Virgin is apparently an important word for those who are into olive oil or
religion. In many cultures, virginity has been highly
valued, and associated with purity and virtue and high sexual moral.
Islamic law and scriptures are quite funny in the sense that sexual
activity is very restricted in the earthly life, but Paradise is quite erotic. Personally,
I think it might be better to do it the other way around, but I didn’t write the
Quran.
In Paradise the men who are admitted will meet 72 virgins who are ready
to provide them with pleasure. The 72 virgins may get quite busy because, also
according too Islamic scripture, the men in Paradise have eternal erection. In
earthly life, this is a painful medical condition (priapism). But we all know
that our world is not always a paradise.
Our most admired virgin is Mary, the mother of Jesus. There has been
debate among scholars if she stayed virgin forever, or if Jesus had a bunch of
brothers and sisters. This is basically a discussion about ambiguous
translations of old Hebrew and Greek texts.
In our new 2011 translation of the Bible, Mary is not a virgin anymore.
The word which has traditionally been translated to virgin can also mean young
woman. And that’s what she has become in some of the verses (Isaiah 7:14). That’s not too bad either, becoming a young
woman after all these years.
Regarding women, I have no strong preference, but when it comes to olive oil,
I usually go for extra virgin.
