just curious.
2007-06-18 13:04:52 · 19 answers · asked by KellyKapowski 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Catholics believe that saints (which Mary is one of) can serve as intermediaries between people and God, so you pray to them to pray to God for you. Some Protestants (not all) believe that you should only pray directly to God, and that no intermediary is needed. That's basically the difference.
2007-06-18 13:08:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
There are a couple issues at work here. First of all, you have to clarify what you mean by "pray to." Prayer is not the same thing as worship; it is simply a form of communication. People talk to or even pray to dead relatives all the time; this is pretty much the same thing.
Second, you have to understand Mary's position. She isn't God, nor is she divine. Catholics consider her a model of living one's life in obedience to God. But she doesn't work miracles or anything.
Third, Catholics pray to Mary (and the saints) asking her/them to pray WITH us TO God. Just like you might ask friends to pray for you, we ask those who have gone before us.
I honestly don't know where the big separation happened, whether it was with the Reformation or if it was scorn of Catholic practice in the centuries following. *shrug*
2007-06-18 13:15:01 · answer #2 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There are really 2 answers there.
1. Mary took over the function of the old Great Goddess after Christianity became state religion in Rome, so her worship perpetuates Pagan beliefs.
2. Mary is not prayed to, but asked to bring the attention of her son to the worshiper's request, the thinking behind it being that a perfect son, which Jesus would have to be, would not deny his mother anything.
Needless to say, most Catholics prefer the second answer.
After the reformation Protestants discarded a lot of the dogmata of the established Church, and saw Mary only as a vessel for the birth of Christ, and praying to her (or other Saints), even if only for assistance with God, as "idolatry". Both Calvin and Zwingli expressly forbade it to their followers, but I don't think that Luther ever did, though I might be mistaken there.
2007-06-18 13:14:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 2⤋
Catholics believe that Mary and the saints can intercede on their behalf, not that they are gods themselves. Protestants don't. Some Protestants seem to have nothing better to do with their time than nitpick why Catholics and other people who are not in the same little branch of Protestantism as they, do the things they do... and why they're wrong for doing it. No doubt they can find plenty of Bible verses that "back up" their arguments.
2007-06-18 13:08:58 · answer #4 · answered by ಠ__ಠ 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Roman Catholics are taught to pray to Mary. They think that Mary makes intercession to God for them.
To a Protestant, this is pure rubbish. To a Protestant it is trusting in something other than God, who is quite capable of hearing any prayer made to Him.
2007-06-18 13:13:37 · answer #5 · answered by Christian Sinner 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
I pray to a nd in Christ with Mary for she is a prayer-partner and a member of the Body of Christ. I pray with all members of the Body.
2007-06-18 13:34:26 · answer #6 · answered by James O 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Catholics receive Mother's milk while Protestants receive formula.
2007-06-18 13:24:33 · answer #7 · answered by Midge 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because they are two different christain sect. They have different beliefs. just like there are 26 different versions of the bible. You should begin with that question.
Why are there 26 different versions of the Bible and why king James decided to make his own version?
When you answer that questions you will have a better understanding of Christainity and its many sects.
2007-06-18 13:20:39 · answer #8 · answered by justusmiangel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Catholics listen to their pope and whatever he says they follow. How the catholics can make Mary more important than the Christ who bore our sins and died on the cross for us is very hard to understand. We need know one to go between us and God since Christ closed that gap, the purpose for the gift he gave us.
2007-06-18 13:16:19 · answer #9 · answered by clbinmo 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
they're confused. Jesus is the Holy one. Mary was a chosen vessel of God. But by no means should she be prayed to or worshipped. she was 100% human and only human, Jesus was God in human form. Mary found favor with God and so she was chosen to be the vessel by which Christ would be brought into this world. The bible states that he is sitting at the right hand of God making intercessory prayer for us. so why ask Mary to pray for you if you have the son of God doing it?
2007-06-18 13:09:43 · answer #10 · answered by texasbluezman 2 · 2⤊ 3⤋