Poor Joseph. God was a hard act to follow

[Socratus O' Pericles]

Where, precisely, is the connection between this bigotry and politics?

Everything is political!

[Andrew49]

The Anglican church of St Matthew's in the City Church has gone and got itself involved in another Christmas controversy again. They erected a billboard showing a shocked Virgin Mary gasping as she examines a pregnancy testing kit. It has sparked outrage in New Zealand amongst, mostly fundamentalist Catholics it must be admitted.

The vicar, Glynn Cardy, says St Matthews wanted to focus on what it was like for a real mother with a real child. The church’s website says the billboard has purposely been left blank of any text. “We hope to do so with an image and no words. We invite you to wonder what your caption might be.”

Story

Here is the poster


And here's my caption:

[Des Quirell]

One caption I read went:

"Yay! I hope it's a girl!"

[Ribeye]

With respect, that does not answer my question.

The question of the virgin birth or Mary's virginity is not a political one. It is a purely theological/scriptural one. This is a political website. It should stick to political matters and not engage in religious bigotry.

You must be new around here, we talk about all sorts of stuff,


and woe betide anyone who tries to stop us!

[Mitsui2]

Ireland is not, and arguably never has been, a Catholic country. The 1950's was most definitely not a Catholic decade. If anything, it was a Jansenistic decade as the Church in this country was over-run with the pollution of Janesnism. But Jansenism is not Catholicism, and Catholicism does not view sexual intercourse as "dirty".

Is that a catholic version of "It wasn't me, sir, it was them big kids... er, I mean small kinds...uh, I mean anyway some other kids"?

I don't recall the Pope disowning the Irish RCC as heretical anytime in the 50s. Did their wily heathen ways only become known at a later stage?

[Andrew49]

Is that a catholic version of "It wasn't me, sir, it was them big kids... er, I mean small kinds...uh, I mean anyway some other kids"?

I don't recall the Pope disowning the Irish RCC as heretical anytime in the 50s. Did their wily heathen ways only become known at a later stage?

Excellent point.

[Andrew49]

With respect, that does not answer my question.

The question of the virgin birth or Mary's virginity is not a political one. It is a purely theological/scriptural one. This is a political website. It should stick to political matters and not engage in religious bigotry.

Christians, and especially Catholics, will say that our social and political mores have been informed by God and Jesus in particular. Wasn't there a running campaign by the Vatican to have God get a mention in the proposed EU Constitution?

[gerhard dengler]

A problem with religion and with this board is it is very difficult to get above the banal.
Shouting comments and abuse and rabbiting on about child sex abuse (as if it were the preserve of one's enemies alone) passes for adult, informed comment.

+1.

[RubiconDiver]

I am a firm believer in there "not being any such thing as a stupid question" so please don't shoot me down for this one.

I know that "according to the bible" Mary was a "Virgin" when the "Son of god" began to grow in her belly, needs no explanation, thanks, but "after" the fact, did she remain a "Virgin" for the rest of her life? or had she done her bit for the untouched vessel of divine birth brigade, and later on in life allowed to have a wee bit of "How's your father" (pardon the pun)??

[cytex]

I am a firm believer in there "not being any such thing as a stupid question" so please don't shoot me down for this one.

I know that "according to the bible" Mary was a "Virgin" when the "Son of god" began to grow in her belly, needs no explanation, thanks, but "after" the fact, did she remain a "Virgin" for the rest of her life? or had she done her bit for the untouched vessel of divine birth brigade, and later on in life allowed to have a wee bit of "How's your father" (pardon the pun)??

as far as i am aware it depends on the religion. but not a expert in religions.