First, let me give you a little background; I was raised Irish Catholic---then as I got older I got into the beauty and logic of Paganism and Eastern Religions. I guess you could call me Christian---in loosest of terms. I believe in God and Jesus, but I don't buy into the hate, conceit, or "holier than thou" attitude. I believe there may just be many paths to God. Who am I to judge?
Anyway, being raised Catholic, I was given the gift of having a woman, a divine feminine, to turn to. Mary isn't God, no. But she is a comfort and and a feminine role model---much like a Christian version of the Pagan Goddess.
Why do so many Protestant/Baptist/Evangelical religions dislike or ouright hate, a feminine saint? What's the problem, really? Why do so many of them deny that she was Jesus's mother even though she gave birth to Him, raised Him, and was favored by God?
Does a sacred feminine, such as Mary, or the Pagan Goddess, threaten conservative Christians? WHY?
2007-09-14 22:40:57 · 25 answers · asked by Calliope 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Allen T.
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I have a good idea of what kind of "Christian" you are from your answer. And I feel happy and content that I am not that kind of hateful, bigoted type of person.
2007-09-14 22:55:21 · update #1
I'm a former Protestant.
As a Methodist, we didn't hate or disrespect Mary. We just didn't think about her much at all, except at Christmas. After that, no one really talked about her.
The fundamentalists believe that Catholicism has placed Mary at a level of worship. Of course they are wrong about this, but many are not interested in knowing the truth.
There is much scripture to back up the veneration of Mary, when you look at scripture as a whole. You have to read the Old and New Testaments as one book. Understand that the Old prefigures the New and the New is solidly built on the Old.
Mary is the new Eve. This an awesome thing. She is part of the New Covenant therefore. Eve said "no" to God and Mary said "yes." Her "yes" opened humanity to salvation through Christ. Very special and deserving of a place of honor.
2007-09-15 00:30:06 · answer #1 · answered by Misty 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's a common misconception among Catholics to think that other non-Catholic Christians have a hatred or disrespect for Mary herself. But that is not generally the case though.
The controversy lies in RC Church's doctrine pertaining to MARIAN DEVOTION much more so than to God. This becomes quite obvious and self-evident when the faithful say the Rosary, and they pray TO Mary 53 times [!], but TO God the Father only once at the very beginning of it. And also once to the Trinity. Why do it so many times? And why pray repeatedly??
The discussion lengthens when the Catholic faithful insist --as they have been indoctrinated-- that Mary "intercedes" on behalf of the person praying when, in fact, the Bible states that one can pray DIRECTLY to God rather than through anyone else. And it even gets worse when other people ["saints"] are being prayed to as well!
So goes the endless --oftentimes heated-- debate between the two sides of this issue... ad nauseum.
Peace be with you.
2007-09-14 23:16:11 · answer #2 · answered by Arf Bee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Protestant Christians don't hate Mary, nor do they deny that she gave birth to Jesus. However, many Protestants have observed that a lot of Catholics attribute too much to Mary and they are objecting to that.
Some Catholic doctrines that Protestants object to because they are not biblical are:
1) Mary is not divine.
2) She is not a co-redemptrix.
3) She did not live a life entirely without sin.
4) The immaculate conception is not biblical.
. . . Do not confuse this with the virgin birth. That is biblical.
. . . The immaculate conception refers to the birth of Mary.
5) Prayer should not be offered to Mary or any other saints.
. . . Prayer should be offered directly to God.
It's not a case of feeling threatened. It is a case of objecting to nonbiblical doctrines.
2007-09-14 22:57:07 · answer #3 · answered by Northstar 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am a Christian woman. I am not threatened by Mary. The Bible says she was a blessed woman. Nothing more in the lines of deity. Mary is dead, just like all the rest of the people in the Bible, except Jesus. Why pray to her? It's practicing necromancy. The Bible says no one can come to the Father except through the son, Jesus Christ. Not come to the Father through Jesus and His Earthly mother Mary and some of the saints. Mary was an awesome example of a servant of God. WAS an example. She's dead and in heaven. Pray to Jesus. It will get you to the Father if you believe in Jesus Christ.
