Should I become Catholic, Lutheran, or Orthodox?

Mary did not conceive any more children with Joseph.
Though very rare it's still very plausible looking at it through biblical analysis.
I'm catholic, so I'll have a bias, got to give you that.

Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit (why we call her the spiritual bride of God) around the age of 12-13, and gave birth to Jesus around 13-14 (estimates are between 12-15 but let's take 14 as a nice number).
Now let's go all through the four gospels, and we'll notice something odd; Joseph gets rarely mentioned and not anymore midway into any gospel.
This combined with Christ giving His mother in care to one of His apostles, we can safely assume that he died rather soon.
The significance of this is that Joseph was already very old when he was appointed as Mary's husband.
Let's go back a bit to Jesus being a 12yo boy who went to the elders in the temple to discuss Scripture (this is the latest that Joseph gets mentioned by his name in any gospel by the way).
Mary could not have safe sex for lets say 3 weeks and not be ovulating for (give or take a week) 2 months after giving birth to Jesus, but after that she should've been good to go in a biological sense (though childbirth is kind of risky under 16).
However, no mention of any other children were made when they returned to the temple in Jerusalem, while in 12 years time they should've gotten at least 2 other kids, both younger than 12.
We can now go all the way forward again to Christ hanging at the cross.
Christ, before He died, said to Mary: "Women, behold your son!" and directly after said to His disciple "Behold your mother!".
Here we see Jesus give a command to His mother.
On its own this would be scandalous to begin with, a son commanding his mother, but Christ was sinless so this could not be the case.
The only explanation would be that the patriarch of the family (the oldest male) was at that moment Jesus.
So, we can now conclude that Joseph was really dead when Christ died on the cross.
What rests are His plausible brothers and/or sisters.
Christ having blood brothers and/or sisters is also disproved with this verse because Mary would not have needed a new son to care for her if she still had living ones.
Thus we have a few possibilities;
- Mary had only daughters after Jesus
- Mary had sons/daughters after Jesus, but all the sons died before Jesus died, thus leaving her without a man to care for her
- Mary was infertile after Jesus and could not conceive a child with Joseph
- Mary stayed a virgin

I, as a catholic, believe that Joseph who knew about the special circumstances of how Mary got Jesus, who Jesus actually was and considering his relative old age for that time (at least 20 years older than Mary, about halfway through an average peasant male's life in 0 AD) did not consume his marriage with Mary.
In all honesty it's all of the above I explained combined with Holy Tradition where we can see that it was agreed upon that Mary did not bear any more children after Jesus.

No. The Church Fathers were overwhelmingly against contraception.

qualities of Him whose attributes are manifest in themselves? Why should all be alike ? Who condemns the
birds of the forest because they do not all sing the same tune;
—-

That being said, if you have authentic faith within you I think you would gravitate towards a more traditional Church, catholic/Ortho/or tradLutheran are basically the only options.
I'm ortho myself. But the other two are not bad…meh

go to your nearest church

if you can't get to a church, you probably won't even get baptised in that church

otherwise you're just LARPing

Which Orthodox Church you go to fams?
It's always been against Church teachings.

Salaam.

I'm going to give you a list of texts given to me by specific person I believe you will find helpful in your decision
The full list is too long for one post so I'll deliver it in a few posts

ST. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH (c. 35 – c.107)
The Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans
newadvent.org/fathers/0107.htm
Greeting
Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the Church which has obtained mercy, through the
majesty of the Most High Father, and Jesus Christ, His only-begotten Son; the Church which is
beloved and enlightened by the will of Him that wills all things which are according to the love of
Jesus Christ our God, which also presides in the place of the region of the Romans, worthy of God,
worthy of honour, worthy of the highest happiness, worthy of praise, worthy of obtaining her every
desire, worthy of being deemed holy, and which presides over love, is named from Christ, and from
the Father, which I also salute in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father: to those who are
united, both according to the flesh and spirit, to every one of His commandments; who are filled
inseparably with the grace of God, and are purified from every strange taint, [I wish] abundance of
happiness unblameably, in Jesus Christ our God.
CHURCH FATHERS: Epistle to the Romans (St. Ignatius)
Featuring the Church Fathers, Catholic Encyclopedia, Summa Theologica and more.
Chapter 3
You have never envied any one; you have taught others. Now I desire that those things may be
confirmed [by your conduct], which in your instructions you enjoin [on others].
Greeting, another translation
earlychristianwritings.com/text/ignatius-romans-lightfoot.html
Ignatius, who is also Theophorus, unto her that hath found mercy in the bountifulness of the Father
Most High and of Jesus Christ His only Son; to the church that is beloved and enlightened through
the will of Him who willed all things that are, by faith and love towards Jesus Christ our God; even
unto her that hath the presidency in the country of the region of the Romans, being worthy of God,
worthy of honour, worthy of felicitation, worthy of praise, worthy of success, worthy in purity, and
having the presidency of love, walking in the law of Christ and bearing the Father's name; which
church also I salute in the name of Jesus Christ the Son of the Father; unto them that in flesh and
spirit are united unto His every commandment, being filled with the grace of God without
wavering, and filtered clear from every foreign stain; abundant greeting in Jesus Christ our God in
blamelessness.
Greeting, another translation, by Fr. Casimir Kucharek, Byzantine Catechism
"To the Church…that presides in the district of the Romans, and which is worthy of God, worthy of
honor, worthy of the highest happiness, worthy of praise, worthy of credit, worthy of being deemed
holy, and which is the head of the union of charity i.e., of Christendom. "
(oh im sending these in chronological order btw)

