The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from Pagan and Christian Creeds by Edward Carpenter: of tradition among them.
[1] Probably the long period (nine months) elapsing between
cohabitation and childbirth confused early speculation on the
subject. Then clearly cohabitation was NOT always followed by
childbirth. And, more important still, the number of virgins of a
mature age in primitive societies was so very minute that the
fact of their childlessness attracted no attention--whereas in
OUR societies the sterility of the whole class is patent to
everyone.
Anyhow, and as a matter of fact, the world-wide dissemination
of the legend is most remarkable. Zeus, Father
 Pagan and Christian Creeds |