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.
Children and most often children who are ill, have a relationship with God that most of us would envy. He seems to reach out to them in a special way. I’ve known others like this little one. It’s precious to watch. I believe they see Jesus when they die.
So DeMontfort must have been inspired.
Where does the Scripture say that?
They why does the RCC do it's best to destroy the gospel?
Do all participants at a Mass get to “drink His Blood?”
In April I was in a Manila hotel and I viewed a televised Mass on the Catholic channel. It appeared that the people in line all got a wafer delicately placed on their tongue, but I saw nobody in line get a sip of anything.
Then you could see some of those people returning to their seats and rinsing it down from their own 8 ounce water bottles.
What is that kind of Mass?
Such foolish talk...
I hope your salvation doesn’t depend on that, LOL.
Oh, yes, very serious. That’s one of the big problems.
heh heh heh
Also hot, humid, sticky, and waiting for my new cell-phone to get charged so I can leave and go to church and get my new howitzer-sized, 20 decade with bling medals of St. Joe, St. Tony, St. Dymphna, St Gabe, and St. Dom AND one each Medal, Miraculous, blessing for the purpose of Rosary blessed and then pray for some folks. (I made some commitments for some people.)
Did I mention that earlier this week I did some original research, inadvertently, and confirmed what had been a hypothesis: leaving your cell phone in your pants and then washing th pants isn't really good for the cell phone. I'm just so glad I could lay this controversy to rest. I live to serve, y'know, and to advance knowledge.
Well, yeah, and to laugh.
And you? Since the new battery is slow, I'll just wait here for you .....
Is that really how little you think of the bible?
AMEN.
If you knew the truth we wouldn't get word games every time we point out the deficiencies of sola scriptura.
Then perhaps you might want to rethink your antipathy towards Catholicism.
As you may or may not be aware, acceptance of abortion and/or homosexual marriage is rampant among mainline Protestantism.
Why do you think this is? Is the Holy Spirit incorrectly inspiring them? Has YOPIOS failed?
How do you know that your particular denomination won't be next? I'm quite sure that a generation ago Methodists never dreamed that their denomination would sanction abortion, Episcopalians would not have thought that they would have a homosexual bishop who was talking about "marrying" (yeah, I know it's called a "civil union" but they act like it's marriage) another man.
By the way, nobody in that Catholic country ever expressed to me directly or to the Filipinos who worked with us that we were ever offensive to them on a personal level. We were chided sometimes for being too direct for their cultural sensitivities, but not personally mean or offensive.
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LOL! Great story. You do have a way with words, friend. :)
It's drizzling here, so I am putting off a trip to the grocery store. The dogs are tired of being cooped up for the past couple of days and their incessant whining is driving me over the edge.
Still, feeling pretty good just being alive. :)
Read it and see. It's all over the Word of God. Try psalm 119. Try a concordance and look up some key words about it. Do you even own a bible or a concordance? How much time do you spend reading God's Word everyday?
First you have to practice saying that in a Bela Lugosi accent.
IN the US it's optional usually. When I got a needle stick in the depiddy bidnis, I not only refrained from serious smooching of the boss-lady but also from drinking from a common cup for a year, until I tested clear of HIV and Hep and all that stuff. And if I have a cold or something, I refrain.
And I've heard that people with celiac disease will pass up the bread and go directly to the wine.
Now that you have opined that ALL Protestants who are posting on the FR Religion Forum are Saved, perhaps you will offer another. In your opinion, are ALL Catholics who are posting on the FR Religion Forum Saved? A simple yes or no will be sufficient.
Did you stop beating your wife yet?
BZZZZZZZTTT!!!
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