Was it a literal virgin birth?

[peacefulwarrior]

:)Is the whole christian religion based on the literal interpretation of a virgin birth of Jesus?

;)Does it matter? What if it was? What if it wasn't? What do you think?

Peace

[joe]

I don't think it should matter much since a virgin can be knocked-up without sex. It might have been harder to do back then, but not impossible.

[phantom]

peacefulwarrior said:

:)Is the whole christian religion based on the literal interpretation of a virgin birth of Jesus?

;)Does it matter? What if it was? What if it wasn't? What do you think?

Peace

Yes.
Yes.
If it was, atheists should rethink their position.
If it wasn't, Christians have lost nothing but time spent in church.

[peacefulwarrior]

;)So, is the only way you believe in God is through a literal virgin birth? Do you think a person who doesn't believe in a virgin birth is an atheist?

::)That statement you use comes straight from most pulpits and continues the unreasonable use of reasoning. How about if their was no virgin birth there is still God and you might want to do your best with this life.

;)Even the writers say that Jesus said we are all children of God. That makes good sense! A virgin birth doesn't, to me.

Peace

[phantom]

I believe in a literal virgin birth because not only is it described in the gospels, but it was foretold hundreds of years earlier by prophets. I get that from the Bible, not from the pulpit. There is a Hell even if many people don't want to believe it!

[mopnglo]

I don't think I've honestly ever given any thought to it. But now that you mention it, a part of me would love to see what CSI would determine.

[amatx]

peacefulwarrior said:

:)Is the whole christian religion based on the literal interpretation of a virgin birth of Jesus?

;)Does it matter? What if it was? What if it wasn't? What do you think?

Peace

peacefulwarrior,
No, the "christian religion" (Christianity) is based upon the life, teachings, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ.
The virgin birth was but one of many prophetic indicators of the arrival of the Messiah, according to the Hebrew prophets.

A form of deification of a "Virgin Mary" is central to Catholicism, but not to the entirety of Christianity.

[amatx]

and to follow up on your questions, peacefulwarrior:

peacefulwarrior said:

;)So, is the only way you believe in God is through a literal virgin birth? Do you think a person who doesn't believe in a virgin birth is an atheist?

If any person realizes their faith through a literal belief in virgin birth, or a deep spiritual experience, or fulfillment of prophesy, or an epiphany, or a literal Genesis account of creation, or because Jimmy Swaggart said so, what difference does that make to you? The reality is that the only thing that matters is fidelty to faith and compliance to convenant.

::)That statement you use comes straight from most pulpits and continues the unreasonable use of reasoning. How about if their was no virgin birth there is still God and you might want to do your best with this life.

Belief that everything was created in six days or that Mary was a virgin or that wearing blue jeans in Church is sin is.... well... either centrally important, or totally irrelevant. Either way, it is much less important than adherence to conviction.

;)Even the writers say that Jesus said we are all children of God. That makes good sense! A virgin birth doesn't, to me.

According to New Testament accounts, Jesus always referred to himself as "the Son of Man", and referred to God as "my Father", and "the one who has sent me".

Personally, I do not believe that covering my genitals with leaves from a fig tree will hide me from God, as a literal account of Genesis indicates.
Disbelief in any part or even all of the Bible does not constitue atheist, peacefulwarrior.
Not believing in your creator, not believing in Almighty God, is what would make you an atheist.

and, Keep the Faith.

[peacefulwarrior]

Amatex,
;)Interesting responses---! So it is,--- just believe as I do no matter what you may think or think you know. Don't look at anything else lest you be captured in the snare of the liars.

8-)Critical thinking is OK to God and our creator will stand up to the scrutiny. I have an idea that God has very little to do with the bible. Especially, the literal interpretations that lots of people think we should have. My gosh, during the times of the translations and bible writings they thought the world was flat and they were so oppressed by the church and government leaders they wrote and believed what they were told.

:)It's OK, to me, that the bible is not literal. In fact I have an idea that God is communicating to us more if we step away from the dogmas and doctrines that the church and people draw in from their interpretations of the book. Then they try to make people believe them no matter what and on top of that make the salvation part just the sinners prayer and you are in. Yeah!! That was easy. Let's all go to heaven.

;)That is some of my thinking.

Peace

[timetogorightnow]

peacefulwarrior said:

;)So, is the only way you believe in God is through a literal virgin birth? Do you think a person who doesn't believe in a virgin birth is an atheist?

Peace

You're making the assumption that someone believes in God or god or gods. Personally, I don't even LIKE the word. It carries far too many emotion-filled connotations for me. Personally, I consider myself a combination of Deist, radical agnostic and secular humanist.

[peacefulwarrior]

timetogorightnow said:

peacefulwarrior said:

;)So, is the only way you believe in God is through a literal virgin birth? Do you think a person who doesn't believe in a virgin birth is an atheist?

Peace

You're making the assumption that someone believes in God or god or gods. Personally, I don't even LIKE the word. It carries far too many emotion-filled connotations for me. Personally, I consider myself a combination of Deist, radical agnostic and secular humanist.

;)I don't use or make assumptions. I ask questions and let the answers come. I also very seldom use the word believe. Instead I have ideas. That is a more flexible way of thinking and allows for free critical thinking on many levels.

;DI understand the box you have put yourself in--deist-agnostic-humanist. We could have very interesting chats.

:)I have attended the local unitarian fellowship many years ago and enjoyed the stimulating talks and speakers.

;DThe beginning of this thread was to hear what others are thinking believing. Thanks for the feedback!

Peace

[zebrarick]

In one word yes.