Was Jesus Christ Married?

For all the lovely Hindus here you go ....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/5058840.stm

Re: # 62
Mohammad Saab Jee,
Tussey mere sawal da jawaab nahee ditta, khallee mainu gaala kudd dittiya.

Khair Chuddo, I thought that you were a sport, but it seems that you are not interesting in having a free-thinking post. Maybe you are a wanna-be ``freethinker``. All you care about it what you think on the subject matter.

My previous apology was something that I offerred to you genuinely, regarding some Hindu woman whom you were friendly with.

Please explain and show me what you meant by Trash(Kachra). Can you please help me to understand? Maybe there is something that I can learn and improve today. I am always open for positive criticism.

BTW, Salimdost, whom many regard as an authority on Islam on Chowk, has already answered my question humbly(partial it maybe).

I sincerely hope that you are a sport and not like that Mooch Marror DG-Police KPS Gill.

Dillidost #56 and earlier #37 {``What would be your reaction if Dan Brown wrote a book about his marriage to Ayesha? Salman Rusheed was almost killed for merely writing about Prophet.
No disrespect, but dont think that Muslims have concepts of rationale thought and inquisitiveness as Westerners do or for that matter Indians. ``}

and {``By the same logic, people can question if Prophet Mohmamad received his voices from Allah or not?????? ``}


Dillidost,
People HAVE written books claiming much more and casting even more sinister allegations concerning the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Dante in his ``Inferno`` placed Mohammed (PBUH) in the deepest part of hell along with Hazrat Imam Ali. Washington Irving wrote several insulting accounts of his life. They are all gone, but his name lives on. Those who get emotional and violent over such stupidities are themselves stupid. Salman Rushdie, Dante, Washington Irving, and others can write what they want and we should read and refute or simply ignore their biased views - but they have every right to write what they like and we have every right to disagree or ignore. Violence and anger just gives them more credibility and exposure.

As for questioning the validity of the Holy Prophet`s (PBUH) messages from Allah, you have every right to be dubious. In fact, his messages/visions from God, delivered through the Angel Gabriel that constitute the Holy Koran, are the most convincing aspects of his truthfulness, veracity, and honesty. The man was illiterate and came up with this very sophisticated and literary revelation. Anybody else, insecure his own shortcoming, would have claimed ownership of this scripture. Also, considering the primitive society of Arabia, anyone else with such a gift would have used it for personal gain and advantage. Claiming to be a ``messenger`` of Allah, a servant of Allah - a mere errand boy or chaprasi, is certainly not gaining any advantage, wealth, or power. The Holy Prophet`s life is there as an example of selflessness, sacrifice, and commitment to uniting mankind under one God. Of course, people are welcome to disagree. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), when his mission was in its infancy and he was politically, economically, and militarily weak, faced more disagreement from his own family, his own tribe, his own city, and his own society - far more than he faces today. His name and his mission live on. I thank God for giving us this wonderful man as an example for mankind. Thanks.

Ijaz-gul:

Thanks for your feedback. I do not claim any authoritative status in as much as Christology is concerned. I believe religion was created by man (humans) for a mundane purpose. Man needed a superpower(s) to invoke in time of need because he found himself so insecure. Different groups of people created their gods and supernatural deities according to their imagination and customs. They gave names to their deities in their own languages. In the Abrahmic religions, God is the God of Jews because they claimed to be the chosen people of God. I personally believe that we, the humans, should try to understand how these religions began and evolved over a period of time. In this way, the religious tension that exists these days may be alleviated. I may be wrong but if nothing else, trying to find the truth is not an unworthy undertaking.

I confess that I had a slight bias against tradition. Tradition has suppressed all other dissident historical literature. The statements that I made in my essay were supported by genuine (and not contrived) references. I also highlighted the speculative aspects of the possibility of Jesus` marriage in the essay. Let me reproduce the following extract:

``In view of her important visibility in the Christ saga, many did believe she was indeed the wife of Jesus Christ. BLL however only hypothesized as follows: “Perhaps the Magdalene – that elusive woman in the Gospels – was in fact Jesus’ wife. Perhaps their union produced offspring. After the crucifixion perhaps the Magdalene, with at least one child, was smuggled to Gaul – where established Jewish communities already existed and where, in consequence, she might have found a refuge. Perhaps there was, in short, hereditary bloodline descended directly from Jesus. Perhaps the bloodline, supreme sang real, then perpetuated itself, intact and incognito, for some hundred years…”

This hypothesis was given a more concrete and positive form by Brown in his novel. According to his narration effectively, “The Holy Grail is not a physical chalice as is commonly believed; it is a woman named Mary Magdalene who was Christ’s wife…At the time of crucifixion, she was pregnant with Christ’s baby daughter. After the crucifixion, she fled to Gaul where she was sheltered by the Jews of Marseilles. Her daughter after birth was named Sarah,” (4).``

My bias toward the possibility of Jesus` marriage arose from the fact that marriage is more natural than celibacy. In the prevailing practices of Judaism at the time of Christ, marriage was the usual practice. Celibacy is so much venerated in Christianity which seems unrealistic. Marriage is needed if for no other purpose than propagation of the human race.