ST. IRENAEUS OF LYONS (130-202)
Against Heresies (Book III, Chapter 1)
newadvent.org/fathers/0103301.htm
Section 1
We have learned from none others the plan of our salvation, than from those through whom the
Gospel has come down to us, which they did at one time proclaim in public, and, at a later period,
by the will of God, handed down to us in the Scriptures, to be the ground and pillar of our faith. For
it is unlawful to assert that they preached before they possessed "perfect knowledge," as some do
even venture to say, boasting themselves as improvers of the apostles. For, after our Lord rose from
the dead, [the apostles] were invested with power from on high when the Holy Spirit came down
[upon them], were filled from all [His gifts], and had perfect knowledge: they departed to the ends
of the earth, preaching the glad tidings of the good things [sent] from God to us, and proclaiming
the peace of heaven to men, who indeed do all equally and individually possess the Gospel of God
CHURCH FATHERS: Against Heresies, III.1 (St. Irenaeus)
Featuring the Church Fathers, Catholic Encyclopedia, Summa Theologica and more.
Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect, while Peter and Paul
were preaching at Rome, and laying the foundations of the Church. After their departure, Mark, the
disciple and interpreter of Peter, did also hand down to us in writing what had been preached by
Peter. Luke also, the companion of Paul, recorded in a book the Gospel preached by him.
Afterwards, John, the disciple of the Lord, who also had leaned upon His breast, did himself publish
a Gospel during his residence at Ephesus in Asia.
Against Heresies (Book III, Chapter 3)
newadvent.org/fathers/0103303.htm
Section 2
Since, however, it would be very tedious, in such a volume as this, to reckon up the successions of
all the Churches, we do put to confusion all those who, in whatever manner, whether by an evil selfpleasing,
by vainglory, or by blindness and perverse opinion, assemble in unauthorized meetings;
[we do this, I say,] by indicating that tradition derived from the apostles, of the very great, the very
ancient, and universally known Church founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious
apostles, Peter and Paul; as also [by pointing out] the faith preached to men, which comes down to
our time by means of the successions of the bishops. For it is a matter of necessity that every
Church should agree with this Church, on account of its preeminent authority [potiorem
principalitatem].
CHURCH FATHERS: Against Heresies, III.3 (St. Irenaeus)
Featuring the Church Fathers, Catholic Encyclopedia, Summa Theologica and more.
CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA (c. 150 – c. 215)
Who is the Rich Man That Shall Be Saved?
earlychristianwritings.com/text/clement-richman.html
Ch.XXI
Therefore on hearing those words, the blessed Peter, the chosen, the pre-eminent, the first of the
disciples, for whom alone and Himself the Saviour paid tribute, quickly seized and comprehended
the saying. And what does he say? "Lo, we have left all and followed Thee? Now if by all he means
his own property, he boasts of leaving four oboli perhaps in all, and forgets to show the kingdom of
heaven to be their recompense. But if, casting away what we were now speaking of, the old mental
possessions and soul diseases, they follow in the Master's footsteps, this now joins them to those
who are to be enrolled in the heavens. For it is thus that one truly follows the Saviour, by aiming at
sinlessness and at His perfection, and adorning and composing the soul before it as a mirror, and
arranging everything in all respects similarly.

