>>There is a theory that Mary was betrothed to one of Herods sons. The one that ruled in Alexandria, Egypt. He was good friend of Augustus, who later became Emperor. Augustus had a bad habit of raping his friend’s wives or betrothed. Hence Mary's pregnancy. Herod’s son then rejected her & she was married off to one of the temple priests. Joseph, who was an older man with a number of sons. When Herod was killing the newborn males they fled into Egypt where they had friends. Thus when Pontius Pilate asked Jesus who his father was, Jesus whispered in his ear, and then Pilate washed his hands.<<

One thing that Muslims could (and should) learn from Christians is that you can safely write things like this - even make a provocative movie of it if you like - and no Christian will pay much attention to your provocation, not to mention initiating riots. Because it conveys information only about the conveyer not the subject matter.

George: Because it conveys information only about the conveyer not the subject matter.

I didn't say I believed it George. I said it was a theory. One of many that I would like to discuss. Such as, Jesus is buried in Northern India

You are right on the Islamic front though. I would have had a fatwa issued against me & my head lopped off by now if I had said any of the like about Muhammad.

Jayb,
It is irrelevant whether or not you believe the facts stated in the (offensive to Christians) story. (I do not think the author of the movie “Innocence of Muslims” believed the story he wrote to provoke with.) If your post was not intended to only reveal you own attitude towards Christianity (whatever personal experience was behind it) but its aim was to present an alternative “theory” based on facts, you should have provided some information about respectable specialists (historians and exegetes in this case) who support it. There is no point trying to broaden ones own perspective on these things (whether Christian, atheist or what) through an ad hoc invented silly story.

There are indeed “a myriad of legends about Jesus” that are not in agreement with the official narrative based on the New Testament. However, if you want to discuss them here (as skeptical as I am about this) you should provide the names of specialists or links that support these alternative “theories”, since I do not think there are many exegetes and historians specializing in these matters on this OLO.

Like you could provide alternative e.g. theories about physical reality (string theories, loop quantum gravity, etc) and discuss them. However, since most of us do not have the necessary mathematical and physical qualifications, the discussion could be merely non-critical, relying on “authorized” popularizations. And in case of seemingly weird theories you should provide the names of established experts (physicists) who can explain and defend them.

The Bible story I particularly enjoy is the one about the 'Three Little Pigs' Many theologians like myself believe this story relates directly, or indirectly, depending on the time of day, to the holy trinity, that's why there are 3 little pigs not 2 or 4 little pigs, although in some other faiths it has become necessary to replace little pigs with other little critters, due to the unpopularity of the porkers. Obviously the big bad wolf is, you know, none other than the devil himself. The brick house must be a direct reference to heaven, what else could it be?

Paul1405: It's an analogy I've not heard before but you are right. Some fairy stories & nursery rhymes were written to enhance Religious beliefs. Some were very sexual. (Sleeping beauty) Some to impart moral behaviour, Aesop’s Fables, Uncle Remus (Brer Rabbit & Brer Bear), Canterbury tales & the story of King Arthur (which is a story within a story within a story of Christianity in the Dark Ages.) (Not the children’s version.)

Or indeed, it could be entirely the other way around, Paul1405

>>Many theologians like myself believe this story relates directly, or indirectly, depending on the time of day, to the holy trinity, that's why there are 3 little pigs not 2 or 4 little pigs<<

Three is a recurring number in mythology and storytelling, so it is hardly surprising that the christian church (or one branch of it) selected that number for its headline act.

Pythagoras probably started it with his theory that three was the "perfect" number. 500 years before Christ was born - and even longer from the adoption of the theory by christians - Pythagoras mused that it could represent "beginning, middle and end", as well as such concepts as the trinity of gods at that time - Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto. There were of course the three Greek Fates, Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos. Three Roman Fates, Nona, Decima and Morte. The Norns of Norse mythology, Urðr, Verðandi and Skuld.

As Wikipedia points out, this illustrates the "Rule of Three" in literature.

"The rule of three is a writing principle that suggests that things that come in threes are inherently funnier, more satisfying, or more effective than other numbers of things. The reader or audience of this form of text is also more likely to consume information if it is written in groups of threes. From slogans ("Go, fight, win!") to films, many things are structured in threes. Examples include The Three Stooges, Three Little Pigs, Three Billy Goats Gruff, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and Three Blind Mice. A series of three often creates a progression in which the tension is created, built up, and finally released. Similarly, adjectives are often grouped in threes to emphasize an idea."

It would appear that your religion followed a well-established pattern when it created the story of the "trinity".