What do Episcopalians and Anglicans believe about Mary?

[Ave Maria]

Do you believe that Mary was conceived without sin? Was she assumed into Heaven both body and soul? Is she the queen of Heaven? Do you feel that the title "Mother of God" or "Theotokos" is appropriate for her?

 

[No Swansong]

I believe she is in heaven. How she got there is really between her and her Son although I do not believe her to have been assumed I admit that Tradition does point to this. I will reserve comment on the queen of heaven question, as I do not understand this designation well enough to comment. She certainly is the mother of God and I believe Theotokos is appropriate and honoring.

 

[gtsecc]

Theotokus is a christological confession, that is not optional. If you don't think she carried him in the womb, you beleive something different from Christinity.
Jesus redeemed humanity by taking on all aspects of our life, including gestation. The only reason I can think of for rejecting it is simply beign reactionary to Rome, and not inquisitive enough to learn more.

 

[Ave Maria]

Theotokus is a christological confession, that is not optional. If you don't think she carried him in the womb, you beleive something different from Christinity.
Jesus redeemed humanity by taking on all aspects of our life, including gestation. The only reason I can think of for rejecting it is simply beign reactionary to Rome, and not inquisitive enough to learn more.

I agree. She is definitely the Theotokos.

 

[Fairbairn]

Do you believe that Mary was conceived without sin? Was she assumed into Heaven both body and soul? Is she the queen of Heaven? Do you feel that the title "Mother of God" or "Theotokos" is appropriate for her?

We believe that she was a young girl (when we first meet her) who was faithful and obedient to God and strong enough to become the mother of Jesus and all the trials that would bring to her life.

 

[gtsecc]

We believe that she was a young girl (when we first meet her) who was faithful and obedient to God and strong enough to become the mother of Jesus and all the trials that would bring to her life.

Do you reject Theotokus?

 

[Fairbairn]

What do you mean by that?

 

[Ave Maria]

Theotokus is a christological confession, that is not optional. If you don't think she carried him in the womb, you beleive something different from Christinity.
Jesus redeemed humanity by taking on all aspects of our life, including gestation. The only reason I can think of for rejecting it is simply beign reactionary to Rome, and not inquisitive enough to learn more.

We believe that she was a young girl (when we first meet her) who was faithful and obedient to God and strong enough to become the mother of Jesus and all the trials that would bring to her life.

I pretty much agree with this except I believe she is also the Theotokos (God bearer).

 

[JasonV]

Do you reject Theotokus?

Personally, I do. I would favor a more Christokos theology. But I recognize that Theotokos is the accepted "orthodox" position.

 

[Fairbairn]

I pretty much agree with this except I believe she is also the Theotokos (God bearer).

What is the alternative point of view?

 

[gtsecc]

What is the alternative point of view?

Jesus did nto have a nine month conception.

 

[Ave Maria]

Personally, I do. I would favor a more Christokos theology. But I recognize that Theotokos is the accepted "orthodox" position.

What is Christokos theology?

 

[JasonV]

What is Christokos theology?

Christokos = Mother of Christ

Theotokos = Mother of God

 

[Ave Maria]

Christokos = Mother of Christ

Theotokos = Mother of God

Well they seem to be one and the same to me. Christ is God and therefore Mary is the Mother of God.

 

[JasonV]

Well they seem to be one and the same to me. Christ is God and therefore Mary is the Mother of God.

Actually they have vastly different meanings as theologians have defined them.

You can be the mother of Christ without being the mother of God.

In spite of our common interpretation Christ does not equal God. Christ (or Messiah) is a savior figure in Jewish mythology. Nowhere does it state that the Messiah is Yahweh.

 

[SumTinWong]

The only one of those I agree with is the theotokos. Otherwise I have seen no evidence that has swayed me to believe the other things (or care about them for that matter)otherwise up till this point.

 

[Fairbairn]

Jesus did nto have a nine month conception.

What? Gabriel came, and Mary had the baby the next day?

 

[TomUK]

Mother of Christ, mother of mine.

 

[Ave Maria]

Christokos = Mother of Christ

Theotokos = Mother of God

Actually they have vastly different meanings as theologians have defined them.

You can be the mother of Christ without being the mother of God.

In spite of our common interpretation Christ does not equal God. Christ (or Messiah) is a savior figure in Jewish mythology. Nowhere does it state that the Messiah is Yahweh.

But if the Christokos theology was true then Mary was only the mother of Jesus' human nature right? That would mean that his human and divine nature were separated at one point in time right?

 

[gtsecc]

What is the alternative point of view?

What? Gabriel came, and Mary had the baby the next day?

No, it took nine months - March 25 to Dember 25th.
If you reject the title Theotokus, then are are regecting the gestation. I accept the title Theotokus. Furthur more, she was given that name in the 4th coucnil. None of us have the authority to reject this title. Rejectign it is rejecting part of the faith, and we don't want to be cafeteia Christians.