First time hearing about the Virgin Mary

[Machavelle]

My Wife and I are both Buddhist, I came into it at age 14, my wife since birth.

Recently after being hounded by a Christian woman to convert she politely excused herself and left.

Knowing absolutely nothing about Christianity she asked why the lady refered to Mary as the Virgin Mary, I explained the story of Mary and Jesus.

It was interesting to see the reaction from a woman from a Village who has not grown up with these stories.

she believes she had an affair and lied to her husband, and he convinced himself it's true through Fear of losing his beloved wife, how it grew from there is what really amazed her.

Bottom line, Virgin's Cannot give Birth, and she finds it very amusing.

No offence to Christians, just an interesting moment seeing a point of view of someone completely ignorant of any Bible teachings as we only see generally opinions from those who grew up with these stories.

 

[Quintessence]

As I understand it, a more accurate translation of "virgin" with respect to women in the Bible is actually "unmarried woman" given the time period in which it was written.

 

[Terese]

Its strange to see one who has never heard of Christianity or it's stories. Christianity is everywhere, so pretty cool to see a perspective who didn't know Christianity in the first place

 

[rusra02]

My Wife and I are both Buddhist, I came into it at age 14, my wife since birth.

Recently after being hounded by a Christian woman to convert she politely excused herself and left.

Knowing absolutely nothing about Christianity she asked why the lady refered to Mary as the Virgin Mary, I explained the story of Mary and Jesus.

It was interesting to see the reaction from a woman from a Village who has not grown up with these stories.

she believes she had an affair and lied to her husband, and he convinced himself it's true through Fear of losing his beloved wife, how it grew from there is what really amazed her.

Bottom line, Virgin's Cannot give Birth, and she finds it very amusing.

No offence to Christians, just an interesting moment seeing a point of view of someone completely ignorant of any Bible teachings as we only see generally opinions from those who grew up with these stories.

I can understand why your wife would feel that way. The Bible reports that even Joseph found Mary's explanation for her pregnancy unconvincing, and intended to divorce her. (Matthew 1:19) He was assured by God that what Mary said was true. (Matthew 1:20) Further, I believe a perfect man was needed to provide a ransom for the sin committed by the first man Adam. No human father could produce a perfect, sinless offspring. As the angel said to Mary; "Holy spirit will come upon you, and power of the Most High will overshadow you. And for that reason the one who is born will be called holy, God’s Son." Thus, I believe God transferred the life of his Son to be born as a perfect human, able to provide "a corresponding [to Adam] ransom for all. (1 Timothy 2:6)

 

[Machavelle]

As I understand it, a more accurate translation of "virgin" with respect to women in the Bible is actually "unmarried woman" given the time period in which it was written.

Is that how it is taught in church today, unmarried woman.

We are not living in Biblical times after all yet it is still being preached to the masses.

 

[Machavelle]

Its strange to see one who has never heard of Christianity or it's stories. Christianity is everywhere, so pretty cool to see a perspective who didn't know Christianity in the first place

Almost embarrassed to say this, she never new who Hitler was either, despite being an accountant, I have met several thai people who don't, very nationalistic teachings at school unfortunately.

 

[Quintessence]

Is that how it is taught in church today, unmarried woman.

We are not living in Biblical times after all yet it is still being preached to the masses.

There isn't going to be any unified teaching across Christian churches - it's far too heterogenous for that. I couldn't say how statistically common or uncommon a specific teaching is, and I doubt there's a good study that examines this in a way that would apply to the entire global population of Christians.

Plus, it's also important to keep in mind that a pretty good chunk of Christians are not mythological literalists. In other words, they understand it's a story and that it uses lots of allegory and metaphor, and that the important point of these stories are the lessons and values they convey. There was never a time in my brief Catholic upbringing that we weren't aware that the Bible was a book of stories... that it was literature. It was just viewed as sacred story, and had special importance.

 

[Machavelle]

As a Buddhist I cannot deny it may have happened, I just need to see proof.

Faith based religions are for eg, Jesus telling a desciple he has a rock in his clenched fist, how do I know you have a rock Jesus, have faith my son.

A Buddhist will wait to you open your hand, neither confirming nor dismissing the possibility.

 

[Machavelle]

There isn't going to be any unified teaching across Christian churches - it's far too heterogenous for that. I couldn't say how statistically common or uncommon a specific teaching is, and I doubt there's a good study that examines this in a way that would apply to the entire global population of Christians.

Plus, it's also important to keep in mind that a pretty good chunk of Christians are not mythological literalists. In other words, they understand it's a story and that it uses lots of allegory and metaphor, and that the important point of these stories are the lessons and values they convey. There was never a time in my brief Catholic upbringing that we weren't aware that the Bible was a book of stories... that it was literature. It was just viewed as sacred story, and had special importance.

Based on what your saying, how do you decide where the line is between fact and fiction.
And could the part about God be fictional to, do you believe in God, or is that a sacred story to.

 

[Quintessence]

Based on what your saying, how do you decide where the line is between fact and fiction.
And could the part about God be fictional to, do you believe in God, or is that a sacred story to.

