Expert: George A. Card,sfo, M.I - 8/31/2004

Question
Hello.  Thank you for your time.  There are two things i would like to share with you.  I have a problem with Fundamentalist Christians because of this: most of them believe the world is only twelve-thousand years old.  They say that in reading the bible, and using the information they use from that, they can effectively trace back to when Jesus was born, etc.  They are completely serious.  I read an interview once, a man questioning a Fundamentalist, and asked about dinosaurs. As we all know, they existed millions of years ago.  when asked how to explain this, the Fundamentalist simply said "God put them there to test our faith." I dont know about you, but that sounds pretty rediculous to me.  They are so gullable, and pretty much will fall for and believe anything they hear.
  On another note (here's my first qeustion) I am not a fan of Catholisism, I have found too many loopholes to want to be a true follower.  I heard that when they translated the original bible to english, the english people used the word virgin, but what the read in the original was "young girl". This makes perfect sense to me, Catholics worshiping false ideas.  They have blown the whole "virgin" thing out of porportion.  Have you heard about this?
  Whenever i have made the mistake of asking a Catholic person about any of this they deny the truth, and work their way around my questions.  I find they have a one-track mind (or at least the ones i know)and are not open enought to think outside og their thick skulls.
 I'm sorry if i've been too forward, but please i would like to hear what you have to say.

Answer
                      Peace

Dear Jen
     Hmmm...as I begin this I think will be among the thing skulls she will refer to in the future. I smile.
    Young girl or someone that hasn't had sexual intercourse, seems to be the heart of the your question.
 My answer:
First some scripture:

Isaiah 7:14KJV
 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:23KJV
 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.


  I used the KJV because most non-Catholics, I know use is it.
The first scripture is found in the Old Testament. It is seen by many to be a double prophecy. The key to that is the word translated virgin.  The word literally means young woman or girl, without denoting if she had intercourse or not. It seen a possible double prophecy because it was fullfilled shortly thereafter.

It "becomes" a double prophecy when its linked to quote from St. Matthew's gospel. The word that Matthew uses literally means a young woman that hasnt had sexual intercourse.

Here are some quotes from early Catholic writers:

St.Epiphanius of Salamis

"We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of all things, both visible and invisible; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God . . . who for us men and for our salvation came down and took flesh, that is, was born perfectly of the holy ever-virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit" (The Man Well-Anchored 120 [A.D. 374]).


St Jerome
 
We believe that God was born of a virgin, because we read it. We do not believe that Mary was married after she brought forth her Son, because we do not read it. . . . You [Helvidius] say that Mary did not remain a virgin. As for myself, I claim that Joseph himself was a virgin, through Mary, so that a virgin Son might be born of a virginal wedlock"
(Against Helvidius: The Perpetual Virginity of Mary 21 [A.D. 383])


Pope Leo I

"His [Christ's] origin is different, but his [human] nature is the same. Human usage and custom were lacking, but by divine power a Virgin conceived, a Virgin bore, and Virgin she remained" (Sermons 22:2 [A.D. 450]).


I hope this was of use for you.
             your servant, but His First
                 george/ravjerome72 (yahoo messager)