2007-09-14 23:01:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am not sure where you get that Mary is a divine feminine.
She was not a deity (but has been made into one)
She was a normal girl who obeyed God's laws (she was a Biblical female) who obeyed what scripture said.
Saint is anyone who follows Jesus (not anyone special)
No Christian denies that Mary was the Mother Of Jesus... She was the Mother of the Savior (Jesus the man) not The God part of His being.
She found favor with God because she was an obedient woman...but then again
Noah found favor with God and that is why he and his family was saved from the flood. (No body puts him on a shelf and prays to him..
Kind David also found favor with God, again no one carries him around on their shoulders and sees his vision on walls, in cake batter and in the lights shining in the night.
Mary was the Mother of Jesus (the Son of Man) but she was just an obedient girl who obeyed God.
2007-09-14 23:00:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mary was selected to be Jesus earthly mother because of her lineage and she was of acceptable character.
She had no holiness of her own , nor was she any sort of God.
Therefore , she is not worthy of worship.
Only the one true God Jehovah is worthy of that.
While true Christians appreciate Mary's part , it was only a part.
She was simply a good woman that followed the true God to the best of her ability and was chosen to be the mother of the Messiah.
True Christians will also note the association with 'Mary worship' to that of false pagan religions of the time.
Therefore , if we are praying or worshiping Mary , we are in fact , following the teachings of demons.
For more Bible based information plz feel free to email me.
2007-09-14 22:56:25 · answer #6 · answered by I♥U 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe Christians dislike Mary the mother of Jesus. I believe the problem most Christians have is catholics pray to Mary for intercession and that not biblical. The bible says that Jesus in the only intercessor.
2007-09-14 22:55:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was babtized as a Catholic but I practice Protestantism. Well, other Christian sects don't really disrespect or hate Mary. It's just that she's not a god therefore, we don't pray to her. The first commandment states that we should not have any other gods but I mean comon, Catholics praise Mary as if she was a god, but clearly she's not. She is the mother of Jesus though. Another thing is the fact that some people say that the reason they pray to her is because she sends the message to God himself. But I mean comon, we can pray directly to the Lord himself. I don't mean to offend you in any way, but this just my point of view when it comes to this subject.
2007-09-14 22:49:55 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Sweety, I believe it was, "highly favored", and I'm not catholic. She is the best role model for women that has ever lived, second to Jesus Christ, as well, for them. Your right Mary has been given a bad rap, and a lack of understanding of her role has had its losses. We men could use a lot of women like her, but unfortunatly the cause isn't any paticular group of people, but contention due to inaccuracies about her role in matters. This is the woman, However that said,"Be it unto me according to thy word", and accually was resposible for the free will believing of God to bring forth the Christ. I know I've never met a woman so amazing in my life.
2007-09-14 23:43:26 · answer #9 · answered by Candy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your basic thesis is flawed, therefore the question, not being based on fact, is invalid!
The truth is that all Christian faiths deeply respect Mary, for she had to be beautiful and special if God chose her from all humanity to be the one through which he would bring the savior of the world, His only begotten Son Jesus.
That being said, Mary is still merely human and the catholic religion exhalts her to a place that equals Christ, which is not God's way.
Many errors about Mary are corrected if one reads the scriptures for the truth.
For instance, Mary was NOT always a virgin for it is recorded in the Bible that after Jesus was born, that she "knew" Joseph and it is further recorded that Jesus had earthly siblings.
As for your Christianity, you better start reading your bible to find out about the true God and stop dabbling in occult practices which lead you away from Christ.
Jesus said, "I am the way the truth and the life; no man comes unto the Father but through me."
2007-09-14 22:53:56 · answer #10 · answered by skypiercer 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