Apologetics
Goddess Worshipers?
By David Wiseman
Introduction:
There are certain parts of Christianity, specifically the Roman Catholic Church, that have rites and doctrines involving the mother of Jesus, the Christ. Some claim that this involves worship of her as a goddess. The official doctrine of Catholicism is that she is not a goddess, but a saint. The evidence speaks for itself. Whether or not she is worshipped as a goddess will soon be seen. Systematically, the evidence will be gone over. In the end, the answer is self-evident, and there can only be one conclusion. Either she is treated as a goddess, or she is not. “And you will know the truth, and that very truth will make you free.” John 8:32 (Lamsa)
Immaculate Conception
The doctrine of the “Immaculate Conception” is probably the most controversial doctrine surrounding Mary. This doctrine states that Mary never bore the effects of the sin of Adam and Eve. The doctrine was declared by Pope Pius IX in this way, “In the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the human race, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin.” ("Immaculate Conception" by Frederick G. Howleck)
This is based on the idea that Mary was the “second Eve” and the “Mother of God.” (Barns & Nobel New American Encyclopedia vol. 11, pg. 54) According to I Corinthians 15:45-47 Christ is the last, or second, Adam. So if Christ is the second Adam, and Mary is the second Eve, then Mary would have to be the bride of Christ. But marrying one’s mother is forbidden in Leviticus 18:7. Not only that, but Revelation 21:9-10 says that the bride of Christ is the city of Jerusalem.
More importantly, “For all have sinned and are short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 (Lamsa) And again, “Just as sin entered into the world by one man, and death by means of sin, so death was imposed upon all men, inasmuch as they all have sinned;” Romans 5:12 (Lamsa)
These passages do not allow for any exceptions. All have felt the effects of the sin of Adam and Eve.
Even Thomas Aquinas, named a saint by the Catholic church, rejected the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. (Barns & Nobel New American Encyclopedia vol. 11, pg. 54)
Assumption
Though it was not officially declared dogma (teaching) of the Catholic Church until 1950, (Barns & Nobel New American Encyclopedia vol. 2 pg. 266) the doctrine of the Assumption of Mary is one of great importance. This doctrine states that at her death, Mary was taken up bodily into Heaven. Thus Mary is, in a roundabout way, granted immortality. Hebrews 9:27 says, “And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after their death, the judgment.” (Lamsa)
Not only do all men die, according to Hebrews 9:27 and Romans 5:12, but judgment does not come until after death. How, then, can Mary be judged if she does not die? The definition of a god or goddess is “…conceived of as immortal, as embodying a particular quality…A statue, image, or symbol of such a being.” (Funk & Wagnall's Standard Desk Dictionary vol. 1 pg. 275)
Mary is not only considered immortal, but she is represented in statues and images in virtually every Catholic Church on earth.
Hail Mary and the Rosary
There are various prayers that members of the Catholic Church recite to Mary. The most famous is the Hail Mary, or Ave Maria. In English the Hail Mary reads,
“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen.” (oldstmarys.org)
It is curious that the Ave Maria says “us sinners” as though Mary were not a sinner as well. Does Scripture not say, “As it is written, ‘There is none righteous, no not one.’” ? Romans 3:10 (Lamsa)
The Ave Maria and other chants said to Mary are referred to as prayers in the Catholic Church. (newadvent.org) Prayer is defined as, “1. A devout request or petition to a deity. 2. The act of praying, esp. to God. 3. A set form of words used for a devout request, petition, etc…” (Funk & Wagnall's Standard Desk Dictionary vol. 2 pg. 518)
This is a simple definition of prayer. If they pray to her, doesn’t that define her as a goddess? Also, why pray to the dead? Ecclesiastes 9:5 says, “For the living know that they will die, but the dead don't know anything, neither do they have any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.” (HNV)
It is also interesting to note that the Hindus use a rosary to count “mantras” which are sayings used for meditation , just like the Catholics use a rosary to count prayers. One of the most common mantras is “Om mani padme hum” or “Hail to the jewel of the lotus.” ("Mala(Or Buddhist Rosary)" By Anthony Flanagan, M.A.) Which bears striking resemblance to “Hail Mary, full of grace.” Though no connection can be proven, the similarity is interesting to note.
The almost exact correlation of the Catholic rosary and the Hindu rosary is interesting. While the Hindu rosary has 108 beads, ("Japa" by Sri Radhakrishnan Srimali) the Catholic rosary has 150. ("The Rosary" by Herbert Thurston & Andrew J. Shipman) Both are used to count repetitive mantras and prayers, respectively. They are both also used to help meditation.
Scripture tells us,
"Take heed to yourself that you not be ensnared to follow them, after that they are destroyed from before you; and that you not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How do these nations serve their gods? Even so will I do likewise.’" Deuteronomy 12:30 (HNV)
Not only Hindus, but also Buddhists and Muslims use rosaries. (Barns & Nobel New American Encyclopedia vol. 16 pg. 312) Christ warned against these kinds of prayers in Matthew 6:7, “And when you pray, do not repeat your words like the pagans, for they think that because of much talking they will be heard.” (Lamsa)
Mother of God and the Mother of the gods
While the Hail Mary is being recited with the rosary, it is customary to meditate on the fifteen “mysteries” of the faith. It is also interesting to note that there are “mysteries” connected with the worship of the Egyptian goddess Nut, the sky-goddess. ("Nut, Sky Goddess, Mother of the Gods..." by Caroline Seawrite) Mary is known as “Regina Coeli” which means, “Queen of Heaven,” ("Regina Coeli" by H.T. Henry) thus connecting her with Nut. Egyptian myth also has it that Nut daily gave birth to the sun-god, Ra making her the mother of god, ("Nut, Sky Goddess, Mother of the Gods..." by Caroline Seawrite) just as Mary is called, “the Mother of God” ("The Blessed Virgin Mary" by A.J. Maas)
It is true that Christ is God in the flesh. However, did Mary give birth to God, or merely to His flesh? Nowhere in Scripture is Mary called the mother of God. It is true that she gave birth to Christ, a part of God. But she most certainly was not the origin of God Himself, as the title “Mother of God” implies. John 1:3 makes it clear that all things that came into existence came into existence by the hand of the Father through Christ. “Everything came to be by his hand,” (Lamsa) That must include Mary, unless she did not come into existence, but is a goddess. But the prophet Isaiah said, “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” Isaiah 44:6 (KJV)
It is also interesting to note that Ra is a tri-une god, ("Indian Antiquities" by Maurice) and Nut is supposed to give birth to Ra. This is one of the Egyptian mysteries, and is also one of the Catholic mysteries.
How could He have created His own mother? No, but she merely gave birth to His mortal body, not His Soul and Spirit, as the title “Mother of God” implies.
The Co-Redemptrix
In the Catholic Church, Mary is referred to as the “Co-Redemptrix.” They do this because, “When the Church invokes Mary under the title, "Coredemptrix", she means that Mary uniquely participated in the redemption of the human family by Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour.” ("An Explanation of the Coredemptrix of Mary Title" compiled by Martin Beckman) This is due to the fact that Mary’s role of giving birth to the Christ was instrumental in the redemption of mankind. But Scripture says, “I, even I, am the LORD; and besides me there is no savior.” Isaiah 43:11 (HNV)
While it is true that Mary played a great part in the salvation of man, so did Pontius Pilate. So did the man who nailed Christ to the tree. But no one is calling them co-redeemers.
Conclusion
This is the evidence. These are the facts. They are not opinions or theories, but facts. What conclusion does that lead to?
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