US TV set for 'Jesus wife' storm

BBC ^ | 10/31/03

[nypokerface]

A leading US TV news reporter has said her network is taking a risk with a news special which asks whether Jesus Christ had a wife.

ABC's Elizabeth Vargas said Jesus, Mary and Da Vinci, to be shown in the US on Monday night, was being made "as respectfully as we can".

But she admitted: "You can't talk about this subject without intriguing people or offending people."

The programme is partly based on the best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code.

The book alleges Mary Magdalene - a biblical figure widely thought to have been a prostitute - was actually Jesus's wife.

The book also asserts Magdalene fled Jerusalem with Jesus' child after his crucifixion.

This story was supposed to have been kept alive by a secret society that included the medieval painter and inventor Leonardo Da Vinci.

Da Vinci left clues about the story in his art, the novel alleged.

ABC have already screened the special, which talks to some theologians to try and unravel the theory, for some journalists and religious leaders.

'Crackpot theory'

It has already drawn criticism from a representative of the Catholic League, Joseph Feo, who said the news special had relied too much on the opinions of Father Richard McBrien of Notre Dame.

Father McBrien is said to believe the historical importance of Mary Magdalene had been under-rated.

Mr De Feo said: "The majority of the people who spoke believed in either the plausibility or the outright truth of [book author] Dan Brown's claims. The facts themselves scream out that this is a crackpot theory."

Vargas said ABC had not found any proof as to whether Jesus had a wife, but could not completely discount the theory either.

"For me, it's made religion more real and, ironically, much more interesting - which is what we're hoping to do for our viewers," she said.

[Jim Cane]

"No true Christian teaching can contradict the Bible, and no teaching that isn't in the Bible is binding on the conscience of true Christians."

Lewis Carroll? Or Jonathan Swift?

[WackyKat]

"The Gospel of Thomas didn't make it past the editors, so your question is nonsensical."

If you are describing a gospel supposedly written by the apostle Thomas, it was rejected by the church fathers many centuries ago.

That the "Church Fathers" excluded the Gospel of Thomas from the Canon says nothing about its spiritual truth or authenticity .They excluded Thomas because it reveals a very different picture of Jesus' teachings than the one they were trying to foist off on people.

Thomas also provides no basis for the establishment of a church hierarchy,which was unacceptable to a group of men who were setting up a hierarchy in which they would have the authority.

Does it contain something that you think is terribly important to be included in the canon of scripture?

Yes.

Jesus said:"I am not your master. Because you have drunk, you have become intoxicated from the bubbling spring which I have measured out." Logion 13

Jesus said:" He who will drink from my mouth will become like me. I myself shall become he, and the things that are hidden will be revealed to him." Logion 108

His disciples said to him, " When will the Kingdom come?

Jesus said," It will not come by expectation. It will not be a matter of saying "Here it is" or 'There it is'. Rather, the Kingdom of the Father is spread out upon the earth and men do not see it."

[job]

Weren't you the same knucklehead that abhorred any conversation having to do with G-D when talking about creation? IIRC, you were virulently anti-interest in anything re:G-D, but now you have a great interest in knocking it?

[Belial]

Why would Jesus being married cause problems for the Christian faith?

Simply, because Christ is regarded by Christians as perfection embodied, and sexuality, even in a married context, carries a stigma on some levels for most people. It is a pleasure, but perhaps one unworthy of a God.

At any rate, it's unlikely that Christ ever married. The Gospels were influenced by several oral traditions, and although it's true that the Church cherry-picked which Gospels would form the NT, I don't believe that something as fundamental as a prostitute wife could be written out.

There are vast amounts we don't know about Christ's life, but all the speculation with such a paucity of source material amounts to little more than mental mastication.

[job]

Jesus started his ministry at age 30. It was after he started his ministry that the apostles began to follow him. So, it is not a huge omission as you have stated.

[Belial]

so the follow-up question by proxy(unless you are Larry King) would be ...when was the world started,I mean the day year hour second type of thingie. (Science and math do root in undeniable facts right?) I just proved it doesn't here

All that you've proven is the ability to ask a childish question.

You could ask me to name bridge in Uganda. If I couldn't, that would have no bearing on the actual existence of bridges in Uganda.

[Orbiting_Rosie's_Head]

The idea that Jesus had descendants (two sons) who escaped with his wife to France is purported to be the central idea encoded in the Grail lore. Read 'Bloodline of the Holy Grail' by Laurence Gardiner. It is an interesting book, and whether you believe it or not, the important thing to remember is there are many people in positions of power who do believe it.

[j_k_l]

"...I don't understand why people are so upset by this..."

Genesis 2:24
"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." -niv

It kind of throws up a ton of problems. I just think that if it were true, it would have been mentioned.

[WackyKat]

No true Christian teaching can contradict the Bible...” That? I just wrote it (comment #80) myself. But I don't doubt that others much greater/more gifted than I have said similar things in the past.

You obviously have read neither Swift not Carroll; if you had, you would realize that Jim Cane was making a joke at your expense.

He was pointing out that your statement was so rife with logical fallacy it was humorous

[Orbiting_Rosie's_Head]

Read 'Bloodline of the Holy Grail' by Laurence Gardiner, and you will see that yes, soem of the royals of Europe bleieved themselves descedants of Jesus, or of his brother James.

[Belial]

Well that's news to me! No true Christian teaching can contradict the Bible, and no teaching that isn't in the Bible is binding on the conscience of true Christians.

Hardly. The Trinity is a fundamental doctrine of Christianity, but is never mentioned in the Bible.

It is the answer to a paradox: if Jesus is a God, and his father is a God, but the OT claims there is only one God, how can this be?

The answer adopted by the Church is the Trinity. It is important to note that it is an logical extrapolation and not expressly described anywhere in the Bible.

[Sloth]

I would not be surprised to see a sit-com about the life of Jesus. Ted McGinley as Christ, Markie Post as Mary.....we just need a name for the series.

'The Christs' would seem adequate. But you forgot their two precocious, sarcastic kids who always make Jesus look dumb, and a vampy older divorcee' neighbor played by Cybil Shepherd. Look for a hilarious episode hinging on a misunderstanding of the word "stoned".

[Jim Cane]

Read 'Bloodline of the Holy Grail' by Laurence Gardiner

Fascinating book, along with the Second Messiah.

[job]

Thus, the name "WackyKat".

[Jim Cane]

I would not be surprised to see a sit-com about the life of Jesus.

Until then, there's always "Jesus 'n Pals" - a regular feature on South Park. Oddly respectful in an irreverent sort of way to the greatest man who ever lived.

[BSunday]

I'm surprized this isn't on the History Channel

[Marysecretary]

Amazing, isn't it? Even our President invites them into the White House to celebrate their demonic Ramadan. I just don't understand it. Of course, if he had invited a bunch of Christians in to celebrate something, the press would have launched its usual attack. Good thing God's in control and not me. I'd have a lot of lightning bolts going their way. Grrrr. (smile)

[job]

How about "in the beginning was the Word of God, and the Word was with God"

[Belial]

How about "in the beginning was the Word of God, and the Word was with God"

A thousand volumes of commentary later and they're still arguing about what that means.