Many religions and theologians suggest that the way Christians pray to Mary and the Saints is a form of polytheism (the worshiping of more than one god). Some even say that the Trinity is a form of polytheism.
Which bothers you more, being accused of worshiping multiple gods or the idea that a woman might be one of them?
2007-08-14 06:20:45 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
ConfirmedRieganTypos: Thank you. I usually call them all Christians and when I do distinguish I usually split them Protestant/Catholic. I am glad I made this mistake though because I think it will draw answers from people I want to hear from.
2007-08-14 06:55:16 · update #1
First, not all Christian groups pray to Mary or have saints - that's usually an attack reserved solely for the Catholics.
But at least you're recognizing that Catholics are Christian, at that they do not worship multiple gods. Few people can make that distinction.
In truth, though, it's a little irritating, but the people who make these claims are obviously ignorant. All in all, it doesn't really matter.
2007-08-14 06:25:32 · answer #1 · answered by Wings 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I'm not sure that Catholics really consider Mary to be a deity. I think it's more along the lines that she can help intercede for them.
The point about the trinity does raise a question: if you believe that blashemy against the holy spirit is unforgivable, and the holy spirit is just a form of god, then isn't all blasphemy is a unforgivable sin?
I think that the trinity concept was developed to stay in lines with the OT commandments... It would be interesting to trace when this belief actually entered into Christianity.
2007-08-14 13:33:55 · answer #2 · answered by Pirate AM™ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nothing bothers me about being a Christian.
If anything were bothersome, I could worship another way or not at all. Your question is constructed with a manipulative tone that suggests that we all have something bothering us. With so many religions in the world, we could choose the direction that suits our needs.
If we were not humbled by the power of God or we didn't appreciate His grace and love, we would just go through life without direction or purpose...I think YOU know what I mean.
2007-08-14 13:27:51 · answer #3 · answered by joe_on_drums 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
All Christians do not pray to Mary and the Saints. Roman Catholics do that. And yes - that is confusing to us non-Catholics. It is actually very similar to Taoists, who believe that there is one God, but he is very busy, so he splits himself up into many beings (gods), like the god of love, finances, family, crops, wisdom, etc. The Taoists pray to whichever of these gods they are asking for help from at the time, but it still all goes up to the one God. It seems like Catholicism is the same, except they pray to the Patron Saints (former humans) of different things.
Non-Roman Catholics just pray to God.. period. Yes, there is the triune God, but it is just one being. We do not pray to Mary or to any of the Saints.
Martin Luther had it right!
2007-08-14 13:28:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
First off, it's not Christians in general but Catholics who are often accused of this (though they have their own set of arguements against the idea); apparently you're not very well versed on the topic. Add in your apparent expectation that people might recoil in horror from the very idea that they might be worshiping a woman, and I can see right away where you're coming from.
And I don't much like it.
2007-08-14 13:27:56 · answer #5 · answered by stmichaeldet 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm neither. I do not believe in the Trinity, yet I am Christian to the core. I am "Monotheistic", which is same as Judaic belief.
There is but One God, not three. I am not Triniatarian.
Trinity is polytheism (The belief in 3 Gods). Go back to the defination of Trinity (original) and you'll be surprised.
I holler out to all the same that was hollered out to Israel, "Hear O Israel, the LORD our God is ONE Lord." Duet. 6:4,5
http://www.housefellowship.org
2007-08-14 13:28:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The thing that bothers me the most is that people are condemning themselves to an eternity without God over a misconception.
2007-08-14 13:26:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, Christians pray to God, Catholics pray to Mary and the Saints.
2007-08-14 13:24:14 · answer #8 · answered by ♥Sunny Girl♥ 5 · 2⤊ 3⤋
I am agnostic but it bothers me because it is uninformed and ignorant to think such things. People should be educate themselves before they try and criticize others.
(In regard to some of the answers, Catholics don't worship Mary and catholics are Christians.)
2007-08-14 13:24:32 · answer #9 · answered by alana 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I always thought the whole trinity thing was a pretty weak disguise of Christians covering their polytheistic beliefs. Jesus clearly states in the gospels that he and the father are not the same, but they've done a really good job of trying to muddy the water to confuse folks.
2007-08-14 13:27:34 · answer #10 · answered by discombobulated 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