know have absolutely no issue with the thought of Jesus having been married. They just don't necessarily believe they were married.

 

[kmebee]

Jesus Christ walked earth as a man, but he was a man without temptation or sin. He was pure and holy as the Son of God. Mary Magdalene is mentioned very little in the Bible, and when she is mentioned, it is to describe her as a woman of extremely low virtue. Many believe that she loved Jesus Christ, but he did not reciprocate that love because he was a man without temptation. He had love for her as he did for everyone, but it wasn't a sexual love.

Great answer. Couldn't really have said it better myself. I also believe that he is considered the first priest/teacher/prophet of the Church and therefore, just as priests today, shouldn't/couldn't have been married.

 

[Mono~rail]

I am Catholic...and if Jesus was married it is OK with me...but I think the objectional part is that there would be a blood line, and people could claim to be decendents(direct) of Christ, with that potentialy could come claims of false gods.

That's interesting. I had not heard that before. Thanks for sharing.

There's a doctor at the hospital where I used to work who is Methodist. He used to come in some mornings and try to get us to discuss the DaVinci Code with him. He is very much against the story.

My best friend is Catholic, and she thinks there is a ring of truth to the story. She debates it hotly with a Baptist co-worker.

 

[golfgal]

I am Catholic and I have no issue with the possibility of Jesus being married and in fact, it would be more unusual that he wasn't married. The celibacy thing really doesn't relate to Jesus being married or not. Long ago most priests were married/some of the Popes as well. What was happening was that when priest died their wife's inherited the 'church' and everything in the church which is those days was not good. The church has since moved to celibacy and it is another one of those 'doctrines' that has morphed over time.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I'm Catholic and I think the problem with the idea of Jesus and Mary being married and having kids has to do with the theology of who Jesus was, and what he rejected in order to do God's will. As far as we know, His life was pretty normal until he reached his 30's and began preaching. The Bible refers to a point early on in His ministry where He is tempted by Satan to choose power and glory over serving God. Jesus chooses to serve God, no matter what. My theology classes suggested that in that choice, He also chose to deny Himself the pleasures of a normal life. (marriage and kids) If you saw Last Temptation of Christ, the temptation of having sex with Mary Magadalene was one of the things that Satan used.
Now, I do NOT believe that Mary Magdalene was any more of a sinner than anyone else. People over the centuries have thought that because she was so grateful for Jesus forgiving her sins, she must have had some really big sins. I don't see how one follows the other. We are all sinners, and Jesus' forgiveness is a blessing for all of us, no matter whether we're being forgiven for adultery or being nasty to a co-worker.

 

[salmoneous]

They subscribe to the belief she was a prostitute, thus "beneath" Jesus to marry her and also because he is the son of God and therefore beyond the needs of the flesh.

I haven't a clue if Jesus was married or not. If it were important one way or the other, God would have given us the answer.

But I have two serious problems with the notion expressed above:

To think that Mary was beneath Jesus because she was a prostitute is a complete slap in the face of Jesus' teaching. All have sinned. None of us are worthy. And none are more is less unworthy than anyone else.

Second, one of the most important aspects of Jesus' life is that he was 100% man. He had the same needs and temptations as all of us.

As I said, haven't a clue if he married or not. But there would have been nothing sinful about it if he had.

 

[Crankyshank]

I haven't a clue if Jesus was married or not. If it were important one way or the other, God would have given us the answer.

But I have two serious problems with the notion expressed above:

Hey I never said I espoused the belief. Kelleigh asked and I provided my in-law's reasonings, who are not Catholics.
There are a vast number of people who call themselves Christian who neglect quite a few of Jesus' teachings. My in-laws and their church happen to be some of those people.

 

[Saphire]

My question is this: why do Catholics not want to believe that it's possible for Jesus and Mary to have been married and to have had a child together?

I am no longer Catholic but I think if you read any one of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) you will be able to answer your own question.

 

[Jennasis]

I dunno...but I don't have a problem if he were married and had a kid with Mary Magdalen (who was NOT a prostitute). Him being married and having a child does not debunk anything. I don't know if he was or was not, but it has no bearing on MY faith (if it has a bearing on how anyone else feels is up to them I guess).

 

[Andy B]

The practice of celebacy and non married priests does not date from the time of Jesus in the first 1200 years it was common for priests to be married as it was thought that the disciples were and 39 Popes.

It has been thought that the Catholic church's position on marriage had more to do with keeping the wealth of the church and it's priests rather than it being passed on to wives and families.

 

[Crankyshank]

The practice of celebacy and non married priests does not date from the time of Jesus in the first 1200 years it was common for priests to be married as it was thought that the disciples were and 39 Popes.

It has been thought that the Catholic church's position on marriage had more to do with keeping the wealth of the church and it's priests rather than it being passed on to wives and families.

Priests weren't ordered to be celibate until around the 4th century. I think it was Council of Elvira .Church members started complaining and leaving the church because they didn't think married men should be priests for some reason.
That decree wasn't terribly widespread. Pope Damasus I was a big one on decrees against the impurity of intercourse.

They got married anyhow. During the 11th century the Church put a stop to children of the clergy inheriting Church lands.

The Council of Trent, which was in response to the Reformation, was when they solidified their position on Catholic doctrine, worked to eradicate the abuses of the clergy, and one of the things solidified was priest celibacy. I believe that was the official rubber stamp against priests marrying and really it has nothing to do with Jesus being single. It had moreto do with rampant abuses in the Church and other reasons

 

[Chloe'sMom]

Well, it isn't just Catholics that have a problem with the theory that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married. All the Christian religions don't like it, as far as I know. I'm not a very good teacher/explainer so I'm sure someone else will come along who can explain it much better than me, but I'm giving it a try anyway.

Jesus Christ walked earth as a man, but he was a man without temptation or sin. He was pure and holy as the Son of God. Mary Magdalene is mentioned very little in the Bible, and when she is mentioned, it is to describe her as a woman of extremely low virtue. Many believe that she loved Jesus Christ, but he did not reciprocate that love because he was a man without temptation. He had love for her as he did for everyone, but it wasn't a sexual love.

Great post, but conflicting. Jesus asked to be baptised to wash away his sins. Therefore he wasn't without sin.

~Amanda

 

[Andy B]

Priests weren't ordered to be celibate until around the 4th century. I think it was Council of Elvira .Church members started complaining and leaving the church because they didn't think married men should be priests for some reason.
That decree wasn't terribly widespread. Pope Damasus I was a big one on decrees against the impurity of intercourse.

They got married anyhow. During the 11th century the Church put a stop to children of the clergy inheriting Church lands.

The Council of Trent, which was in response to the Reformation, was when they solidified their position on Catholic doctrine, worked to eradicate the abuses of the clergy, and one of the things solidified was priest celibacy. I believe that was the official rubber stamp against priests marrying and really it has nothing to do with Jesus being single. It had moreto do with rampant abuses in the Church and other reasons

Thanks for that my position was correct but I obviously did not know the detail as well as you.

 

[WNDMom]

Great post, but conflicting. Jesus asked to be baptised to wash away his sins. Therefore he wasn't without sin.

~Amanda

He didn't ask to be baptized to wash away his sins. I believe it's a requirement for sinners, but that Jesus did it as an example to us.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

If Jesus were married and it was important, it would be in the Bible. Since it is not in the Bible, either he wasn't married or it is not important.