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To: wmfights
IMHO, I think Evangelical Christians are concerned about this "lofty" status accorded Mary and special supernatural powers accorded her by Roman Catholics is that it is a product of "Tradition" and not SCRIPTURE.

Yes, there can be no doubt this is true. They will tell you openly that things like Mary's sinlessness, her ever-virginity, and her worthiness of being venerated more than any other human in history are extra-scriptural Tradition. They believe that this Tradition is equal to scripture in truth AND authority. Also equal to them both in authority is the Magesterium (the people who occupy the hierarchy of the Church, mostly the Pope).

7,290 posted on 05/29/2006 6:10:24 AM PDT by Forest Keeper
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To: Forest Keeper
"Yes, there can be no doubt this is true. They will tell you openly that things like Mary's sinlessness, her ever-virginity, and her worthiness of being venerated more than any other human in history are extra-scriptural Tradition. They believe that this Tradition is equal to scripture in truth AND authority."
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I think that the thing that gets lost when you elevate someone, in this case Mary, beyond a status they deserve you ultimately diminish that person. As a Baptist, when observing this elevation of Mary, such as declaring her to be "Queen of Heaven" there is an instinctive counter reaction because the original claim is so damaging to the Gospel. These claims about Mary turn people to her rather than the only true source of salvation, JESUS CHRIST.

It's a shame that this mythology has been fostered because Mary truly does deserve our respect and admiration due to the role she was given.
7,303 posted on 05/29/2006 10:10:49 AM PDT by wmfights (Lead, Follow, or Get Out Of The WAY!)
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To: Forest Keeper; wmfights
They will tell you openly that things like Mary's sinlessness, her ever-virginity, and her worthiness of being venerated more than any other human in history are extra-scriptural Tradition.

Bad examples. Of course, the Scripture cannot be understood outside of the Tradition, which is preserved by the Magisterium of the Church, and these three aspects of the truth are the deposit of faith given us in Christ. A better example of where Tradition builds on scant scriptural support is in the baptism of infants, and generally in instances where the Church defines her Sacraments guided by the Holy Ghost.

The veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary has ample scriptural support, in Luke 1, Luke 11, Apocalypse 12, although, like almost any other aspect of the Scripture it requires the guidance of the Church in order to be understood (Acts 8:27-39).

7,354 posted on 05/30/2006 3:05:47 PM PDT by annalex
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