Poll: Who was the most important figure in Christianity (besides Jesus, of course)?

[Anonymous]

Pontius Pilate.

He held the power of life or death over Jesus and chose to go with the mob rather than his own conscience. He also delivered the immortal line, "What is truth?", the central question of all religion. And anti-religion so as not to exclude the groundhogs and other atheists among us.

[Anonymous]

I'd say Moses. The 10 commandments are perhaps the most important aspect of Christianity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mary! No Mary, no Jesus!

Holy Mary, Mother of God...

Another vote for Mary who has aided in the conversion of countless people. Co-Redemptrix to many Catholics (although a concept not officially a part of Catholic theology). Mediatrix. Advocate. Consoler.

No, only to Catholics. Catholics are the only religion which reveres her.

Orthodox also revere Mary.

"About half of all Christians worldwide are Catholic (50%), while more than a third are Protestant (37%). Orthodox communions comprise 12% of the world’s Christians. Other Christian groups, which make up the remaining 1%, include the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Christian Science Church." http://www.pewforum.org/2011/12/19/global-christianity-traditions/

So, 62% of Christians belong to a religious tradition that reveres Mary. And your point is...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mary! No Mary, no Jesus!

Holy Mary, Mother of God...

Another vote for Mary who has aided in the conversion of countless people. Co-Redemptrix to many Catholics (although a concept not officially a part of Catholic theology). Mediatrix. Advocate. Consoler.

No, only to Catholics. Catholics are the only religion which reveres her.

The Orthodox churches revere her and call her the Theotokos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd say Moses. The 10 commandments are perhaps the most important aspect of Christianity.

I find the New Testament spiritual and corporal works of Mercy more applicable to my daily life and practice of Christianity. I am seldom presented with tempting opportunities to worship other gods, steal, kill, or commit adultery. However, as I move about the DMV, I am often confronted by people who are in need and could use some mercy. I'm not a good Christian role model to my DC because I don't sacrifice to Baal, but I hope that I am modeling how to live as a follower of Christ when I donate clothing and diapers to the crisis pregnancy center or visit a shut-in neighbor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mary! No Mary, no Jesus!

Holy Mary, Mother of God...

Another vote for Mary who has aided in the conversion of countless people. Co-Redemptrix to many Catholics (although a concept not officially a part of Catholic theology). Mediatrix. Advocate. Consoler.

No, only to Catholics. Catholics are the only religion which reveres her.

The Orthodox churches revere her and call her the Theotokos.

"God-bearer". I like it.

Catholics call her:
Queen of Heaven
Morning Star
Joy of the Just
Seat of Wisdom
Vessel of Honor
Gate of Heaven
House of Gold
Singular Vessel of Devotion
Temple of the Most Holy Trinity
Treasure House of God's Graces
Destroyer of Heresy
Refuge of Sinners
Help of Christians
Mirror of Justice
Advocate of Eve
Comfort of the Afflicted
Cause of Our Joy
Our Life, our Sweetness, and our Hope
and my favorite: Undoer of Knots

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mary! No Mary, no Jesus!

Holy Mary, Mother of God...

Another vote for Mary who has aided in the conversion of countless people. Co-Redemptrix to many Catholics (although a concept not officially a part of Catholic theology). Mediatrix. Advocate. Consoler.

No, only to Catholics. Catholics are the only religion which reveres her.

The Orthodox churches revere her and call her the Theotokos.

"God-bearer". I like it.

Catholics call her:
Queen of Heaven
Morning Star
Joy of the Just
Seat of Wisdom
Vessel of Honor
Gate of Heaven
House of Gold
Singular Vessel of Devotion
Temple of the Most Holy Trinity
Treasure House of God's Graces
Destroyer of Heresy
Refuge of Sinners
Help of Christians
Mirror of Justice
Advocate of Eve
Comfort of the Afflicted
Cause of Our Joy
Our Life, our Sweetness, and our Hope
and my favorite: Undoer of Knots

Star of the Sea

Mother of Mercy (just love that prayer!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd say Moses. The 10 commandments are perhaps the most important aspect of Christianity.

