Posted by kat on December 11, 2002 at 00:58:17:
In Reply to: resp. to John Vaughan posted by giveawayboy on December 10, 2002 at 23:58:34:
Just a couple things nagged at me here:
"In my own experience, I have not been presented with anything like ACTUAL evidence that Mary had sexual relations or actual children beyond Jesus." -Bill
If Joseph did marry Mary, isn't it safe to assume they had sexual relations so as to consumate the marriage? Otherwise, why get married? If I understand this correctly, it seems as though this particular belief is set up by the church to perpetuate the whole idea of Mary being sinless and better than all us other humans.
As if keeping her virginity somehow makes her more pure(ridiculous since God ordained sex between man and woman in marriage before anything else). This is simply the feeling I get about it.
Which brings me to the question, are you saying that Mary NEVER sinned. It seems to me there is a difference between never having sinned and having your sins washed clean.
Again, I do not fully understand Catholic doctrine, just some things bugged me a bit.