It would have been very beneficial if other interactors, like you and ana, had discussed the issue in its true perspective. I want to assure the readers that the essay was not written out of malice and disregard. Be well,

Mohammad Gill

Marriage has frequent references in Scriptures. Yet when Jesus Christ spoke if it in reference to a divorce and celibacy. He said,

``Not all men can recieve this saying [celibacy], but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and then there are who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of God``
Gospel of St. Matthew`s 19:12

Later St Paul in his letters laid particular emphasis on this divine aspect of celibacy. So as a Christian, I would always doubt these conspiracy theories be it the Code or the Last Temptation of Christ.

Commenting on the evolution of the Christian Church is not as simplified as appears in this article by Gill written perhaps in a hurry and with a uni focus. Being a scholar, he should have followed the inductive theories on both sides of the spectrum and perhaps concluded with as many speculations. He shows clear bias, lack of method and lack of knowledge.

Nice to see you Ana

Cheerios

Re: # 62

You wrote:

Let me tell you one last time that I don`t care what you write because it is nothing but trash. And I am not interested in it.

I respond:

Let me tell you one last time that I don`t care what you write because it is nothing but trash. And I am not interested in it.

P.S: I read 2 of your articles. One was on Salim Ali (I liked it) and other one is this one. As for Jihadi comment, I am not sure whether you are a jihadi or not. I know by experience that there are many good-sounding, English speaking, suit-wearing Jihadis (from Pakistan). Rational thinking applies not just to others for oursleves as well. I was impressed with your alma mater (Imperial College) but there could be exceptions. As Einstein said `` It`d be a sad situation if the wrapper were better than the meat wrappd inside it``.

It was very clear who`s thinks how. I repeat it for your convenience: My wife is a virgin, others` wives are whores! Rational thinking applies to judge others, not me, coz I am beyond judgement! We can kill others for slanderous comments on my prophet/religion but we can say anything to slander others (under the guise of freethinking)! That`s why (perhaps) Secular Web refused to publish this crap.

Delhiwala & VRV
:
The title of the article is ``Was Jesus Christ Married?`` I have tried responding to the questions which were relevant to my article and were pertinent. You are bringing in Mohammad and issues related to him in your discussion, which have nothing to do with my article. If you believe your issues are so very important why don`t you write about them yourself. You believe I am a half-educated person, so be it. You are better-educated and better-informed about those issues; so go ahead and write about them. I don`t take writing assignments from others.
I am fairly certain that you guys haven`t read the article, or at least haven`t read read it carefullly, because you`re not interested in that - your intent is to make personal attacks and degrade a person simply because he has ties with Pakistan and is a born Muslim - and hence a jihadi (in a degrading sense) and a fair game. Let me tell you one last time that I don`t care what you write because it is nothing but trash. And I am not interested in it.

Delhiwala:

If I remember correctly, you apologized from me once before for your trash writing. Aplogy doesn`t mean a thing if you do not desist from trash writing.

Mohammad Gill

Re: # 56
Readers: I am merely asking a question. In no way I am making fun of any Religion.
I understand that some readers with agendas might use my post to make fun but it is not my intention.
- thank you

Re: # 59

Thanks Salimbhai.

Desert and cool place. Yes sounds logical.

I am expecting the freethinker to come out his paralysis and respond to our Delhiwala.

#58, VRV,
If Allah prefers to talk from a cave He can do that because He is Almighty. :)

In the heat of Arabia, a cave is a nice cool place - not just for bats, foxes, or devils. :)

Also, it was the Angel Gabe who spoke to Mo (PBUH) and not Allah himself. But then, the whole thing could have been a vision instead of reality - who knows?

Re: # 56

Delhiwala saab,

I don`t think Mo was a cave-dweller. Moreover Allah is not a bat, fox nor a devil to be inside and talk from a cave. Why dont you use your free-thinking and specualte as to why he(?) chose to speak from a cave.

Re: # 56

He can`t answer that or it looks like he is blind. Pl send your query in Braille.

Re: # 50
By the same logic, people can question if Prophet Mohmamad received his voices from Allah or not??????

Right.....

#54, Didn`t you watch Big Love?

Was Jesus married? Was Mohammed a Mormon?

Re: # 52

Delhiwala ji,

I dont know that language. Wud u pl expalin it to me?

Folio.