Susan2

That may be one way to look at it, whether true or not. However it misses the opportunity to understand modern human development through our heritiage of these ancient religions and belief systems, hence correct our beliefs when necessary.

Is Mary, Joseph and the siblings of Jesus to receive no forgiveness, merely for suggesting that Jesus is 'mad'.

Who the hell does this little upstart think he is? God? Apparently so.

What is God? Is God capable of both good and evil, right and wrong, mistakes and corrections, premeditations and accidents? Is God capable of joy and sorrow?

Dishonoring your mother and father is a capital offence in this ancient Judaism, and yet there is no recording of the Pharisees having crucified Jesus for dishonoring his mother or father. They crucify him for blaspheming them, the religion.

Does religion take precedent over family?

Notice that he, the text doesn't cast the Pharisees (religion and it's leaders) out for having blasphemed him (calling him the son of satan, evil, and illusion to the garden of eden/eve). It casts out, breaks his family ties, as though they are of no value. Are they?

Rather than a confrontation between these early Hebrews and Christianity, I see a preverted tag team.