Have these vast arrays of demi-gods allowed the RCC to assimilate indgenous populations in South America, India, and Africa?
2007-11-01 08:18:03 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Daewan quote of the Day!
"Mary is not God; she was a human like everyone else, with the exception that she was born without sin, did not sin, and was the Mother of Christ."
ah ha ha... ok...
2007-11-01 08:36:16 · update #1
Yes.
2007-11-01 08:21:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 5⤋
No.
Catholics share the belief in the Communion of Saints with many other Christians, including the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopal, and Methodist Churches.
The Communion of Saints is the belief where all saints are intimately related in the Body of Christ, a family. When you die and go to heaven, you do not leave this family.
Everyone in heaven or on their way to heaven are saints, you, me, my deceased grandmother, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II.
As part of this family, you may ask your family and friends living here on earth to pray for you. Or, you may also ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Andrew, or your deceased grandmother living in heaven to pray for you.
Prayer to saints in heaven is simple communication, not worship.
Asking others to pray for you whether your loved ones on Earth or your loved ones in heaven is always optional.
For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 946 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p5.htm#946
With love in Christ.
2007-11-01 17:21:23 · answer #2 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Catholics are not polytheists. We only believe in one God; there is no other, and the saints are not venerated as deities. They are held up as moral examples which should be imitated, and we pray for their prayers, just as you would ask a friend to pray for you.
--edit-- We do NOT worship Mary!! If anyone worships Mary, that person is not in line with Church teaching. Mary is not God; she was a human like everyone else, with the exception that she was born without sin, did not sin, and was the Mother of Christ.
2007-11-01 08:23:54 · answer #3 · answered by Daewen 3 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Hello,
Happy Kid is dead on here. Catholicism allowed some of the vestiges of paganism to be left so the transition to Christianity would be far easier. Aztecs certainly understood the concepts of sacrifice and you see their symbolism in the day of the dead; priests vestments through to incense are from the Roman religion as well.
These vestiges showed smart thinking of the early church fathers and give a little more color to Catholicism.
Asking someon else to pray for you such as Mary or a saint is certainly no worse than asking all the TV evangelists or ministers to pray for you or send out magic annointed oil, water or prayer cloths which seem to be vestiges of voodo fetishes.
Cheers,
Michael Kelly
2007-11-01 08:32:03 · answer #4 · answered by Michael Kelly 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
No. The veneration of saints is respect for those who have been great Christian role models, and our hope that they will pray for us just as you hope that your friends will pray for you.
http://www.catholicapologetics.org/ap070100.htm
2007-11-01 08:24:41 · answer #5 · answered by evolver 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
why blame the Catholic Church if you found their Saints as demi-gods? check your way of comprehending things, you got it all twisted to suit whatever agenda you have in your head.
2007-11-01 08:25:07 · answer #6 · answered by Ťango 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Answer this question it was asked for you. You are great, in the eyes of men ?
2007-11-01 08:26:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
bingo...just as mary is a goddess figure
EDIT: @daewen-you forgot that Mary also had a child without ever having had sex. Also, if you could reread your post...you say that mary is human, except, except, except....
For example- I am a squid, like any other squid, except that I possess a spine, have lungs, walk bipedally, have bilateral as opposed to radial symmetry...you see where I'm going with this?
I know logic is a dirty word to you godfolk, but please- when you play with language like that it becomes meaningless. Please stop trying to mislead. You do NOT NOT worship Mary, either
2007-11-01 08:23:22 · answer #8 · answered by dr schmitty 7 · 1⤊ 5⤋
Definitly. It's great that people were able to keep some of their own indigenous beliefs when they were forcibly converted to Christianity.
2007-11-01 08:21:55 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 3⤋
It really doesn't matter when you wring it out... as long as the people are gleaning wisdom, altruism, compassion and all the other teachings Jesus laid out, then everything else is a moot point.
_()_
2007-11-01 08:21:59 · answer #10 · answered by vinslave 7 · 0⤊ 6⤋