Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: TomSmedley
Because, you see, Mary was a super-human goddess, who had no need to offer marital love to Joseph, or to love God by properly loving the man God had put in her life

Calvinist would say God "programmed" her to be a mindless but obedient vessel, a robot in God's Plan, which is better than being a goddess? How dignified.

We Orthodox believe and have always believed that Mary was an oridnary human being who devoted her whole life to God, out of love for God. Some people find that offensive (envy?).

She could please God by defrauding her husband, you see, since, like Nietzche's "superman," she was "above" the mundane obligations binding upon mere humans

I see where your priorities are. After all, God must take the back seat when it comes to pleasing the husband. Joseph did not have to stay married to such a woman, you know. He could have divorced her. But he and Mary realized the awesome task that was entruted upon them and they stayed true to God.

Of course, Calvinism can't see that. They were, after all, just "pre-programmed" to do God's will, so there was no sacrifice, humility or love involved; just plain robot-like obedience, since "free will" doesn't exist.

753 posted on 12/08/2006 6:36:55 AM PST by kosta50 (Eastern Orthodoxy is pure Christianity)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 742 | View Replies ]


To: kosta50
After all, God must take the back seat when it comes to pleasing the husband. Joseph did not have to stay married to such a woman, you know. He could have divorced her. But he and Mary realized the awesome task that was entruted upon them and they stayed true to God.

It's always amazed me that some people find it so difficult to understand that in the case of the Holy Family, the fact that they were raising the Son of God was really the only thing that mattered. NOTHING about their family structure could be considered "normal;" in fact, the duty that God bestowed upon them is almost beyond comprehension.

754 posted on 12/08/2006 6:44:18 AM PST by wagglebee ("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 753 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson