Posted on 04/09/2008 12:36:13 PM PDT by annalex
Why should anyone presume God demanded such a thing?
The only one making Mary some kind of goddess is you, within the strawman version of Catholicism you build for us.
Of course He wouldn't demand an equal sacrifice of others. To whom much is given, much is expected. The holier one is, the more they are called upon to sacrifice. That's been true throughout salvation history, so I don't see any inconsistency in the Mother of God being required a greater sacrifice than others who were not as blessed.
>>The irony is that the only people who claim that Mary is a goddess are the Protestants.<<
I’m not seeing that anywhere.
I am not using the word “deify” figuratively. I am speaking of the literal lifting Mary above other people.
As I said in a previous post. I strongly believe all of mankind is divided into two groups - Jesus; and everyone else - and Mary is a member of the latter.
It wasn’t me who used the word, “deification”.
It is just assumed that it is something normal married human beings do.
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Unfortunately, the issue has been raised ad nauseum. It's one of the reasons I often avoid the Religion forum. It has gotten old.
Normal married human beings do many things. Thanks to God, Mary was, although human, hardly "normal". Nor was her Son.
Arius did just that, based on his own personal interpretation of the Scriptures. He persuaded a whole lot of folks to join him, too. We're Christian, now, and not Arian because Christ left an authoritative structured Church to resolve the matter (and judge Arius to be wrong).
We actually ALL have the God given authority to interpret scripture
Then, of course, we all agree on all points, right? Hmmmm?
Since we clearly don't all agree, who are you (random internet dude) to lecture me (random internet dude) on the interpretation of Scripture? Hmmm? What makes your interpretation RIGHT and mine WRONG? Hmmmm? Are you gifted with infallibility? Are you making yourself "Pope RobRoy"?
So all of your relationships are on equal footing? The guy down the street is just as precious to you as your mother or father? You don't show favoritism to your children over someone else's children? You don't lift ANYONE above other people?
Why don't you count the substantive mentions of Mary Magdalene, the Apostle to the Apostles?
>>And why would God demand such a thing? He didn’t demand an equal sacrifice from any of the others who served Him.
Also, if such a thing is true, a marriage to Joseph would be completely unnecessary, and totally unfair to him.<<
Precicely. Hence the word “until”. It’s pretty darned clear if one understands that young people were the same then as they are now. Joseph was not a eunich for crying out loud.
It would take some VERY compelling biblical evidence to suggest otherwise. I certainly aint seein’ it, and the bible is not that hard a read.
Mark 10:27-31
Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” Peter began to say to him, “We have given up everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come. But many that are first will be last, and (the) last will be first.”
>>Nice strawman.<<
For you a strawman. For me it is my literal belief.
Nobody here is claiming an “in with God.”
If, on the other hand, you accept all of the purported Early Church Fathers' writings as authentic enjoy your trip through fantasyland.
Why, yes, it does. In fact, I struggle to think of another person other than Jesus to occupy two chapters of any gospel.
We do venerate Mary Magdalene and all the saints.
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Good questions. Why the number of Protestant denominations if there is not a difficulty amongst each of interpreting Scripture?
For that matter, why the endless interest in Catholic matters, if one is secure in one's faith?
>>You referred to deification of Mary. Catholics don’t do that. Yet the strawman version of our faith you would construct for us features the “deification of Mary.”
The only one making Mary some kind of goddess is you, within the strawman version of Catholicism you build for us.<<
Yes. My apologies. I have defined your belief from the outside and that is not reasonably nor is it fair. I was wrong to do that.
God bless you. Such admission is extremely rare. Class act, Sir.
Thank you, sir.
>>Since we clearly don’t all agree, who are you (random internet dude) to lecture me (random internet dude) on the interpretation of Scripture? Hmmm? What makes your interpretation RIGHT and mine WRONG? Hmmmm? Are you gifted with infallibility? Are you making yourself “Pope RobRoy”?<<
No. This is a little like when I argue Pre-tribulationism with my friends who are mostly pre-trib. I am stating an opinion and using God Breathed SCRIPTURE, not the writings of my church leadership, to back it up.
Well, that and I paid for the full half hour argument.
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