Replies

Did the guy you asked think that we think Mary antedates God or did he think somebody else might think we think that?

Honestly, have you ever considered what we Protestants think when we hear the Co-Redemptrix talk, the Assumption Talk, and the Immaculate Conception Talk, and those who conflate veneration and worship?

THAT is one major reason why it's important to be clear.

There's good reason to think the RC means "Mother of the Godhead" when they say, "Mother of God."

That's why we try to help them clarify their language. :>)

Honestly, yeah I have, especially since the "Mother of God" thread back a few weeks ago. And what I see is that they (by and large and with notable exceptions) INSIST that we believe something we don't believe, and after we've gone round the barn a few times on whether or not we are damnable idolaters then they say that somebody else might hear us speak and think we're saying Mary is older than God.

I bet the councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon were as interested in clarity of language as we all are.

There's good reason to think the RC means "Mother of the Godhead" when they say, "Mother of God."

I think that's where the "political correctness" talk came up. Somebody who doesn't know the language hears "niggardly" and think's it's a racial slur. Next thing you know those who make a living feeling other people's pain (whether or not the people in question are actually suffering or, maybe, DESERVE a little pain if they can't take the trouble to learn their own language) are telling us all we should limit our vocabulary to words selected from this patented list of guaranteed to be non-offensive words.

Similarly, if I've learned anything from these threads it's that there are some people who insist that I am an idolater, a "parser" (forgive me, Lord), and a rationalizer, or if I'm not the lady in the pew in front of me is one or more of those things, or worse. SO I MUST show my concern by changing the worship of more than a thousand years to suit those who won't take the trouble to find out what it is we're worshipping, and won't believe us when we tell them. It's Marian, therefore it's idolatrous, and that's that.

So how much of my energy can I afford to give to worrying about what other people think? If I were to ask about the legendary people who misunderstand double predestination to mean they can "find Jesus, and then party for the rest of their lives without consequence, you all would RIGHTLY say, (a) "Show me one such person," and (b) "If you CAN show me such a person, the poor guy hasn't taken the time to find out what the doctrine really is and really means."

Okay. I'm right there with you. You can hear "Mother of God' and say,"There go those weird idolatrous papists," or you can calm the palpitating heart and listen and hear us singing, "Sing to the Lord! Behold, He is doing a new thing, lifting up the lowly to heights not dreamt of before! His mercies endure forever!"

You choose.