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Culture War Roundup for the week of December 18, 2023

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And in your opinion something nobody fully understands is less of a shit test than believing in perpetual virginity?

Yeah, because even the Reformers had a falling out about the perpetual virginity of Mary; Luther had no problem with it, but he was still in mindset a Catholic. As denominations got more Protestant over time, and with the fears of Mariolatry, they denied her virginity.

Of course, then down the line, this leads to denying the Virgin Birth altogether, because hey how can a modern person of the scientific era believe in pregnancy without sex, and then it's not a big step to "Jesus was Just This Guy, You Know?", but that's their problem, not ours or the Orthodox

See the Athakist to the Theotokos:

Priest: Eloquent rhetors we see mute as fish before you O Theotokos. For they are at a loss to explain how you had the power to give birth and yet remained a virgin. But we the faithful marveling at the mystery cry out with faith:

Rejoice, vessel of God's wisdom;
Rejoice, storehouse of God's providence.
Rejoice, revealer of philosophers as fools;
Rejoice, exposer of the technologists as irrational.
Rejoice, for the fierce debaters are made foolish;
Rejoice, for the creators of the myths have wilted.
Rejoice, breaker of the webs of the Athenians' logic;
Rejoice, filler of the nets of the fishermen.
Rejoice, drawer of many from the abyss of ignorance;
Rejoice, enlightener of many with knowledge.
Rejoice, ship for those wishing salvation;
Rejoice, harbor for life's navigators.
Rejoice, O Bride unwedded.