TERTULLIAN (c. 155 – c. 240)
Scorpiace / Antidote to the scorpion's sting
newadvent.org/fathers/0318.htm
Chapter 10
For though you think heaven still shut, remember that the Lord left here to Peter and through him to
the Church, the keys of it, which every one who has been here put to the question, and also made
confession, will carry with him.
CHURCH FATHERS: Scorpiace (Tertullian)
Featuring the Church Fathers, Catholic Encyclopedia, Summa Theologica and more.
On Modesty
newadvent.org/fathers/0407.htm
Chapter 21
I now inquire into your opinion, (to see) from what source you usurp this right to "the Church."
If, because the Lord has said to Peter, "Upon this rock will I build My Church," "to you have I given
the keys of the heavenly kingdom;" or, "Whatsoever you shall have bound or loosed in earth, shall
be bound or loosed in the heavens," you therefore presume that the power of binding and loosing
has derived to you, that is, to every Church akin to Peter, what sort of man are you, subverting and
wholly changing the manifest intention of the Lord, conferring (as that intention did) this (gift)
personally upon Peter? " On you," He says, "will I build My Church;" and, "I will give to you the
keys," not to the Church; and, "Whatsoever you shall have loosed or bound," not what they shall
have loosed or bound. For so withal the result teaches. In (Peter) himself the Church was reared;
that is, through (Peter) himself; (Peter) himself essayed the key; you see what (key): "Men of Israel,
let what I say sink into your ears: Jesus the Nazarene, a man destined by God for you," and so forth.
CHURCH FATHERS: On Modesty (Tertullian)
Featuring the Church Fathers, Catholic Encyclopedia, Summa Theologica and more.
Prescription against Heretics
newadvent.org/fathers/0311.htm
Chapter 23
Still they should show, from the circumstance which they allege of Peter's being rebuked by Paul,
that Paul added yet another form of the gospel besides that which Peter and the rest had previously
set forth. But the fact is, having been converted from a persecutor to a preacher, he is introduced as
one of the brethren to brethren, by brethren — to them, indeed, by men who had put on faith from
the apostles' hands. Afterwards, as he himself narrates, he "went up to Jerusalem for the purpose of
seeing Peter," Galatians 1:18 because of his office, no doubt, and by right of a common belief and
preaching.

CHURCH FATHERS: The Prescription Against Heretics (Tertullian)
Featuring the Church Fathers, Catholic Encyclopedia, Summa Theologica and more.
Chapter 36
Come now, you who would indulge a better curiosity, if you would apply it to the business of your
salvation, run over the apostolic churches, in which the very thrones of the apostles are still preeminent
in their places, in which their own authentic writings are read, uttering the voice and
representing the face of each of them severally. Achaia is very near you, (in which) you find
Corinth. Since you are not far from Macedonia, you have Philippi; (and there too) you have the
Thessalonians. Since you are able to cross to Asia, you get Ephesus. Since, moreover, you are close
upon Italy, you have Rome, from which there comes even into our own hands the very authority (of
apostles themselves). How happy is its church, on which apostles poured forth all their doctrine
along with their blood! Where Peter endures a passion like his Lord's! Where Paul wins his crown
in a death like John's where the Apostle John was first plunged, unhurt, into boiling oil, and thence
remitted to his island-exile! See what she has learned, what taught, what fellowship has had with
even (our) churches in Africa! One Lord God does she acknowledge, the Creator of the universe,
and Christ Jesus (born) of the Virgin Mary, the Son of God the Creator; and the Resurrection of the
flesh; the law and the prophets she unites in one volume with the writings of evangelists and
apostles, from which she drinks in her faith. This she seals with the water (of baptism), arrays with
the Holy Ghost, feeds with the Eucharist, cheers with martyrdom, and against such a discipline thus
(maintained) she admits no gainsayer. This is the discipline which I no longer say foretold that
heresies should come, but from which they proceeded. However, they were not of her, because they
were opposed to her.
Even the rough wild-olive arises from the germ of the fruitful, rich, and
genuine olive; also from the seed of the mellowest and sweetest fig there springs the empty and
useless wild-fig. In the same way heresies, too, come from our plant, although not of our kind; (they
come) from the grain of truth, but, owing to their falsehood, they have only wild leaves to show.
ORIGEN OF ALEXANDRIA (c. 184 – c. 253)
Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew (Book XIII)
newadvent.org/fathers/101613.htm
Chapter 31
But since it was necessary, even if something in common had been said in the case of Peter and
those who had thrice admonished the brethren, that Peter should have some element superior to
those who thrice admonished, in the case of Peter, this saying "I will give to you the keys of the
kingdom of the heavens," Matthew 16:19 has been specially set before the words, "And whatever
things you shall bind on earth," etc. And, indeed, if we were to attend carefully to the evangelical
writings, we would also find here, and in relation to those things which seem to be common to Peter
and those who have thrice admonished the brethren, a great difference and a pre-eminence in the
things said to Peter, compared with the second class. For it is no small difference that Peter received
the keys not of one heaven but of more, and in order that whatsoever things he binds on the earth
may be bound not in one heaven but in them all, as compared with the many who bind on earth and
loose on earth, so that these things are bound and loosed not in the heavens, as in the case of Peter,
but in one only; for they do not reach so high a stage, with power as Peter to bind and loose in all
the heavens.
CHURCH FATHERS: Commentary on Matthew, Book XIII (Origen)
Featuring the Church Fathers, Catholic Encyclopedia, Summa Theologica and more.
Commentary on the Gospel of John (Book V)
newadvent.org/fathers/101505.htm
Section 3
And Peter, on whom the Church of Christ is built, against which the gates of hell shall not prevail
Matthew 16:18 left only one epistle of acknowledged genuineness.
CHURCH FATHERS: Commentary on John, Book V (Origen)
Featuring the Church Fathers, Catholic Encyclopedia, Summa Theologica and more.