Mary, Mother of God

So, the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus of Nazareth, seems to keep popping up these days in apparitions all over the world. The Vatican has just said it believes that a series of Apparitions in France during the 1980's were genuine.

However, while this is looked on positively by Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Churches it tends to irk the Evangelical Pseudo-Christian Churches of America- and indeed elsewhere.

However, what do we think on these little forums about Our Lady?

Is the praise offered to her by Catholics to excessive...perhaps even blasphemous?

Its quite common for Evan to rear his ugly head and tell Catholics that they are worshiping Mary in breach of the First Commandment, this is nonsense ofcourse but I as a Catholic am sometimes abit dubious of how certain members of the faith almost worship Mary...

So, in the context of Christian Mythology

- Should Mary get the praise she is given by Catholic Churches?
- Is she appearing all over the world-if so why?
- What is her relationship with Modern Christians anyway, if she has one?

Originally posted by Grand_Moff_Gav
So, the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus of Nazareth, seems to keep popping up these days in apparitions all over the world. The Vatican has just said it believes that a series of Apparitions in France during the 1980's were genuine.

However, while this is looked on positively by Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Churches it tends to irk the Evangelical Pseudo-Christian Churches of America- and indeed elsewhere.

However, what do we think on these little forums about Our Lady?

Is the praise offered to her by Catholics to excessive...perhaps even blasphemous?

Its quite common for Evan to rear his ugly head and tell Catholics that they are worshiping Mary in breach of the First Commandment, this is nonsense ofcourse but I as a Catholic am sometimes abit dubious of how certain members of the faith almost worship Mary...

So, in the context of Christian Mythology

- Should Mary get the praise she is given by Catholic Churches?
- Is she appearing all over the world-if so why?
- What is her relationship with Modern Christians anyway, if she has one?

Q : "Should Mary get the praise she is given by Catholic Churches?"
A : Sure, as long it makes you happy, and does not lead to the suffering of others, then I am fine with that.

Q : "Is she appearing all over the world-if so why?"
A : No. Humans are using their imagination to see patterns and apply meaning to chaos in the world around us.

Q : "What is her relationship with Modern Christians anyway, if she has one?"
A : She is part of the Christian mythology, and she has an important part. Why would you remove an important part of your mythology?

co-sign shakya.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
Q : "Should Mary get the praise she is given by Catholic Churches?"
A : Sure, as long it makes you happy, and does not lead to the suffering of others, then I am fine with that.

Q : "Is she appearing all over the world-if so why?"
A : No. Humans are using their imagination to see patterns and apply meaning to chaos in the world around us.

Q : "What is her relationship with Modern Christians anyway, if she has one?"
A : She is part of the Christian mythology, and she has an important part. Why would you remove an important part of your mythology?

The first and third answers are nothing but hollow rhetoric that avoids answering anything.

Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
The first and third answers are nothing but hollow rhetoric that avoids answering anything.

Well, what do you what me to say? I don't see Mary as being a real person, and I have no problem with people honoring/worshiping whatever. All religions are made by humans, so, what is important to me is that people find a way to be happy and not hurt each other.

Mythology is important. Have you read The Power of Myth? It does not matter if mythology is factorial or not. Mythology is an anchor that helps us humans make it through every day life.

I think there is a difference between worshipping as Catholics do with the Trinity, and honoring the Blessed Virgin Mother. So, no, honoring Mary isn't blasphemous.

Originally posted by Grand_Moff_Gav

- Should Mary get the praise she is given by Catholic Churches?
- Is she appearing all over the world-if so why?
- What is her relationship with Modern Christians anyway, if she has one?

Considering her place in the christian mythology, I don't see why she isn't worthy of praise. Given the reality of christianity, it doesn't make any less since than the worship or veneration of any other human being.

She might be. I've never really been the kind to stand in a line to pay my five bucks to see a little girls bedroom wall bleed or see a piss stain under an overpass.

What does the term "modern christians"mean?

- in a relegious sense, yea, she does deserve the praise.

- no she isnt appearing all over the world, those are delusions of man

- she has nothing but a symbolic relationship with modern christians. the real person of mary{if she existed} has no connection with any relegion right now though. it is only the symbol of the daid person in the minds of beleivers today

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
Well, what do you what me to say? I don't see Mary as being a real person, and I have no problem with people honoring/worshiping whatever. All religions are made by humans, so, what is important to me is that people find a way to be happy and not hurt each other.

