Posted on 06/29/2006 5:36:14 PM PDT by NYer
ROME, JUNE 29, 2006 (Zenit.org).- An Egyptian Muslim and deputy director of a prominent Italian newspaper suggested that Mary could be the figure who brings Christians and Muslims together.
Magdi Allam of Il Corriere della Sera spoke to ZENIT about the appeal he launched in the pages of the national daily newspaper to Muslims living in Italy to visit the Marian shrines in their host country.
The journalist said that he is convinced that the Virgin Mary is a meeting point between Christians and Muslims.
"Mary is a figure present in the Koran, which dedicates an entire sura [chapter ed.n.] to her and mentions her some thirty times. In Muslim countries there are Marian shrines that are the object of veneration and pilgrimage by Christian and Muslim faithful," he said.
"Therefore, I believe that if this happens in Muslim countries, why can't it happen in a Christian country, especially in a historical phase in which we need to define symbols, values and figures that unite religions, spiritualities and cultures?" he asked.
In Allam's opinion, "the Marian pilgrimage of Loreto -- Italy's National Shrine -- could represent a moment of meeting and spiritual gathering between Muslims and Catholics, around Mary, a religious figure that is venerated by both religions."
Vittorio Messori, author of book-interviews with Pope John Paul II and Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Benedict XVI), also wrote in Il Corriere della Sera on June 15 in support of Allam.
He said that the dialogue between Christians and Muslims "can begin afresh from Mary."
Do you folks ever pray directly to God, or is it required that you go thru Mary or other Saints???
There are parts of your rant where "Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor" can quite properly be invoked.
Adam and Eve, before the fall, were free from sin
IOW, Adam and Eve were sinless before they sinned. How... Kerryesque.
The angels in heaven are not gods, but they were created sinless and have remained so ever since.
Except for the ones who sinned and were cast out of Heaven. Grace has never been an option for angels, so bringing them up as "sinless" is kinda beside the point.
The saints in heaven are not gods, although each of them is now completely sinless (Rev. 14:5; 21:27).So they sinned before but don't sin anymore... they were still sinners.
See #118.
If Mary is the mother of Jesus, and if Jesus is God, then Mary is the Mother of God.
Jack Chick is where some of these folks learned it.
Coldness still isn't hate. That is a very powerful term to be used. Chesterton must have had some kind of experience to lead him to a statement like that.
Thank you for one of the most thoughtful and intellectually honest posts I've ever seen on Free Republic.
Here is a LINK to the entire text of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, according to the Rite of Pope Paul VI. This is the Mass offered in the overwhelming majority of Catholic Churches worldwide.
It is a prayer, the highest for of prayer. To whom is it directed?
Was I personally attacking anyone? If so, I sincerely ask for their forgiveness, because such was absolutely not my intent. I simply disagreed with the argument being presented.
Where in the Bible does it say that the entirety of Christian belief is contained in the Bible?
And, if the entirety of Christian belief is contained in the Bible, how did the early Christians know what to believe, before the New Testament was written?
This is not a Church-like thread, so challenges are allowed. Therefore, defend your confession on thread and not by pressing the abuse report!
Refer to my profile page for guidelines on posting to the Religion Forum.
Thanks for your response. I was generally aware of his religious background and your theory makes sense.
God is a spiritual being, without beginning and without end. For God to have a "mother" would imply that the mother existed before God, which is clearly not Biblical.
Mary is most definitely the physical mother of the physical man Jesus, but is most definitely NOT the mother of His spiritual nature.
Frost: Some saythwe world will end in fire, some say in ice. From what I have tasted of desire, I favor those who favor fire, but I know enough of hate to say that ice would suffice.
There is a general lack of affection among Protestants for the mother of Our Lord. I call that hate.
Absolutely and thank you for reminding us all of how complicated our responses oftentimes become. Certain doctrines, especially those that relate to Mary, are based on symbolism because these symbols were so evident to the Jews for whom the gospels were written.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.