Question regarding the basis of Christianity

[Whickerman]

Regarding Virgin Birth - let's assume that the bible is truth and the virgin birth occurred per the gospel (even if, like me, you think it's fable.)

Mary is made pregnant by God.
If it was not with her consent, then that's rape and God has committed an unspeakably awful crime.
If it was with her consent, then she's a fornicator (possibly classed as adultery if she was due to marry Joeph)...?

Just a thought from a bored mind...

[whiskeryron]

Beware you blasphemers who take the lord's name in vain you have most probably sealed your fate.
Re the Virgin birth, you are aware of course that a girl baby is born with a full supply of eggs & that in some parts of the world some babies are born with both male & female reproductive systems, is it beyond the realms of reason that self fertilisation could take place in an extreme situation ? Ron.

[mike11111]

I hope you're not suggesting Our Blessed Lady was a tranny!

[Cowtipper]

I thought female self reproduction was limited to female offspring so maybe not. I maintain that all children are a gift from God (and proof he has a sense of humor).

[Khandro]

I don't believe that 'The basis of Christianity' is Virgin Birth. The basis of Christianity is surely the teachings of Christ, to dismiss these because one finds the peripheral fables which were added on later unacceptable, is a mistake.

[wildwood]

// I maintain that all children are a gift from God (and proof he has a sense of humor)//

Yes, it is hilarious when babies are born with limbs missing and gross disfugurements, not to mention the ones born with Downs; and a heap of other life inhibiting syndromes.

[Cowtipper]

"// I maintain that all children are a gift from God (and proof he has a sense of humor)//

Yes, it is hilarious when babies are born with limbs missing and gross disfugurements, not to mention the ones born with Downs; and a heap of other life inhibiting syndromes. "

You're in a chipper mood. I didn't realize God was responsible but I suppose he is when you look at it that way. I thought you were a heathen but its nice to see you do believe.

[beso]

All things bad and horrible, the Lord He made them all.

[Cowtipper]

It amazes me that people in general focus on the negative rather than what can be positive. Love, honesty, forgiveness, compassion, and self sacrifice are all part of following Jesus but that doesn't really count for anything because he didn't solve every problem in the world. If I follow the teachings of Gandhi or Confucius I wouldn't fault them for what they didn't do but what they did do. I could blame Gandhi because he hurt the beef market. I could blame Confucius for trouble in China.

[whiskeryron]

Well said Cowtipper. Ron.

[DTCwordfan]

Beso, his quality systems aren't that good. Bet he wouldn't qualify for an ISO 9000 rating.

[beso]

It amazes me how the religious fail to notice the negative. Their naive positivity has allowed religion to be the dominant philosophical standpoint in humanity and been used to justify the worst of human nature.

People are actually proud that they have shut their mind to any other interpretation of life than that proscribed in an old book.

I am not negative about everything but I can see the damage being done every day by religious bigotry.

I don't "follow" anyone but look at each issue as part of a broad consciousness that demands of me to understand why I believe what I do. The religious largely abrogate this responsibility, preferring a mentality that accepts genocide and enslavement as a sign of divine favour.

Make all the excuses you like but those who see the Bible as a holy book of wisdom are lending their support to that very notion simply by accrediting the book even if you don't accept every part of it.

As I have said many times, religion is all about personality cults. It is a very attractive concept to the intellectually lazy and morally incoherent leaving them highly suggestible to the influence of the worst of humanity.

History is littered with the folly perpetrated by those who saw themselves as God's representative while accepting on faith that their every thought is divine.

Faith is not a virtue but a pox on honesty and truth.

[beso]

The nutters only really became a problem when ordinary people started to accept their delusional self agrandisement.

[Khandro]

What is surprising, is to find under a topic called 'Religion & Spirituality', so many posters who have neither !

[Cowtipper]

"I am not negative about everything but I can see the damage being done every day by religious bigotry. "

Exactly what damage are you looking at? You must live in a really bad neighborhood.

[pretty_snowdrop]

It was a virgin birth. She was a virgin. So he couldn't have raped her cos he didn't actually s**g her.

[AB Editor]

Not sure why you think God would have to play by the rules?

If you're not aware of the book of Job:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Job

[andy-hughes]

As an aetheist, I do not believe in the Virgin Birth - but if it was as described, then surely all the Holy Spirit needed to do was to decide that Mary was with child, and it would happen? Nothing so mundane as physical contact would be required.

[Cowtipper]

"The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
"Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be."
She apparently had heard of what happened to Job. Occasionally its better to keep your head down.

[beso]

Cowtipper must be totally blind if they can't see the problems due to religious bigotry.

Aside from the obvious problems with major conflict between believers of different faiths there is the psychological damage done to people who don't live up to the blinkered view of morality held by the religious.

How about the damage being done right now to the son of one of our members by their loony grandmother in another thread on this topic?

[Cowtipper]

"beso
Cowtipper must be totally blind if they can't see the problems due to religious bigotry. " I don't believe in scaring children if that's what you mean. I grew up with a sense of dread of the Russians dropping nukes. Most of that was a direct result of my grandfather and his paranoia. Do I blame the Russians or do I blame my grandfather?