- Dec 20, 2003
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Being born an Anglican with a more Protestant than Catholic outlook and brought up with a high veneration of scripture I have always been intensely sceptical of Catholic and Orthodoc views of Mary and generally dismissed them as Marianity and a distraction from true religion. But recently I have been challenged by some of my readings of the Early Church Fathers who clearly had radically different views to Protestants today. I guess I wanted to use this thread to sift fact from fiction about Mary and to see what is solid and what is not. So I have a list below of assertions people make about Mary. Some of which are directly supported from scripture and some of which have been dominant in tradition. There is also a quiz. I would be really interested to hear how you approach the question of who is right and who is wrong about Mary on the individual assertions below.
1) Parents: Joachim and Anna a barren woman - based on tradition. a descendant of David?
2) Immaculate conception : so she was born without sin - tradition and Catholic doctrine 1854
3) Virgin conception of Jesus by Holy Spirit - Matthew and Lukes gospel, Council of Nicea 325
4) Bore Jesus in her womb leading to her description as the God bearer (Theotokos) or Mother of God as others emphasise - Third Ecumenical Council (Ephesus) 431 refuted Nestorius who said she was only birth giver of Christ not God
5) Virgin after birth process ie hymen did not break - Constantinople 553
6) Bore other children after Jesus - Josephus mentioned Jesus had a brother James, The bible apparently mentions brothers and sisters. But Catholics suggest these were half brothers from Josephs previous marriage or cousins.
7) Was present during Jesus ministry - mentions in Temple when a child, in Wedding Feast of Canaan, at cross, in room before Pentecost
8) Died in Israel or Ephesus - conflicting traditions
9) Assumed into heaven. Revelation 12:1;5-6 "woman clothed with the sun" - Catholics 1950
10) Visitations and miracles through history. Are these real?
The Catholics seem most devoted to Mary and have most to say about her. But Barth described this devotion as the biggest heresy of the Catholic church
What do you think?
1) Parents: Joachim and Anna a barren woman - based on tradition. a descendant of David?
2) Immaculate conception : so she was born without sin - tradition and Catholic doctrine 1854
3) Virgin conception of Jesus by Holy Spirit - Matthew and Lukes gospel, Council of Nicea 325
4) Bore Jesus in her womb leading to her description as the God bearer (Theotokos) or Mother of God as others emphasise - Third Ecumenical Council (Ephesus) 431 refuted Nestorius who said she was only birth giver of Christ not God
5) Virgin after birth process ie hymen did not break - Constantinople 553
6) Bore other children after Jesus - Josephus mentioned Jesus had a brother James, The bible apparently mentions brothers and sisters. But Catholics suggest these were half brothers from Josephs previous marriage or cousins.
7) Was present during Jesus ministry - mentions in Temple when a child, in Wedding Feast of Canaan, at cross, in room before Pentecost
8) Died in Israel or Ephesus - conflicting traditions
9) Assumed into heaven. Revelation 12:1;5-6 "woman clothed with the sun" - Catholics 1950
10) Visitations and miracles through history. Are these real?
The Catholics seem most devoted to Mary and have most to say about her. But Barth described this devotion as the biggest heresy of the Catholic church
What do you think?