# Mary's Pregnancy Test Comes Back Positive **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 15, 2011, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marys-pregnancy-test-comes-back-positive/606295 "2011-12-15T13:46:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marys-pregnancy-test-comes-back-positive/606295/1 "2011-12-15T13:46:08Z")
I love this. A n Anglican Church in New Zealand has put up billboards showing the Virgin Mary holding her face in shovck after looking at the result of her preegnancy test. They put it up to “shake things up” and get people thinking. It’ll definitely do that > [@](#): > > A controversial new billboard shows the Virgin Mary holding a pregnancy test with a “positive” reading. > > The billboard, called “Mary is in the pink,” was purchased by the St. Matthews-in-the-City Church in Auckland, New Zealand. The church says the billboard featuring the revered religious figure aimed to “avoid the sentimental [and] trite” and “spark thought and conversation.” It bears no text. > **[Yahoo News: Latest and Breaking News, Headlines, Live Updates, and More](https://news.yahoo.com/)** > > The latest news and headlines from Yahoo News. Get breaking news stories and in-depth coverage with videos and photos. Apparently it’s not the first time they’ve put up a wild billboard. > [@](#): > > This billboard is only the latest in a string of provocative, holiday-themed billboards for the church, according to local TV station 3 News. In 2009, they ran another Christmas billboard featuring Mary and Joseph in bed with the tagline, “Poor Joseph, God was a hard act to follow.” > **[BBC News - Unholy row over New Zealand Mary and Joseph billboard](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8417963.stm)** > > A church billboard depicting a semi-naked Joseph and Mary in bed together has caused a furore in New Zealand. ---
**Author:** ![velvetjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@velvetjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velvetjones)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marys-pregnancy-test-comes-back-positive/606295/2 "2011-12-15T14:44:15Z")
Well, Mary’s a blonde and they do say blondes have more fun, right? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Il_Palazzo)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marys-pregnancy-test-comes-back-positive/606295/3 "2011-12-15T15:04:09Z")
Maybe I’m just dense but in not really seeing “controversial” or “provocative” in the new billboard. The fact that Mary was pregnant and had a child is kind of central to the story of Christmas and isn’t really anything new our shocking. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marys-pregnancy-test-comes-back-positive/606295/4 "2011-12-15T15:20:54Z")
I think it’s perplexing. Mary wasn’t shocked that she was pregnant; she told the angel, “let it be done to be as you say.” I think she’d be shocked it there was no pink line. For a church to suggest that Mary was in some way dismayed about the whole thing sort of undermines the entire theology. Conceived without sin, she’d been prepared by God to be the mother of the savior from the get-go. There’s really not much of a comparison between Mary and your typical single mother, shocked by the pee stick. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marys-pregnancy-test-comes-back-positive/606295/5 "2011-12-15T15:24:45Z")
> [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](#): > > Maybe I’m just dense but in not really seeing “controversial” or “provocative” in the new billboard. The fact that Mary was pregnant and had a child is kind of central to the story of Christmas and isn’t really anything new our shocking. I guarantee there will be a reaction. Mary’s obviously shocked by the revelation, and it’s drawing comparisons betwen her and an unwed mother. Hec k, there will be people shocked that she learned of her pregnancy through a peestick and not from an angel. I knew people who were shocked that _Jesus Christ Superstar_ told the story of Jesus in _rock music_. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Il_Palazzo)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marys-pregnancy-test-comes-back-positive/606295/6 "2011-12-15T15:37:10Z")
I can maybe see people getting up in arms over the idea that Mary was shocked to find herself pregnant (what with preceding divine revelation). I hadn’t read her expression that way when I first saw it (I thought she just looked overwealmed by it all, which I think is an understandable reaction.) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marys-pregnancy-test-comes-back-positive/606295/7 "2011-12-15T17:58:05Z")
