scombrid

I'm talking vertebrates that normally reproduce sexually. All it would take is a meiotic mistake to produce a 2N egg and suddenly Jesus is a clone of Mary. It's more likely than supernatural intervention. (Of course if we grant the historicity of Jesus, the most likely explanation is that Jesus did contain paternal DNA.) At least we have confirmed examples of "virgin" births somewhere in the animal kingdom. That's more than can be said for all things supernatural. I was always amazed in Catholic school that we took Genesis, Exodus, etc... as allegorical myths but the virgin birth, angel visitations, resurrections, post-resurection visions, Mary in a Tortilla Chip, Jesus in Burnt Toast, etc... were all to be taken literally.

lpetrich

It might even be fun to tease a Catholic with a picture of a "virgin mother" -- an aphid.

Rhea

We're talking biology. The mechanism exists. For the record, I imagine there are great deal of medical cases you've never heard of. eh?
Ahem. Two comments come to mind.

1. "god works in mysterious ways"
2. "A man cannot rise from the dead." (said with whatever straight face you just used for making your statement.)

Take your pick.

Magus55

First of all, you have yet to show me of any medical cases where this has taken place, and whats your point with the comments? I'm not talking about the supernatural since you don't believe in it. Yes God can easily do that, but since in your world, God doesn't exist - how would it have happened?

GeoTheo

um, She got knocked up by some body else? That would be the most logical answer. I am not saying that is what I think happened. But the virgin birth is by no means hard for atheists to explain. They are just having some fun with the biological references. I don't think any of them believe Jesus was a female clone. They are just being playful.