>>Upon further reading of your posts is clear that the truth is that you actually hold the contrary position; namely that she was not a perpetual virgin. That’s important to the Protestant position because it is an integral part of the argument that Mary was nobody special. Acceptance of the doctrine of her perpetual virginity makes her someone quite important and that can’t be accepted. <<
There is some truth to that. However, you are missing the point regarding my being Protestant. I am not. I am Christian. I do not get my perspective from some church organization. I get it from my personal reading of the bible augmented with other people’s interpretations.
And regarding Mary being someone special: I go along with what Jesus said about her. Regarding acceptance of the doctrine of perpetual virginity, you’ll have to show me scripture that supports it, not the writings of “church fathers”. OTOH, I can give you tons of scripture clearly implying (without videotape evidence) that she and Joseph had sexual relations AFTER the birth.
So, yes, in this case I agree with the protestants partly because the body of evidence us overwhelmingly in their favor, but also because it is what fits in with how the bible describes relative to all other humans. Yes, even Mary.
“my being Protestant. I am not. I am Christian. I do not get my perspective from some church organization. I get it from my personal reading of the bible augmented with other people’s interpretations.”
You’re a protestant. Sola Vivo, “Me Alone” is their core teaching.
“I can give you tons of scripture”
One article in one verse isn’t tons of scripture. Sorry to say. Jerome on the other hand has cited quite a ton of scripture refuting your statement. Then there’s the whole issue of authority. If Rob Roy is the pope of the church of Roy, how is it possible to contradict his infalliability?