I’m shocked by how Anglo-Saxon she looks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marys-pregnancy-test-comes-back-positive/606295/8 "2011-12-15T18:15:37Z")
That should show those proponants of abstinance-only… It’s not 100% effective. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marys-pregnancy-test-comes-back-positive/606295/9 "2011-12-15T19:01:32Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > I think it’s perplexing. Mary wasn’t shocked that she was pregnant; she told the angel, “let it be done to be as you say.” I think she’d be shocked it there was no pink line. For a church to suggest that Mary was in some way dismayed about the whole thing sort of undermines the entire theology. Conceived without sin, she’d been prepared by God to be the mother of the savior from the get-go. There’s really not much of a comparison between Mary and your typical single mother, shocked by the pee stick. I think a lot of people don’t know all the theology and just think of Mary as a virgin. So it’s kind of funny in that respect. Even funnier would be a stern looking Joseph glaring in the background. ---
**Author:** ![Ashes\_Ashes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@Ashes\_Ashes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashes_Ashes)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marys-pregnancy-test-comes-back-positive/606295/10 "2011-12-15T20:06:24Z")
My favorite painting of the [Annunciation](http://www.moleiro.com/en/art-books/mujeres-mitologias/miniatura/381) has Mary looking less than pleased. I really can’t remember many where she looks as though she’ll jump for joy. They’re really not breaking much new ground, unless they’re trying to say Mary now has a choice to make. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marys-pregnancy-test-comes-back-positive/606295/11 "2011-12-15T21:26:17Z")
> [@Ashes\_Ashes](#): > > My favorite painting of the [Annunciation](http://www.moleiro.com/en/art-books/mujeres-mitologias/miniatura/381) has Mary looking less than pleased. I really can’t remember many where she looks as though she’ll jump for joy. Ha — less than pleased? She looks totally pissed! ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marys-pregnancy-test-comes-back-positive/606295/12 "2011-12-15T21:39:59Z")
It’s just morning sickness. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marys-pregnancy-test-comes-back-positive/606295/13 "2011-12-15T21:48:24Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > That should show those proponants of abstinance-only… It’s not 100% effective. I think I broke some kind of very valuable internal organ laughin’ over this. I’ll send you the hospital bill. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marys-pregnancy-test-comes-back-positive/606295/14 "2011-12-16T03:44:29Z")
[Maury Christmas!](http://www.flickr.com/photos/kyrion/321364004/) ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marys-pregnancy-test-comes-back-positive/606295/15 "2011-12-16T09:00:41Z")
> [@Encinitas](#): > > It’s just morning sickness. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marys-pregnancy-test-comes-back-positive/606295/16 "2011-12-16T10:58:42Z")
I had a friend who was at a local school meeting to discuss what qualified as ‘family’ for school purposes. During the discussion, he said _“Well, Jesus had two daddies.”_ That caused a great uproar, and he was literally escorted out of the building – told that his comments were ‘disruptive’. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marys-pregnancy-test-comes-back-positive/606295/17 "2011-12-16T17:08:49Z")
I don’t get how Mary was a virgin in the first place. Wasn’t she married to Joseph? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marys-pregnancy-test-comes-back-positive/606295/18 "2011-12-16T17:10:12Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > I don’t get how Mary was a virgin in the first place. Wasn’t she married to Joseph? Betrothed. Joe was going to break off the engagement, but angels told him, “it’s OK, it was only God.” ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marys-pregnancy-test-comes-back-positive/606295/19 "2011-12-16T17:12:33Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > I don’t get how Mary was a virgin in the first place. Wasn’t she married to Joseph? They were engaged, not yet married, when the conception occurred. That’s why Joseph planned to “put her away quietly” before he too was visited by the angel. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marys-pregnancy-test-comes-back-positive/606295/20 "2011-12-16T17:29:19Z")
I’m not religious, but this sounds like a church I’d like to join. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marys-pregnancy-test-comes-back-positive/606295.md?page=2)