I'm probably not a useful person to ask about this, because I'm not Christian. They way in which some Christians are concerned with historicity of their sacred text is not found within Paganisms on the whole, so it's just not an issue I care about or think about within the context of my own religion. Personally? I don't think the question matters. Whether we call it "fact" or "fiction" the end result is still a narrative or story we tell ourselves to make sense of the world. It's still map of territory either way.

 

[Machavelle]

I'm probably not a useful person to ask about this, because I'm not Christian. They way in which some Christians are concerned with historicity of their sacred text is not found within Paganisms on the whole, so it's just not an issue I care about or think about within the context of my own religion. Personally? I don't think the question matters. Whether we call it "fact" or "fiction" the end result is still a narrative or story we tell ourselves to make sense of the world. It's still map of territory either way.

I understand, however to add fictional roads to the map may actually drive people away.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

I'm honestly glad to hear that there are people, still, who fall outside the sphere of Christian influence. I've always felt that the Christian explanation of how God loves everyone, is looking for return of every single soul, and therefore puts in place a usage of human resources to make sure that everyone gets a chance to believe - that everyone gets exposed - is complete and total garbage. You usually can't convince your average Christian of this, of course - they will swear up and down that "God has a plan" - and that that plan includes getting the word out to everyone through His witnesses. This is usually how I have been offered the excuses that insist it is "justice" being served to all non-believers who will not be granted access to heaven (whether or not Hell is part of the equation). To hear an average Christian explain it - no non-believer will not be given a chance to believe. It is one of the most naive and presuming things I have ever heard.

 

[Machavelle]

My wife's response was simple, I am pleased your a Christian, I am Buddhist and will always be Buddhist

I don't believe in Christianity and you in Buddha, however I respect your choice, so please stop trying to convert me or leave.

As the lady in question simply would not quit.

 

[Unification]

My Wife and I are both Buddhist, I came into it at age 14, my wife since birth.

Recently after being hounded by a Christian woman to convert she politely excused herself and left.

Knowing absolutely nothing about Christianity she asked why the lady refered to Mary as the Virgin Mary, I explained the story of Mary and Jesus.

It was interesting to see the reaction from a woman from a Village who has not grown up with these stories.

she believes she had an affair and lied to her husband, and he convinced himself it's true through Fear of losing his beloved wife, how it grew from there is what really amazed her.

Bottom line, Virgin's Cannot give Birth, and she finds it very amusing.

No offence to Christians, just an interesting moment seeing a point of view of someone completely ignorant of any Bible teachings as we only see generally opinions from those who grew up with these stories.

Indeed, I see the story as metaphysical and the Virgin Mary representing a pure mind giving birth to a seed, not a literal woman or a literal child.

 

[DawudTalut]

....Bottom line, Virgin's Cannot give Birth......

Peace be on you.
There are examples:
Examples: Plz search internet words " virgin births examples"

Philosophical reason was the announcement of change of house of Prophethood.

""Something happened in Mary (as) which gave that child a miraculous birth, without a man having touched her. It is the Ahmadiyya Muslim belief that this is exactly what happened. Our case is unshakeable because no scientist can dismiss it as nonsensical or opposed to the known laws of nature. Miracles are not seen in Islam as unnatural occurrences, but as natural phenomena that are concealed from human knowledge at a certain period of time.""
Referance: Page 7 @ https://www.alislam.org/library/books/Christianity-A-Journey.pdf

 

[Machavelle]

Peace be on you.
There are examples:
Examples: Plz search internet words " virgin births examples"

Philosophical reason was the announcement of change of house of Prophethood.

""Something happened in Mary (as) which gave that child a miraculous birth, without a man having touched her. It is the Ahmadiyya Muslim belief that this is exactly what happened. Our case is unshakeable because no scientist can dismiss it as nonsensical or opposed to the known laws of nature. Miracles are not seen in Islam as unnatural occurrences, but as natural phenomena that are concealed from human knowledge at a certain period of time.""
Referance: Page 7 @ https://www.alislam.org/library/books/Christianity-A-Journey.pdf

These are stories, not examples.

Show me a scientifically proven Virgin Birth, it cannot happen.

Even the Buddha article was written hundreds of years later by a fool.

Buddha's mother was no Virgin, even Buddha himself before leaving his palace had a huge harem.

 

[Sleeppy]

She believes she had an affair and lied to her husband, and he convinced himself it's true through Fear of losing his beloved wife, how it grew from there is what really amazed her.

Bottom line, Virgin's Cannot give Birth, and she finds it very amusing.

Show her this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/sci...here-little-girls-turn-into-boys-aged-12.html

You and your wife don't determine where the bottom line is.

 

[MARCELLO]

Virginity of Maria is just a symbol. Why don't you get it? Who told you that biological Mary was a virgin? Religion just recommends,it is we the humans to get lessons from it.

 

[Machavelle]

Show her this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/sci...here-little-girls-turn-into-boys-aged-12.html

You and your wife don't determine where the bottom line is.

No, but until we are shown a Virgin Birth, that's our story, and we're sticking to it.

The tooth fairy, the Easter bunny, the Virgin.

 

[Machavelle]

Virginity of Maria is just a symbol. Why don't you get it? Who told you that biological Mary was a virgin? Religion just recommends,it is we the humans to get lessons from it.

Who told me, the Bible, they say it's the word of God, until something like this is bought up the all of a sudden it's not the word of God.

It's preached everyday, the Virgin Mary