By the way: most of the rabbis that I've spoken with about it also see the
"ever-virginity" as being the result of a Hellenistic/Platonist influence
instead of a typical Jewish/Hebrew understanding of the married life.

MLW+

-----Original Message-----
From: GMSpencer@... [mailto:GMSpencer@...] 
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 1:33 PM
To: faithandlife@...
Subject: Re: [FaithandLife] The Orthodox View of the 'Immaculate
Conception'(died 1966)

" Also, not that I really care, but I agree with Bill+ that Scripture does
seem to suggest that Mary did go on to have more children."

Well, I disagree with both you lousy prots and on scriptural grounds.
Remember the passage in the Gospel of John when Jesus was dying on the cross
and he gave (like a good son) the care of his mother over to John? Remember?
Now that is a very big deal. Just ask any Rabbi and he will tell you that if
Jesus had brothers such an action would be a profound insult and scandle. Do
any of you recall a scandle concerning the siblings of Jesus and the care of
his Mother being reported in the early Church documents or Scriptures?
Afterall Jewish custom and the Law would require living siblings to take up
the care of parents after the death of the first born. The reason there
wasn't a scandle is because there were no siblings to take up that
responsibility and that is also why Jesus provided for her temporal
well-being as he was dying. I thought all you Bibleologists would have
figured that one out!
gms+