Immaculate conception was not unusual in the ancient world. The Greek gods had been impregnating mortal women for centuries why is this so hard for your pee- brain to grasp? (have to start calling you "pee brain" instead of gregore)
For the upper classes, having a lineage dating to the gods helped soldify their positions in that society and right to rule. For the lower classes, it helped women avoid scrutiny or punishment. Mary and Joseph lived in extreme poverty. It is entirely possible that Mary engaged in an affair resulting in Jesus, then claimed the Jewish god impregnated her to avoid stigma.
Mythology is full of stories about the gods and mortal women. In particular, Zeus seemingly impregnated hundreds of women. Generally, the king of gods disguised himself in a variety of ways to fool the women. He might appear as a goose, golden ray, or in human form. In any rate, once finished, the women found themselves pregnant. Dionysus, Helen of Troy, and Heracles are just three examples of Zeus mating with mortals
Being the offspring of a god had its advantages. The ruling classes often claimed to be descended from the gods in order to justify their positions. For example, Alexander’s mother, Olympias, claimed a lightning bolt struck her womb resulting in her son. Rumors spread that Alexander was the son of Zeus. Plutarch claimed Alexander the Great descended from Heracles and by implication, Zeus.
Like Alexander, Julius Caesar claimed divine descent. The Roman dated his ancestry to the goddess Venus. Likewise, Caesar’s nephew, Augustus, rewrote his paternity. To help justify his emperorship, Augustus divulged his mother experienced several omens before the god Apollo sired him. Additionally, the emperor deified Julius Caesar. As the adopted son of Caesar, Augustus became the son of a god.
feel free to read more here.
examiner.com
While the upper class used paternity to demonstrate divine sanction to their station, the lower classes used it to hide paternity or elicit affairs. Young women could escape punishment or societal sanction by placing blame for their condition upon a god. Superstitious people would not attack or abandon a woman pregnant with a deity’s child or hurt the child itself. To do so risked angering the gods. In Greek mythology, Zeus destroyed the city of Argos after its king jettisoned the baby Perseus and his mother into the sea.
Jesus Christ probably believed he was the son of god. His mother claimed the Holy Spirit came to her leading to the Immaculate Conception. The story is eerily similar to the story of Danae. Zeus impregnated her as a golden rain leading to Perseus’ birth. Likewise, the Holy Spirit showered itself upon the virgin. Mary had to have known some variation of the story and modified it once she became pregnant by Joseph or some other man. The white lie eventually led to Jesus’ death.
Jesus knew he was special. His family had to have recounted the Immaculate Conception to him. As a result, he took up his birthright as Caesar and Alexander before him. Perhaps he even decided to become the son of god in response to Augustus’ similar claim. Either way, he became an itinerant rabbi and eventually decided to play the Messiah role. The Romans executed him thinking the Jewish Messiah akin to Spartacus.
Immaculate Conception occurred all the time in the ancient world. It is woven throughout mythology and history. Alexander, Augustus, Julius Caesar, and Jesus Christ all claimed to be the offspring of deities. The claim helped justify their roles in society. It also immunized young women and their babies from sanction and stigma. |
