Who was the first to teach that sex was evil and that salvation was possible only through the intercession of the Virgin Mary?

Answer 1

Both of these views are commonly and incorrectly attributed to the Catholic Church. According to the Church, sex, when it occurs as an expression of love between husband and wife as it was intended, is very good. God created sex, so it cannot be inherently evil; however, using it in ways it was not intended is evil. The Church's view on Mary's role in salvation is summarized in paragraph 2674 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: "Jesus, the only mediator, is the way of our prayer; Mary, his mother and ours, ...'shows the way' (hodigitria), and is herself 'the Sign' of the way."

Roman Catholic AnswerThe above answer is correct. Look at it this way, without the Blessed Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ would never have entered the world and effected our salvation. Everything else aside, if you call this intercession, than it is sort of obvious why she is necessary, is it not? God did not have to save us this way, but He did. I think if you look at it this way, you will begin to understand why the Church teaches that the Virgin Mary is instrumental (NOT the cause of it) in our salvation. Jesus Christ is God and is the one mediator for men. The Blessed Virgin is called mediatrix in an entirely dependent role, she is not God, and has nothing aside from what God, in His Goodness has given her. In other words, we only think so highly of Mary BECAUSE God did first and we follow in His footsteps.

The first part of this question, "teach sex was evil" is a common teaching of many heresies throughout the centuries - which the Church has always condemned. In other words, it was a teaching of those who left the Church to found their own religion.