Mystical Chrsitianity Course

Mystical Christianity/Homework/Lesson 8                                                                            

1. I view Mary of Nazareth as a historical person. I enjoyed the picture given in this lesson of the world in which she lived and the choices which she had as a pregnant teenaged bride. It could all have ended tragically except for the caring person of Joseph whose important decisions saved Mary’s life and the life of her unborn son. She is the mother of our Lord, Jesus Christ which was both an honor and a draw-back. Luckily, Joseph and Mary formed a partnership which would evolve into a solid marriage. At this point, I can’t imagine one without the other. Both took risks to follow their faith. If every marriage was founded on faith and respect, a partnership society might become the inevitable outcome.                                                                                                                      

2. In traditional Christianity or at least Roman Catholicism, Mary is called the Queen of Heaven. She is Jesus’ loving mother and is said to act as our own mother in heaven. She remains virginally pure (even though she has had other children besides Jesus) and has the role of intercessor between human beings and her Son, the Christ. I do not believe in go-betweens but some people may believe that through her infinite compassion, she is available for that purpose.                                                                                                            

As the White Virgin, she is married to the Church (Joseph being no longer mentioned after the Nativity and flight in and out of Egypt.) After Calvary, Mary mourns as any mother would. She goes out of the N.T. scene not long after the Resurrection. During Jesus’ Ministry, she was pretty helpless as many woman disciples assisted Him in much more direct ways. Her role played, Mary stayed in a nebulous background, certainly unlike her goddess counterpart.                                                                                                         

3. The veneration of Mary may have been instrumental in keeping women out of important roles in organized religion. The cult could have been instituted to placate those verbal few who demanded respect for their most famous “Christian” heroine.                                   

4. If it were possible, I would like to see more women in leadership roles in the Christian Church. Some denominations allow women to be ordained as pastors while others point to the Bible and say that women as clergy goes against the law of God. I would love to see a female priest in the Roman Catholic Church and it would be a great thing for R.C. priests of both sexes marry and raise families. These changes will probably not occur in my lifetime if at all because a dominator society exists.

 

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