Why would Catholics think that Mary was always a virgin?

[Anonymous]

it doesn’t make any sense. I think the Bible makes it clear that Jesus had siblings. And so do they think Joseph married her and never had sex with her? It’s bizarre.

[Effably]

While the fact that Jesus had not one but multiple brothers is often omitted it isn't a disputed fact. Sure some people try to argue that "Brothers and sisters born of the same womb" does not mean from the same mother but, come on. How much more specific than same womb do you need to get to specify they are Mary's kids?

So of course she was not always a virgin. If she was the bible would have made a big deal of Joseph never touching her.

In fact, James is believed to have been the oldest brother.
Yes. James, born to Virgin Mary, was older than Jesus. James was not a magical conception. Him being oldest is mentioned a couple of times in Mark.

Now ask yourself why the bits of Jesus' brothers and sisters are not taught commonly.

The simple reality is that Mary was not a virgin before or after Jesus. The whole virgin bit references only Jesus birth specifically but that seems a bit annoying to argue each time so most people are told Jesus was an only child. Catholics and protestants simply believe so because they tend to be reading their books the least.

[Asker]

If he had an older brother it could be because Joseph had children with another woman and was widowed.

[Effably]

That is where the "older brother from the same womb" bit comes in.

[strateguy632]

To @Effably just saying it is in mark doesn't make it so! The gospels don't even have those words: oldest older eldest elder.

[Effably]

Matthew 13:55. Mark 6:3. That's going by present for who is older. We can always go back to older versions and see them mentioned more.

[BCRanger10]

Simple. Jesus is called "Son of David", right? How could he be called "Son of David" when, by the time he was born, David had been dead for a thousand years? It comes down to how Jews of that day thought about things like family and lineage. I don't even know the specifics about it, but you can't read things about the "brothers of Jesus" with a 21st Century vernacular understanding.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Mary got married to Joeseph at 15, and he was somewhere in his 40’s or 50’s I believe. It would have been seen as really gross and gauche on Joeseph’s part to inseminate her before her body was ready to bear a child, as it would have increased her chances of dying in childbirth, which most would have been aware of. And no, having a period does not mean she would automatically be ready to have babies, her body would need to show specific maturity. And because Joeseph waited, like a good man, his family was rewarded with the immaculate conception of Jeshua, also known as Jesus.

[Asker]

wtf? Their ages are all speculative, so no.. he was older.. but no one says he was THAT much older.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Check the historical contexts, or even the greek bible. There was a massive age difference between them and Mary was incredibly young.

[purplepoppy]

Jesus had an older brother James. Bit hard if your mother's a virgin

[Anonymous]

'Cause their religion says so, and they have no critical thinking skills.

They also believe that two of every animal in existence could fit on one boat, complete with enough provisions to feed all of them for 40 days.

Tells you all you really need to know.

[WhitneySnow]

It’s a cult of virginity. It’s kind of silly, but I think it arises out of the ancient Romans’ obsessive concern for virginity and the purity and fidelity of their wives and daughters.

[strateguy632]

They believe that because they pray to her. She was holy and special. Too bad jesus said "this is how to pray, father" not "this is how to pray holy mary etc."

[jshm2]

What's more bizarre is that you got your theology degree from a Happy Meal. But still think you're intelligent enough to talk about the subject like you have a fucking clue.

[andreasderjuengere]

Perhaps they assume that Joseph was gay?