Mother of God and Protestantism

[JacobEzra.]

I do not want to debate, I just want to find out the point of view that a protestant has of the Blessed Virgin.

Is she honored? Is she treated as your mother like Jesus told us to do? And if not, why? Is she just another women? Even though she was entrusted to give birth and care for our beloved Savior.

 

[*Deleted*]

It is a travesty (at least to me) that during the Protestant Reformation that images of Mary were smashed to smithereens. No regard even for art. So sad.

My thoughts re: Mary. She is in today's world a hidden symbol of the female divine that has always existed (even though forced underground)---She who was once adequate metaphor for the Sacred was demoted, demeaned, and kicked out of "holy writ" as patriarchy grew stronger.
Much was lost. There is no balance without male and female (in metaphor.) She is not even allowed now in metaphor. She is demoted to handmaiden. YET, the enormous devotion to Mary makes it evident that collectively she is not seen as merely handmaiden on an unconscious level.
She is more than that---yet, hidden, unspoken. When I visited Chartres (and other cathedrals named for her--Notre Dame this and that) it is clear that she stands for more than we realize.
Protestants (and that is the faith tradition I have been immersed in all my life) have totally masculinized the church in a way that (if women are enlightened) they will be filled with sadness for the loss the world has sustained in our religious traditions in general. If the word "He" is adequate metaphor for the divine, why is "She" not? Some problem with "She"? What? (And the argument that "He" is used as a neutral doesn't fly. At least not to me.
Mary is held important in Protestantism because she is Jesus' mother. More important, I think, is Mary Magdalene, for many reasons, probably most being because she was the first witness to the
resurrection as the story goes. (All IMHO.)

 

[Desert Snake]

As I understand it, it's simply that Protestantism focuses more on Jesus specifically rather than saints, and Mary. I don't agree with the idea that it was a way to "slight" the female archetype or anything.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

In the Anglican Faith Mary holds a special place amongst the Saints as the Mother of Jesus (who was concieved by her of the Holy Spirit)

The High Anglican Church, like Catholics , is quite Marian. Other Anglican Churches are not so.

She is not spoken of as the "Mother of God" as that is the result of taking the Catholic view of the Trinity to the logical conclusion. (she is the mother of Jesus, not God)

Our present priest would allways say prayers "in the company of Mary and all the Saints".

 

[rockstarwife628]

To be honest, there was never a lot of focus on her in my Methodist church. From what I understand most Protestants see her as the mother of Jesus, that she was a virgin at the time of the conception, but I don't think any of the other things Catholics attribute to her are really taught or believed (her perpetual virginity, her own Immaculate Conception, her ascension into heaven, etc). Granted, I'm not an expert or anything, so I could be wrong, but I think that those things aren't believed in most Protestant churches. I know many Protestants misunderstand the veneration of Mary within the Catholic faith - many claim such veneration is idolatry (not saying this is how I feel) and stress praying to God/Jesus alone, etc.

I'm not sure if this had anything to do with intentionally slighting her or anything, as someone else said. I honestly think it was their way of trying to get back to what they felt was the "real" point of faith.... (I'm not really here to debate which side is more "real", though, lol, if you get what I mean).

 

[*Deleted*]

The destruction, literal smahing of any saints, of Mary, etc., was taken on with great zeal. This can be easily found in writings from the time. Protestants absolutely forbade any devotion to Mary or any of the saints. I answered above as I did because the thread is about Mary, "Mother of God." (interesting title if you really think hard about it.) If "God" is three is one and Mary is the Mother of God---this can become very very symbolic but underneath the "popular" storyline.

In Protestantism, the "Word" became all important. The scriptures. With almost no decoration in the churches. I visited the Black Church in Brasov, Romania (had been Catholic) but one of Luther's disciples convinced the people to change it. Same thing---beautiful scultures removed. People were then so disheartened that they hung up Turkish rugs all over the church to decorate it. Today it is quite stunning.

In the Apostles' Creed, said in most Protestant churches (very common practice)--"Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin, Mary..." But, of course, that is words, too. No visual imagery. No art (except for stained glass windows.) She can be seen in those.

 

[JacobEzra.]

The destruction, literal smahing of any saints, of Mary, etc., was taken on with great zeal. This can be easily found in writings from the time. Protestants absolutely forbade any devotion to Mary or any of the saints. I answered above as I did because the thread is about Mary, "Mother of God." (interesting title if you really think hard about it.) If "God" is three is one and Mary is the Mother of God---this can become very very symbolic but underneath the "popular" storyline.

Mary is the Mother of the word incarnate. Through her and the holy spirit she gave birth to the savior of the world. That is not a sign of honor? Not to mention in Holy Scripture she is hailed to by an archangel, and spoken when she met with Elizabeth that "blessed art thou among women" and that she will be called Blessed for generations to come. Then Jesus in the gospel of John tells his disciple to "behold your mother" and the Blessed Virgin is told to "behold her son" Scripture points out to her honorable role in the plan for redemption and the church established by the Apostles.

 

[*Deleted*]

Precisely, I agree. I think she's been tossed out of Protestantism for the most part (unfortunately) and also made a handmaid to God (but yet called the "Mother of God") at the same time.
Cathedrals across the world attest to the devotion to her. (Which to me, points to a longing also for the female divine that has been exiled from our holy writ---all of them, really.) But, look at Chartres, at Notre Dame (our Lady), at Rocamadour, at so many places, cathedrals built to her.
Hagia Sophia in Istabul. Holy Wisdom (which has female connotations) and there she is in the very front of the mosque/church in the key place. I agree with ou.

 

[*Deleted*]

I know Hagia Sophia is a museum now. But Muslims were wise enough not to damage the art---which they held in high esteem, especially from a brother tradition, one of the other two religions of the "people of the book."

 

[Lucian]

I do not want to debate, I just want to find out the point of view that a protestant has of the Blessed Virgin.

Is she honored?

Yes.

Is she treated as your mother like Jesus told us to do? And if not, why?

No, because Jesus didn't tell us that she was our mother.

Is she just another women? Even though she was entrusted to give birth and care for our beloved Savior.

A woman that as a virgin gave birth to Jesus. A saint, sure. I'm not sure if any woman is just another woman, atleast I hope. They're all pretty special.

 

[JacobEzra.]

No, because Jesus didn't tell us that she was our mother.

John Ch. 19


26 Seeing his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, 'Woman, this is your son.'
27 Then to the disciple he said, 'This is your mother.' And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

 

[Lucian]

John Ch. 19


26 Seeing his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, 'Woman, this is your son.'
27 Then to the disciple he said, 'This is your mother.' And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

Yeah I figured you meant that, and I have no idea how it means that Mary is our mother.