Regarding the Virgin birth: A virgin is one who has not had sexual relations. This is evidenced often in women by the presence of the hymen (although this can be inconclusive). Since Jesus was not conceived sexually, Mary would still remain a virgin. Mary conceived Jesus when God placed him there.

In the Christian faith (at least in my interpretation of it), God and Jesus are two aspects of the same being. The Holy Spirit is a third aspect of the same being. In short, the phrase "Jesus is God's son" is only partially correct. Jesus is God. The idea of Jesus as the son of God comes from the fact that Jesus was born to a mother and was therefore her son. The "father" would have been God and therefore Jesus was God's son, however, Jesus is God, not just the son of God (e.g. they are the same). Another way to look at it is: God chose to become fully human (while still remaining God). In order to become fully human, God chose to be born in the form of Jesus. Jesus, while fully human was also fully God.

Since God and Jesus are the same, there is no difference between giving praise to Jesus or to God. God didn't become two distinct beings, instead there is only one God who chose to take human form for a specific purpose while still remaining God.

-- Jeff

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"Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem." --Ronald Reagan