2007-03-15 06:48:38 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Mary worshiping catholics will pray to anything.
2007-03-15 06:52:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋
Historically, we can see that veneration of Miriam (called Mary) was a natural transition for the new converts from polytheistic religions within and surrounding the Roman Empire.
Mother goddess figures translated for the new cult into Mary the Mother of God. Consider the thousands of years of earth-mother religions preceeding Saul of Tarsus (St. Paul)and his deification of Yeshua ben Yoseph (Jesus) which, by the way, was contested by other religious leaders of his time, and prayer invoking the aid of Mary doesn't seem a peculiar development at all.
Other mothers claiming to be the parent of deities include Isis, Ishtar, Brigid, a host of Greco-Roman mortal women who mated with deities and had supernaturally-gifted children(the Titans) and the list goes on.
Mary is neither unique nor superior in her historical/religious status when viewed against the historical record.
Catholicism has elevated her to a near-goddess status, second only to their Jesus.
When churches and cathedrals are dedicated to her, when people make pilgrimages to sites where she appears to the faithful and when her graven image is displayed in every catholic church (often with her own chapel) it is difficult to NOT think of her as a deity.
2007-03-15 14:23:44 · answer #2 · answered by Tseruyah 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Saying that we Catholics pray TO Mary isn't quite accurate, although we say it all the time. We worship God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) alone, and we believe that all prayers are answered by God alone.
When we say we pray "to" Mary (or any of the other saints who, by the way, are simply recongized role models of faith), we are actually asking Mary to pray with us to God.
Why would we do this? Think about visiting the grave of a loved one and "talking" to that person. Think about times when you've thought "Grandpa, what would you do in this situation?" It's kind of like that, more about psycology than religion. While Jesus was a human man, he was also God. For some people, it makes it harder to relate to him. I mean, I love Jesus with all my heart and soul, but he never had menstrual cramps. I don't know if Mary did, but it's easier to relate to another woman sometimes.
A good example would be when my sister was having a very hard pregnancy a few years ago. I could imagine talking to a woman about my fears easier than a man, which helped me mentally work out what I wanted to pray about to God. But that's just mean. Hope that helps!
2007-03-15 13:52:49 · answer #3 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why does any rational person pray to another human being or creation of God who can neither harm nor benefit instead of God? Why do Christians pray to Jesus (peace be upon him) when he never prayed to himself ?
Carved in Stone - Muslims do not pray to Mary (peace be upon her) - praying to a human being even a holy one like a Prophet or saint is an act of idolatry and apostasty in islam
2007-03-15 14:16:11 · answer #4 · answered by shaybani_yusuf 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the Bible we are told that it is fine to ask other people to pray for us. I prefer to ask someone to pray for me that is so good that God will hear her immediately. The only human being ever that was more righteous than Mary was Christ Himself (who we also pray to, usually much more). How come you do not ask Her to pray for you? Do you ever ask anyone else to pray for you or to pray with you? If so, why not the Mother of God?
2007-03-15 13:56:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Muslims do too. The house that Mary retired to with John is in Turkey. The Pope visited the site recently, and Muslims visit it frequently and make prayers to Mary.
2007-03-15 13:54:47 · answer #6 · answered by Honest Opinion 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The veneration of Mary is an ancient tradition and rightly so as Biblically she is called blessed amongst women for giving birth to the savior. However prayer to her is outside of the Biblical teaching and comes from some people taking the veneration of her to far.
2007-03-15 13:53:43 · answer #7 · answered by HAND 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
"Pray" has multiple meanings in English (a language that did not exist in biblical times). "Pray" means to entreat or implore, "to make a request in a humble manner", or "to address God or a god with adoration, confession, supplication, or thanksgiving". Since the Bible says we should "pray for one another" (James 5:16), we pray (implore) Mary to pray (address God) for us and with us. If you examine the "Hail Mary", you will notice we ask Mary to "pray FOR us".
http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/pray
2007-03-15 13:54:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
That's an easy question. If I wanted to have something and I needed all the help I could get, and had to talk to my dad, I may decide to get all the help and ask my mother to ask my dad and soften him so I could be successful! Jesus honors his mother like Christians honor her. So it is a way to go, through his mom, to Jesus direct. Honor his mother and he will answer some tough prayers with help to get through it the best you can. (Of course God always hears our prayers and knows our needs before we ask and that is a fact. )
2007-03-15 13:59:49 · answer #9 · answered by hot wheels 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
why do you ask other people to pray for you? Same reasoning it is always good to have people pray for you.
2007-03-15 13:54:50 · answer #10 · answered by kristi_rost2000 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