Diarmaid MacCulloch TV - Christopher Hitchens - Kenneth Clark TV - Mysteries of the Bible TV - Melvyn Bragg TV - Bettany Hughes TV - Philip Gardiner TV - Matthew 1:18-21 - Matthew 2:1&2&11 - Matthew 12:47-49 - Mark 3:31-34 - Luke 1:26-35 - Luke 2:4&5 - Luke 2:19 - Luke 2:42-46 - Luke 8:20&21 - Epistula Apostolorum 14 - Koran 3:36-49 - Koran 19:16-36 - The Cult of Mary TV - Nostradamus Effect TV - Maria di Nazareth TV - 21st Century Mythologies with Richard Clay TV -
I’ll give this a name: I’ll call it Catholic feminism ... Women across the Catholic world claimed that Mary had appeared to them in visions. Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch, Sex and the Church III: Christianity v The West, BBC 2015
The Cult of Mary confronted the Enlightenment rationalism that had brought such destruction to the Church. ibid.
Jesus makes large claims for his heavenly father but never mentions that his mother is or was a virgin, and is repeatedly very rude and coarse to her when she makes an appearance. Christopher Hitchens
The cult of the virgin must have come from the East. Kenneth Clark: Civilisation 2/13: The Great Thaw, BBC 1969
A fourteen-year-old Jewish peasant girl, a virgin named Mary, is said to have miraculously given birth to the saviour of her people. There is scant evidence of Mary’s remarkable life. Mysteries of the Bible s4e10: Mary of Nazareth, A&E 1997
According to the Infancy Gospel [of James] Mary’s conception in her mother’s womb is physically ordinary. But God makes a special provision: Mary will be born without ordinary sin. ibid.
Instead of being overwhelmed by the stunning impact of Gabriel’s words, that she would bear the Son of God out of wedlock, Mary responds to this momentous prediction with a single telling question: How can this be? ibid.
Once more an angel intervenes on Mary’s behalf: this night he speaks to Joseph in a dream. ibid.
Was Jesus born in Bethlehem or in Nazareth? ibid.
Historians have never found a shred of evidence that a Roman census was conducted precisely at the time the Christian Bible records Jesus’ birth. ibid.
Is it possible that Mary and Joseph were never married at all? ibid.
Mysteriously, the Christian Bible provides no details whatsoever about her days spent in Egypt with her husband and the infant Jesus. ibid.
The only woman mentioned by name in the Koran – Mary. Melvyn Bragg, The Muslim Jesus, ITV 2007
As in the Bible an angel tells Mary she is pregnant even though she’s a virgin. ibid.
It was in what is now western Turkey that the Mary cult started to become a global phenomenon. A special devotion grew up around her to replace the old pagan goddesses like Diana or Artemis. In church doctrine she went from being the mere mother of Jesus to ... the Mother of God. This incredible clout was reinforced by the building of churches devoted to her and the dissemination of her image all over Byzantium, the Christian Roman Empire in the east. Bettany Hughes, The Bible: A History, Channel 4 2010
Nevertheless, Isis is venerated by her followers as the Virgin Mother. ibid.
We also have a distinct correlation between Mary as the Christ-carrier and the Ark as the carrier of God. Philip Gardiner, The Ark, The Shroud & Mary, documentary & book
Firstly, at a feast day of Mary had been chosen in relationship to the veneration of the Shroud. And secondly, that the Odessa cloth itself had repeatedly been associated with her. Were the Ark, the Shroud and Mary all one and the same in symbolism? ibid.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:18-21
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:1&2&11
Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? And who are my brethren?
And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! Matthew 12:47-49
There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.
And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?
And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! Mark 3:31-34
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Luke 1:26-35
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. Luke 2:4&5
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19
And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. Luke 2:42-46
And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.
And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. Luke 8:20&21