I find the New Testament spiritual and corporal works of Mercy more applicable to my daily life and practice of Christianity. I am seldom presented with tempting opportunities to worship other gods, steal, kill, or commit adultery. However, as I move about the DMV, I am often confronted by people who are in need and could use some mercy. I'm not a good Christian role model to my DC because I don't sacrifice to Baal, but I hope that I am modeling how to live as a follower of Christ when I donate clothing and diapers to the crisis pregnancy center or visit a shut-in neighbor.

Many non-Christians do that sort of thing, too, without Christ as a model or inspiration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd say Moses. The 10 commandments are perhaps the most important aspect of Christianity.

I find the New Testament spiritual and corporal works of Mercy more applicable to my daily life and practice of Christianity. I am seldom presented with tempting opportunities to worship other gods, steal, kill, or commit adultery. However, as I move about the DMV, I am often confronted by people who are in need and could use some mercy. I'm not a good Christian role model to my DC because I don't sacrifice to Baal, but I hope that I am modeling how to live as a follower of Christ when I donate clothing and diapers to the crisis pregnancy center or visit a shut-in neighbor.

Many non-Christians do that sort of thing, too, without Christ as a model or inspiration.

Good for them. However, non-Christians doing it, too does not make it less something Christ would have done.

[Anonymous]

I'll go with the Emperor Constantine. He became Christian after prayers to Jesus resulted in a military victory. And without his nicene council to codify the bible and make Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire, Christianity wouldn't have gone very far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll go with the Emperor Constantine. He became Christian after prayers to Jesus resulted in a military victory. And without his nicene council to codify the bible and make Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire, Christianity wouldn't have gone very far.

Good reasoning. Maybe we should have a theological category and a logistics category.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd say Moses. The 10 commandments are perhaps the most important aspect of Christianity.

I find the New Testament spiritual and corporal works of Mercy more applicable to my daily life and practice of Christianity. I am seldom presented with tempting opportunities to worship other gods, steal, kill, or commit adultery. However, as I move about the DMV, I am often confronted by people who are in need and could use some mercy. I'm not a good Christian role model to my DC because I don't sacrifice to Baal, but I hope that I am modeling how to live as a follower of Christ when I donate clothing and diapers to the crisis pregnancy center or visit a shut-in neighbor.

Many non-Christians do that sort of thing, too, without Christ as a model or inspiration.

Good for them. However, non-Christians doing it, too does not make it less something Christ would have done.

It simply puts Christ on a par with any good decent non-Christian

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mary! No Mary, no Jesus!

Holy Mary, Mother of God...

Another vote for Mary who has aided in the conversion of countless people. Co-Redemptrix to many Catholics (although a concept not officially a part of Catholic theology). Mediatrix. Advocate. Consoler.

No, only to Catholics. Catholics are the only religion which reveres her.

The Orthodox churches revere her and call her the Theotokos.

"God-bearer". I like it.

Catholics call her:
Queen of Heaven
Morning Star
Joy of the Just
Seat of Wisdom
Vessel of Honor
Gate of Heaven
House of Gold
Singular Vessel of Devotion
Temple of the Most Holy Trinity
Treasure House of God's Graces
Destroyer of Heresy
Refuge of Sinners
Help of Christians
Mirror of Justice
Advocate of Eve
Comfort of the Afflicted
Cause of Our Joy
Our Life, our Sweetness, and our Hope
and my favorite: Undoer of Knots

Star of the Sea

Mother of Mercy (just love that prayer!)

and overall Super Mom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course it was Paul-- I've heard scholars joke it should called Paulism. Too bad because I think that's where a lot of the misogyny comes from, or maybe that's too optimistic a view of human nature.

Paul was first to my mind too. But, Judas is a brilliant answer. Have you ever read The Master and Margarita? The best case ever. The author crafts a tale of sacrifice that is utterly compelling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll go with the Emperor Constantine. He became Christian after prayers to Jesus resulted in a military victory. And without his nicene council to codify the bible and make Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire, Christianity wouldn't have gone very far.

Good reasoning. Maybe we should have a theological category and a logistics category.

You mean from the Bible only or from historical documents only? If so, about Pontius Pilate? He's a figure in the Bible and in historical accounts.