Chili

But perpetual virginity does not equal lifelong virginity or they would have called it that. If anything, perpetual means eternal instead of lifelong.

Berthold

Either way, whatever the difference may be: The canonical gospels are not at odds with Mary bearing children after Jesus. That is what I addressed.

Chili

Fair enough but that is also not true once we know who Jesus is. Mary was conceived by God and bore the Christ (or messiah if you like that better). It was Joseph's idea to call him Jesus with whom we are (or can be) brothers and sisters in Christ. This makes Christ the universal and us the particular as brother and sister in Christ if and only if the perpetual virginity of Mary is recognized (although admired like a shepherd is more like it).