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ABC to Air Special on Jesus Christ
DAVID BAUDER
Associated Press

NEW YORK - ABC News correspondent Elizabeth Vargas concedes her network is stepping into a theological minefield with its one-hour exploration of whether Jesus Christ had a wife.

The ABC News special, "Jesus, Mary and DaVinci," is scheduled to air Monday at 8 p.m. ET.

"You can't talk about this subject without intriguing people or offending people," Vargas said Thursday. "We're trying to do it as respectfully as we can."

ABC screened the special for some reporters and religious leaders on Thursday. The program is based on the best-selling novel, "The DaVinci Code," which claims to be partly grounded on historical fact.

The book asserts that Mary Magdalene was Jesus' wife - not a prostitute, as in some teachings - and that she fled Jerusalem with his child following his crucifixion.

The story was kept alive for centuries by a secret society that included the painter Leonardo DaVinci, who supposedly inserted clues about it in his art, the book claimed.

The ABC special outlines the theories and speaks to several theologians who either discount the story or assert that it is possible.

The show unravels like a mystery perpetuated by secondhand gossip. Vargas said ABC found no proof that Jesus had a wife, but couldn't completely discount it, either.

Vargas, who was raised a Roman Catholic, said her own parents said to her, "Oh, my goodness, what are you doing?" when they found out she was working on the story.

She said she was never aware of the power struggles and political intrigue that went into how her faith is taught today.

"For me, it's made religion more real and, ironically, much more interesting - which is what we're hoping to do for our viewers," she said.

It drew some immediate criticism, particularly from a representative of the Catholic League, who said ABC News relied too heavily on the opinion of Father Richard McBrien of Notre Dame, who believes Mary Magdalene's importance has been historically understated and that it's possible she was his wife.

"I think it was not sufficiently balanced," said Joseph DeFeo, policy analyst for the Catholic League. "The majority of the people who spoke believed in either the plausibility or the outright truth of (book author) Dan Brown's claims. The facts themselves scream out that this is a crackpot theory."

The show even drew criticism from Nikki Stephanopoulos, mother of ABC News correspondent George and the communications director for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. She the special might offend people who believe that women have a more prominent role in the church.

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Originally posted by mrpayroll
You would probably get more hits in this thread if you were to change the title to:

ABC show to explore the myth that Jesus Christ is NOT the savior of the world, but instead was sinner, had a wife and kids and died on the Cross for nothing!

I hope that will fit for you! :)

Chris

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Originally posted by DodgingCars, Esq.
Having a wife and kids is a sin?

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Originally posted by mrpayroll
In his case, yes! Well you know what I mean! He would have been so consumed with pleasing his wife and kids, that he would have forgotten about his Father.

Hey you should know this, you're a better Christian than I am! ;)

Chris

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Originally posted by mrpayroll
I guess I see this as in the same light as 'The Last Temptation of Christ'. My feeling is, why try to trash a good man's image when there is no basis in truth to it at all.

Chris

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Originally posted by DodgingCars, Esq.
While I never saw Last Temptation, nor have I read this book -- I don't think either trashed Jesus's image.

Yes, the both gave hypopthetical scenarios about Christ and said stuff about Him that most Christians would see as unbiblical, I don't believe either trashed Him.

But, I'm basing this on what I've heard of the film and the book, not on anything I've witnessed myself.

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Originally posted by movielib
I've read the book and seen the movie. I don't think either trashed him. They were, as you say, unbiblical, but they had a great deal of reverence and respect. Although IMO, the book was great and the movie stunk.

But I don't expect anyone to listen to me on this subject. ;)

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Originally posted by mrpayroll
Well he is a Sacrificial Lamb for mankind, not a husband to some woman, so yes I think both of these stories trash the truth about him.

Chris

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Originally posted by Darren Garrison
Boy, THIS thread's going to end well.

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Originally posted by immortal_zeus

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The only problem with this is that it's on ABC on Monday. Does that mean no Monday Night Football? :( I just checked on Zap2it and it shows the Patriots vs. Broncos this Monday night. :confused:

http://www.ameritech.net/users/dvdtalk/rome.gif

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Originally posted by movielib
It's a one hour program airing before MNF.

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Originally posted by mrpayroll
Or after on the West Coast!

Chris

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Originally posted by mrpayroll
I guess I see this as in the same light as 'The Last Temptation of Christ'. My feeling is, why try to trash a good man's image when there is no basis in truth to it at all.

Chris

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Originally posted by movielib
It's a one hour program airing before MNF.

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