Mary

How come only the Catholics think Mary is more than human ?

Originally posted by buckky
How come only the Catholics think Mary is more than human ?

Can you define "more than human" for us?

Originally posted by buckky
How come only the Catholics think Mary is more than human ?

It generates revenue. That's why they started the idea in the first place.

This is not an insult to Mary or Catholics. There is no Biblical basis for the deification of Mary. Nor is there a Biblical basis for Mary as a mediator on behalf of human kind.

Originally posted by buckky
How come only the Catholics think Mary is more than human ?

Catholics do not regard Mary as more than human, although they do believe that she received the unique gift of the immaculate conception which places her apart from other humans (who presumably have original sin.)

And it is not only Catholic who venerate Mary. It is a common practice in the Orthodox churches.

Originally posted by josephw
There is no Biblical basis for the deification of Mary. Nor is there a Biblical basis for Mary as a mediator on behalf of human kind.

Good for you josephw. Catholics would not disagree with these two statements.

Originally posted by buckky
How come only the Catholics think Mary is more than human ?

Wasn't Mary the whore who was shagging Jesus?

Originally posted by shavixmir
Wasn't Mary the whore who was shagging Jesus?

No. If you are referring to Mary Magdelene, it's still no - she was not a prostitute.

Originally posted by Badwater
No. If you are referring to Mary Magdelene, it's still no - she was not a prostitute.

Do you think a whore is necessarily a prostitute?

Originally posted by Conrau K
Do you think a whore is necessarily a prostitute?

I don't, but that's a fairly common misconception about Mary Magdelene.

Originally posted by shavixmir
Wasn't Mary the whore who was shagging Jesus?

according to dan brown. but we are talking about a different mary

Originally posted by Conrau K
Catholics do not regard Mary as more than human, although they do believe that she received the unique gift of the immaculate conception which places her apart from other humans (who presumably have original sin.)

And it is not only Catholic who venerate Mary. It is a common practice in the Orthodox churches.

Sounds like you are saying that Mary did not have original sin because of the immaculate conception. What is the reasoning behind this?

I can see how you might argue that Jesus was not tainted by original sin due the nature of his conception but I can't see how this has any bearing on Mary.

--- Penguin.

Originally posted by Penguin
Sounds like you are saying that Mary did not have original sin because of the immaculate conception. What is the reasoning behind this?

Because the immaculate conception is the doctrine that Mary was conceived without original sin.

Originally posted by Conrau K
Because the immaculate conception is the doctrine that Mary was conceived without original sin.

Neither expression " immaculate conception " nor " original sin " are in the bible. I know original sin applies to all of Adam's descendents. How exactly was Mary conceived without original sin?

Originally posted by Rajk999
Neither expression " immaculate conception " nor " original sin " are in the bible. I know original sin applies to all of Adam's descendents. How exactly was Mary conceived without original sin?

jesus was conceived without to abominable and yucky act of two persons getting it on. from this comes the catholic main rule "if it feels good, stop" 😀

jesus had the original sin like everyone else unless there would be a loophole in the bible. god might have said in genesis that the son of man would be carrying his sin(adam's sin not god's). since jesus had no man father he didn't have it. would like someone to post the bible verse though

And it is not only Catholic who venerate Mary. It is a common practice in the Orthodox churches.[/b]

Catholics are the only group that pray through and to Mary, though (effectively making her a god, since one should only pray to God). This is in contradicion to wat the Bible teaches in 1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus...

To answer the original question: I believe the Catholic perception of Mary has much to do with the 'mother and child' cult that existed in Rome at the time Constantine made Christianity the state religion. Many of these sun worshippers complained and Constantine allowed them to incorporate some of their beliefs into the newly birthed Catholic church. From there come such Catholic doctrines as praying thru Mary, Christmas (based on the Brumalia and Saturnalia), Easter (a sexual fertility festival for the godess Ishtar in which they used eggs and bunnies as symbols of fertility), the Eucharist (including the wafer with the symbol of sun-worship on it), Christening (sprinkling water on a baby to make it Christian), etc.

Though Constantine did some good he also seems to have messed up quite badly.