Virgin Birth
     The translated Greek word parthenos can mean either young woman or virgin, the earlier Hebrew word almah from which the Greek was translated, simply means young woman, with no connotations to virginity whatsoever.  This mistake was originally made in the Septuagint (LXX) Greek translation o the Hebrew Bible, and it is obvious that Matthew and Luke used this instead of the original Hebrew texts.  With the exception of Matthew and Luke, New Testament authors make little mention of the virgin birth. Other alleged references, Mark 6:3 and John 1:13, 6:42 are at best, vague allusions.
     Miraculous human birth stories are common in the Bible, going back to Abraham and Sarah, and numerous stories of deities impregnating women are found throught Greco-Roman mythology.
     Clearly, the virgin birth was a fabrication of the early church to strengthen the belief that Jesus was the son of God, to show that their God became flesh, and as a means to encourage celibacy in the church hierachy.