Religion
In reply to the discussion: Why Is Rape at the Origin of Most Religion? [View all]Major Nikon
(36,818 posts)So I suppose it really boils down to....
A) you want to consider the bible historical rather than mythological
and...
B) you want to consider the act with a contemporary conscience rather than a historical one
If both A and B are true, then it's hard to imagine this as anything but rape. Jewish females were routinely betrothed at 12-15, so the chances that Mary was an adult female are quite remote. So even if you were able to twist yourself into believing she was anything near the age of a person able to give what is today regarded as legal consent, her ability to withhold such consent would have been comparable to that of a slave. She even qualifies her "consent" as that of a subservient subject of a divine master.
But let's say one didn't want to agree to both A and B. That would require one to acquiesce the bible is mythology, and/or a piss-poor contemporary moral compass. Personally I go with both.