[pgyanke]

I don’t think I have downplayed the role of Blessed Mary at all. Pointing out, as you did, the Biblical Mary leads us to follow her example of faithfulness, dedication, humility and servitude. That is the Mary I see in scriptures and she is one of the great examples of Great Faith in the Bible. When we debate these theological issues such as what you wrote is lost.

When I take issue with traditions which go beyond the scriptural evidence I in no way am trying to sully Blessed Mary.

Thomas Jefferson wrote his own bible. What he did was write down the story and teachings while leaving out the miraculous and what he considered "contrary to reason." From this, he opined that he had created "the most sublime and benevolent code of morals..." and he was correct. However, something very significant was lost. Man can live by the dictates of God but he can never understand salvation without Christ crucified and risen.

What is missing is supernatural... and essential. Just so, Protestants do this with Mary. Your picture of Mary is correct but incomplete. There is so much more to her than you allow yourself to know. Even an exalted schismatic such as Martin Luther himself recognized the miraculous Mary and had a very strong Marian devotion. There is more to be seen than just an obedient nursemaid.

[redleghunter]

What is missing is supernatural... and essential. Just so, Protestants do this with Mary. Your picture of Mary is correct but incomplete.

Thomas Jefferson stripped out the miraculous from the Bible, which means he subtracted and in danger of the plagues mentioned in Revelation. I have neither subtracted a jot or tittle. However, the same warning is for those ADD to scriptures. So what you call an "incomplete picture of Mary" I point you to show the scriptural evidence where I do so. I am neither adding nor subtracting.