Mythology is important. Have you read The Power of Myth? It does not matter if mythology is factorial or not. Mythology is an anchor that helps us humans make it through every day life.

Why do you think she wasn't a real person? You don't have to believe she gave birth to someone that was God and a human to think she was real. Just wondering.

I would say as a Protestant that Mary should be respected. She was the one God found favor with to birth and raise Christ. But I don't see the point in worshipping her or praying to her, although I respect it. She was still a person, imo, and not God. As for appearing in places, she might be. I have no proof one way or the other, but as someone mentioned, I'm not going on a pilgrimage to see what may be a Mary statue bleeding tears or whatever.

Her relationship with modern Christians is probably the same as it always has been. The Catholics I know still do Hail Marys and refer to her as "Our Lady" and the Protestants I know still give her respect and admiration. Her song in the Bible is one of the best passages in the whole thing. She's a great role model for Christian women as well as men.

Originally posted by willofthewisp
I would say as a Protestant

Originally posted by willofthewisp
She was the one God found favor with to birth and raise Christ. But I don't see the point in worshipping her or praying to her,

Who worships her? Why shouldn't people pray to her?

Originally posted by willofthewisp
although I respect it.

Am I spelling Protestant wrong? Hmm. The broad definition of a Protestant is a Christian who is not a Catholic, but that's just scratching the surface. A big thing Catholics and Protestants disagree on is how to regard Mary. The Catholics view her much higher than Protestants do. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the rosary prayers are directed to her. They would not call it worship, but they say Hail Mary and Protestants regard that as blasphemous. I respect Catholicism, though, because the Catholics I know have a strong faith in God.

I'm confused. You seem to have no problem praying to her, but don't think it's good to worship her. Can you elaborate?

She was the mother of Christ... really... that's it... The catholic Church focuses a bit too much on Mary. I tried to explain why this attention and near worship of Mary is un-biblical to the Nuns at the catholic school I went to for a few years... needless to say they weren't upset when I left.

Originally posted by willofthewisp
Am I spelling Protestant wrong? Hmm. The broad definition of a Protestant is a Christian who is not a Catholic, but that's just scratching the surface. A big thing Catholics and Protestants disagree on is how to regard Mary. The Catholics view her much higher than Protestants do. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the rosary prayers are directed to her. They would not call it worship, but they say Hail Mary and Protestants regard that as blasphemous. I respect Catholicism, though, because the Catholics I know have a strong faith in God.

I'm confused. You seem to have no problem praying to her, but don't think it's good to worship her. Can you elaborate?

Jesus said pray to the Saints, he did not say worship them.

You have said you think that Catholics worship Mary and you respect that. Even though you are mistaken you are still respecting what you must surely view as blasphemy.

I just believe God understands where they're coming from in that regard. I think it's wrong to pray to anything/one that is not God, so I feel the Catholics are wrong. Whether prayer constitutes as a form of worship or not is actually up for debate. If it were worship, I would still respect it because of their faith.

Originally posted by willofthewisp
I just believe God understands where they're coming from in that regard. I think it's wrong to pray to anything/one that is not God, so I feel the Catholics are wrong. Whether prayer constitutes as a form of worship or not is actually up for debate. If it were worship, I would still respect it because of their faith.

So you would therefore...respect the worship of Satan?

No, I am referring to all forms of Christianity.

I think Mary in some sense represents a miracle of birth. Haven't really dug deep into her character. She does present a motherhood and the pains of losing a child.

Originally posted by willofthewisp
Why do you think she wasn't a real person? You don't have to believe she gave birth to someone that was God and a human to think she was real. Just wondering...

"Why do you think she wasn't a real person?"

Because the NT was not written for at least 60 years after the death of Jesus. Knowing human nature, I am sure the story was changed over that time period to incorporate myth. I believe that Jesus did have a mother, and her name could have been Mary, but the real person has been lost to us over time.

"You don't have to believe she gave birth to someone that was God and a human to think she was real."

People do not need any reason to believe in something.

Ah, thanks for clarifying. 😉 Do you believe any Biblical account of her captures who she really was? Not trying to drill, just interested. Very little is known of Mary, even less about her husband.

Originally posted by willofthewisp
Ah, thanks for clarifying. 😉 Do you believe any Biblical account of her captures who she really was? Not trying to drill, just interested. Very little is known of Mary, even less about her husband.

Any? Do I believe ANY? I believe there maybe glimpses of the real person in the NT, but I do not know what is fiction and what is real, in this case.