Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: leesa@frith.egr.msu.edu (Anita Lees) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Benjamin Britten's pagan? carol Message-ID: Date: 26 Jul 90 05:51:27 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Michigan State University Lines: 32 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu I can only speak for myself as far as "what Catholics believe" about the Fall from Grace in Eden, since many of us (not just Catholics!) believe a lot of garbage that isn't sanctioned by church or Bible. I believe, as the church teaches, that the Fall was the consequence of the exercise of free will on the part of Adam and Eve. God the Father, in His mysterious wisdom, knew that humanity would fall from grace, and that He would have to send His Son; but (at least so we believe) He did not arrange for it to happen. There is certainly an element of Catholics who emphasize Mary to the point of idolatry, just as there people of other denominations who elevate the Bible too high. "Mariolatry" was very common during the Middle Ages, when people felt unworthy of the mediation of Jesus. The catholic Church teaches that it is right to love and respect the woman who nurtured and sustained Jesus' human life, and that along with the saints, Mary can pray to God (Father, Son, and Spirit) for, and along with, us. The doctrines of immaculate conception and perpetual virginity arose during the middle ages, although they were not formalized until much later. I don't want to take up any more resources on this topic (which may have been dealt with in depth before -- if so, please excuse me), but I wanted to correct the misimpression that all, or even most, Catholics are Mary fanatics. Please email me if you would like to discuss theology in more depth (in a rational manner). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Anita F. Lees leesa@frith.egr.msu.edu + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +