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Da Vinci Code author backs claims that Jesus was married with children

Scaramella quizzed as poisoning probe widens

MARIO SCARAMELLA, the Italian security expert caught up in the Litvinenko poisoning case, was questioned by magistrates in Rome's Regina Coeli Prison last week as they tried to unravel a global conspiracy that might have sprung straight from the imagination of James Bond creator Ian Fleming. Scaramella was arrested at Naples Airport on Christmas Eve after returning from London, where he had lunched with Alexander Litvinenko on November 1, the day the former Russian spy was struck down by polonium poisoning. When the men met, Scaramella was carrying documents that purported to outline a Kremlin plot to assassinate Litvinenko, Scaramella and other individuals allegedly viewed as a threat by the Russian political establishment. Litvinenko is said to have dismissed the documents as "pure shit", but their validity was apparently confirmed when he received a lethal dose of the radioactive isotope polonium 210.

Scaramella's legal difficulties, which are likely to see him spending tonight, as well as Christmas in prison, stem from documents allegedly produced by him while consultant to the Mitrokhin Commission, set up by the government of former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi to investigate the activities of the KGB in Italy during the cold war. Scaramella is accused of aggravated calumny and arms trafficking for his role in apparently thwarting a terrorist attack planned against himself and the chairman of the Mitrokhin Commission, Paolo Guzzanti.

Four Ukrainians were arrested just over a year ago after being found in possession of two rocket-propelled grenades concealed in hollowed-out copies of the Bible, thanks to a tip-off to the police by Scaramella. The four are currently still on trial in Teramo, but Rome prosecutors have evidently concluded that the accusations against them were bogus, hence Scaramella's indictment for calumny. The Ukrainians' case also raises doubts about the reliability of the Mitrokhin Commission's work.

Among the aspects Scaramella was reportedly grilled about during a six-hour interrogation on Wednesday was a document acquired by the commission from Litvinenko but allegedly written by Scaramella. And testimony from Litvinenko's brother Maxim, who works as a waiter in Italy and had acted as an interpreter for him, indicated that Scaramella showed little interest in Litvinenko's work on relations between the Russian political establishment and organized crime, but was keen to quiz him about Romano Prodi, then leader of the opposition and now prime minister, and alleged former KGB spy.

In the arrest warrant, a Rome judge described Scaramella as "absolutely unreliable" and said he used criminal contacts "to draw up false reconstructions of the facts for his own purposes". Some conspiracy theorists insist it was no accident, suggesting Scaramella had been set up as a fall guy by those behind Litvinenko's murder in a plot that proved just a little too sophisticated to work.

The Controversial Belief of Jesus being Married with Children

Adding another layer of intrigue to the already contentious subject of Jesus' life and teachings, the author of the popular novel "The Da Vinci Code," Dan Brown, has expressed support for claims that Jesus was married and had children.

While these claims are not new, they have often been dismissed by traditional religious scholars and theologians. However, Brown's endorsement of these theories has reignited the debate among scholars and the general public.

Historical Evidence and Interpretations

The notion that Jesus may have been married and had a family is primarily based on interpretations of ancient texts and historical context. Supporters argue that references to Jesus as a "rabbi," a title typically reserved for married Jewish men, indicate the possibility of his marital status. Additionally, some early Christian writings outside the canonical gospels hint at a close relationship between Jesus and a woman named Mary Magdalene, further fueling speculation.

Opposing Views and Religious Doctrine

Opponents of the idea contend that the primary focus of Jesus' life and teachings was spiritual, emphasizing celibacy and devotion to God. They argue that the absence of explicit references to Jesus' marriage and family in the New Testament suggests his unmarried status.

Traditional Christian doctrine holds that Jesus was the son of God and therefore cannot have had descendants. This belief is central to many religious traditions and deeply rooted in theological interpretations.

Impact on Faith and Controversy

The question of Jesus' marital status and whether he had children has profound implications for religious beliefs and dogma. If verified, it could challenge long-held assumptions about the nature of Jesus' mission and teachings.

While the controversy surrounding Jesus' personal life is unlikely to settle any time soon, it continues to captivate the public's imagination and spark intense discussions about the historical Jesus and his significance in contemporary society.

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