Issues with the Catholic Church

[AndyHB]

Anyone commenting on the cultural position at the time would say it was the norm, ....

We agree on this, Boudi

... and since it is not made explicit in the Bible as to Christ's marital status we would take it that Christ was married, rather than that he was celibate.

Why?  We are told almost nothing about Jesus' life outside his 3 years' of ministry.  I'd suggest that this is because the writers felt it was irrelevant - and I simply pointed out that if someone wants to establish a new philosophy, they might very well decide to avoid any situation whereby they are seen to have favourites.

Finally, remember that there are several traditions that have Jesus staying alive and living out his life, married or otherwise, in a places as far apart as Kashmir and Spain!!  Could this spread of tradition be because of what people might have regarded as his uncultural behaviour?

[Boudi]

Then the traditions, along with the fact that the writers don't say anything one way or the other put the balance in favour of marriage, since this was the 'default'.  What seems to have skewed everything is the churches decision to go for celibacy, and to impose that 'gift' on others.
There's also the problem of demi-god children once you deify Christ.

[AndyHB]

What seems to have skewed everything is the churches decision to go for celibacy, and to impose that 'gift' on others.

I don't disagree with you on this issue, Boudi, so I'm not sure why you keep on about it in posts addressed to me.

There's also the problem of demi-god children once you deify Christ.

Or, conversely, demi-human children once you humanify Christ.