Joseph (Husband of Mary)

From RationalWiki

Joseph, the husband of Mary, was a sexually frustrated man, according to Roman Catholic traditions and some other Christian traditions. Now that's sad. These traditions claim that God cuckolded him. Another source claimed that a Roman soldier called Pantera cuckolded him. The Roman Catholic tradition claims further that Mary remained a virgin all her life. References in New Testament to the brothers and sisters are explained away.

If this was true either Joseph had physical problems or he was not a devout Jew. Judaism does not condone life-long celibacy. Judaism teaches that marriage is best for most people. Furthermore husband and wife should experience a normal married relationship except when the wife is pregnant, menstruating or considered ritually impure for other reasons.

Other Christian traditions believe that Mary was a virgin when she bore Jesus but later had a normal relationship with her husband and bore him children. This would have been consistent with Joseph practicing Judaism.

Quite possibly the story of the virgin birth and the Pantera story were both made up. Jesus could have been conceived and born through a normal relationship between Joseph and his wife.

[edit] See also

Four separate men called “Joseph” are relevant to Abramic religions.

• Old Testament Joseph, who had family problems
• Joseph of Arimathea who may have buried Jesus, if he was dead
• Josephus a Romanised Jewish historian misquoted by Christians.

For details see individual articles.