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.
No. I think the more reliable unrubberized histories make that quite clear enough.
I’m truly puzzled.
Is there someone who actually wishes to defend the proposition of the infallibility of the KJV translators? On what authority could that possibly be maintained?
No. It’s a form of truth telling designed to put the truth before the lurkers at least near as often as the historical falsehoods; the UnBiblical falsehoods and the like.
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
Sounds like we are in different galactic clusters on opposite sides of the Multi-verse.
Symbolicly, according to what I've read from protties here. Fortunately, Catholics have the real thing: "This is my blood, shed for you and for many."
You would be SHOCKED!
These people tended to mix there native traditions, which were certainly pagan, with Catholism. Similar tendencies happened in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. I can see how some would see that influence of pagan culture, mixed with their limited Catholic knowledge of the time, and misunderstand Catholic teaching. Some of that mixture of culture and religion exsists to this day. I've seen some distortion of Catholic beliefs in Cuban households. I will certainly, lovingly remind them, that it is NOT Catholic. Those instances are really the exception. The Cathechism of the Catholic Church should clear up any of those doubts. I don't think too many of those who slander the "RC" have bothered to read the Cathechism.
Probably safest that way. But, no matter how far away a person is from Mary, she can still hear the faintest, neediest prayer....trust her, Quix, she’ll help you find Jesus...
Sorry, the Apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the subsequent conversions began in 1531. TYPO
Romans 3:
[1] Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
[2] Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews are entrusted with the oracles of God.
To add to the oracles of God given to the Jews is to defy the will of God.
I will study it and the pdfs. Thanks.
And bathing seven times in the Jordan will cure leprosy.
That’s biblical, too, isn’t it?
Or should we jettison any of the parts we find to defy our understanding of natural law, like Jefferson?
The Septuagint, including Tobit, was compiled by Jews from among their holiest writings. It was the closest thing the Jews had to canon, as demonstrated by the strong preference for it in New Testament quotations, until the anti-Christian Pharisees decided, sometime around the turn of the first century, that they needed to reboot the canon by excluding anything which did not meet their carefully contrived arbitrary exclusions.
Preferring the canon of the Pharisees to the canon of the New Testament writers is indeed a strange alley down which to be led in defence of Chritian scriptural authority.
May Yahshua our wonderful Moshiac bless you and keep you, and may he
cause his face to shine upon you, and grant you his shalom. May our
master, who has already conquered sin, cover Yisrael with divine
protection. May her enemies be scattered and flattened, bowing at the
feet of Yahshua in teshuvah. May they be renewed before it is too late....
Okay, thanks.
My "cowardly" comment stands.
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.