Posted on 05/30/2008 10:21:34 AM PDT by Ultra Sonic 007
Some of you will remember my recent decision to become a Catholic. I suppose I should be surprised it ended getting derailed into a 'Catholic vs. Protestant' thread, but after going further into the Religion forum, I suppose it's par for the course.
There seems to be a bit of big issue concerning Mary. I wanted to share an observation of sorts.
Now...although I was formerly going by 'Sola Scriptura', my father was born and raised Catholic, so I do have some knowledge of Catholic doctrine (not enough, at any rate...so consider all observations thusly).
Mary as a 'co-redeemer', Mary as someone to intercede for us with regards to our Lord Jesus.
Now...I can definitely see how this would raise some hairs. After all, Jesus Himself said that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that none come to the Father but through Him. I completely agree.
I do notice a bit of a fundamental difference in perception though. Call it a conflict of POV. Do Catholics worship Mary (as I've seen a number of Protestants proclaim), or do they rather respect and venerate her (as I've seen Catholics claim)? Note that it's one thing to regard someone with reverence; I revere President Bush as the noted leader of the free world. I revere my father. I revere Dr. O'Neil, a humorous and brilliant math teacher at my university. It's an act of respect.
But do I WORSHIP them?
No. Big difference between respecting/revering and worshiping. At least, that's how I view it.
I suppose it's also a foible to ask Mary to pray for us, on our behalf...but don't we tend to also ask other people to pray for us? Doesn't President Bush ask for people to pray for him? Don't we ask our family members to pray for us for protection while on a trip? I don't see quite a big disconnect between that and asking Mary to help pray for our wellbeing.
There is some question to the fact that she is physically dead. Though it stands to consider that she is still alive, in Heaven. Is it not common practice to not just regard our physical life, but to regard most of all our spirit, our soul? That which survives the flesh before ascending to Heaven or descending to Hell after God's judgment?
I don't think it's that big of a deal. I could change my mind after reading more in-depth, but I don't think that the Catholic Church has decreed via papal infallibility that Mary is to be placed on a higher pedestal than Jesus, or even to be His equal.
Do I think she is someone to be revered and respected? Certainly. She is the mother of Jesus, who knew Him for His entire life as a human on Earth. Given that He respected her (for He came to fulfill the old laws; including 'Honor Thy Father and Mother'), I don't think it's unnatural for other humans to do the same. I think it's somewhat presumptuous to regard it on the same level as idolatry or supplanting Jesus with another.
In a way, I guess the way Catholics treat Mary and the saints is similar to how the masses treated the Apostles following the Resurrection and Jesus's Ascension: people who are considered holy in that they have a deep connection with Jesus and His Word, His Teachings, His Message. As the Apostles spread the Good News and are remembered and revered to this day for their work, so to are the works of those sainted remembered and revered. Likewise with Mary. Are the Apostles worshiped? No. That's how it holds with Mary and the saints.
At least, that's how my initial thoughts on the subject are. I'll have to do more reading.
Reggie, I saw the claim. It's here on the thread for anyone to see. Not that far back either. Probably no one feels like going back to look it up, but anyone who doesn't believe it, can do it for him/herself.
I'm not sure what you're on about here, I know what I'm talking about and I'm not running off at the mouth.
As a Unitarian, do you believe in the Holy Trinity?
Your sarcasmeter is definitely jammed.
Furthermore, demands for others to translate do not go over well, either. The information is probably available on Google; demands for others to go back two hundred posts just to find something that could perfectly well be found by the questioner are not fair, either.
If someone wants to reply, or ask a question about something several pages back, and it involves a subject covered earlier in the day from which everyone has moved on, it would be polite to ask, iustead of making a snarky remark.
Now, some may think I am thin-skinned here, or decide to call me names, but this is just common sense, FRiends. It is like being interrupted by children who demand attention when one is visiting with a FRiend.
Since the topic is so large, and the range of remarks even larger, a little common consideration would be nice.
But! I can live without it—I just tend to JUDGE people by how they behave online. That’s a fault of mine, which I cheerfully admit.
Strange? Your Bible ends John 6 at verse 58? No verse 63?
Christ is the Word made flesh.
Further, Mad Dawg has no inherent right to insist on any private information concerning any one on this forum, let alone their spouse.
Yes, there is only one poster on this thread who has never made a posting mistake. *rolleyes*
The obsessions of some are not the obsessions of all. Have a lovely evening.
As a Unitarian, do you believe in the Holy Trinity?
I have discussed it in prior posts and have no interest in playing your little game. The answer is available on FR. Look it up.
A poster tried to "rank" Dawg using private information here on the forum. I wondered about that, myself. Anyone can say anything, here, and only the particular person's credibility backs up what is said. Maybe there was a question about that.
And do two wrongs make a right?
Well, my mind is made up.
Neither do you have any right, inherent or otherwise, to characterize a question as insistence. What nonsense!
No one believed the new one anyway.
"Now, some may think I am thin-skinned here..."
Yes, I do. I think it is your responsibility to pay attention and have some understanding of the subject at hand before you go on the attack.
As the children say, “You’re not the boss of me.” You go stand or fall. I already have a life.
Very quotable.
I believe it is up to each of us to divulge as much as we wish about our "private" identity.
And do two wrongs make a right?
That's the second time I don't know what you're talking about. :)
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