The Volatile Notion of a Married Jesus (George Stephanopoulos' Mom Objects)

VIRGINIA HEFFERNAN ^ | November 3, 2003 | VIRGINIA HEFFERNAN

[Destro]

The Grail myth (married Jesus as a part of it) is a purely Western pagan myth (probably Celtic) grafted onto the Latin Church. The Greek and Coptic Churches (Gnostic writtings taken into consideration) which are closer to the source material never had to deal with this myth.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

I switched between this and the rockets bull game.
I got the idea that Frenchmen ware claiming descent from
Christ.

[MindBender26]

Was a fair show. Presented both sides of story. My faith is strong enough to explore other opinions.

[Destro]

Actually sort of. UMBERTO ECO says this myth started in the 19th cent. This makes sense because the European nobility in the 19th cent. was nearing its end as democracy took over and they latched onto and elaborated this myth.

When cultures start to die (like the feudal culture of te aristocracy) they produce funky myths.

[Destro]

See my #4 - I actually care about this myth from a sociological - historical perspective. It gains insight into the workings of Western European upper class mythological constructions. This myth was not a myth the Serfs-peasants held to.

[WOSG]

"When cultures start to die (like the feudal culture of te aristocracy) they produce funky myths."

Scary thought - is this weirdo ABC special a sign of the death of Christian culture???!?

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Fair? This garbage is preposterous as well as blasphemous.

Theosophists, lesbians and airheads unfettered by conscience, science or discretion.

[MindBender26]

Exactly. I didn't buy into the Jesus had a child, he came to France, etc. stuff, but the reports on the other Gospels and the new realizations about Mary Magdalaine. I didn't buy the "wife," but that certainly did look like a woman in the DiVinchi painting. Also, forget the castle stuff,, but what was that about the documents that listed DiVinchi, Victor Hugo and Michaelanglo as head of some gnostic society?

[Dr. Eckleburg]

That's because the occult is generally ruled by the upper class. Too much money and time; too little brains and character.

Didn't you see "Eyes Wide Shut?"

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

While in Armenia ( the oldest Christian Country ) in 96-97,
their creed says Saint James was who converted them.
They also claim that this was Christs younger brother.
Note this was before the stone casket was found that said
James brother of Jesus.

[RobbyS]

Didn't see it, but the comment Jesus wasn't an asexual Jewish radical who consorted with a prostitute and a gang of guys, one of whom was an androgyne; instead, he was a normal family man. Represents the kind of theological strawman that McBrien is famous for. The simple fact is that McBrien doesn't accept the monk as the ideal Christian. Instead he promotes an idealized view of clerical marriage.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

The "society" they all belonged to had nothing to do with Jesus Christ.

[RobbyS]

If Da vinci was a homosexual, that woule explain something about the figure of "John".

[Destro]

Forgeries more than likely. Like the Donation of Constantine turned out to be. Or an real text of that time but backed by imagination or genuine belief in the myth by the author. Sort of like UFO book authors make connections based on hope rather than fact. As for the boyish figure looking like a girl--well DiVinchi found prepubescent boys to be attractive (as was the style at that time).

[Destro]

The Armenian Churchs does not claim James is the half brother of Christ.

[Destro]

Wishful projection amongst Latin Catholics? That is because this myth is born amongst the Latin rites where married clergy are not found. The Orthodox and Eastern Catholics for example which do have married clergy don't have to deal with this married Jesus myth.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

You are correct but this was from several laymen in Yerevan.

[Destro]

My thought exactly. John of course was the youngest of the 12.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

You seem very smart about Christian history.
Can you guess what is the purpose of the keyhole on
my FR profile?

[MarMema]

Thanks Des. Pinging...