>... and, of course, the imaculate contraption. Any young, unmarried girl, who got herself knocked up in those days could expect stoning to death to add to her problems. ...
In the Bahá'í Faith, we do believe in the immaculate conception. However, the fact that Christ didn't have a biological father doesn't make Him any more holy. 'Abdul-Bahá (a leader in the Bahá'í community) said something to the effect that, if Jesus' holiness is based on the fact that He doesn't have a father, then Adam must be holier still, since he didn't have a father NOR a mother.
The special position of Christ is more related to the teachings He brought to mankind.
BTW, I heard rumors that similar claims (about immaculate conception) were also made about other religious leaders, like Krishna. However, I didn't investigate in more detail.
Difference in opinions hath cost many millions of lives: for instance, whether flesh be bread, or bread be flesh; whether whistling be a vice or a virtue; whether it be better to kiss a post, or throw it into the fire... (from Gulliver's Travels)
