Questions to Jews & Christians

[Anonymous]

Muslima wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Muslima wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The Pope is considered the person who intercedes with God on behalf of mankind.

Catholic here. The above is not accurate, because it makes it sound like Catholics pray to the Pope, and that he in turn prays to God for them. As with other faiths, Catholics pray directly to God. The Pope is considered the spiritual leader of the church, going back to St. Peter. He is not a God or demi-god.

How about confessions? When you confess to the priest, does he intercede for you, if not, what's the idea behind it?

the priest is god's representative on earth because he's taken vows and received advanced theological training.

Only saints can intercede with god. Some people prefer to pray to a saint, who then takes the request to god. Other prefer to pray straight to god. There's no evidence to show if either system works better.

Who determines who the saints are? Were they all from Jesus' time or can you have new ones?

There are new saints all the time. To become a saint, first you have to die - then it has to be proven that someone who prayed to you had their prayers answered.(e.g. cancer was cured without medical intervention) They are nominated by the Cardinals and go through a vetting process before becoming saints. Once you're a saint, then lots of other people pray to you too.

[Anonymous]

takoma wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the priest is god's representative on earth because he's taken vows and received advanced theological training.

Only saints can intercede with god. Some people prefer to pray to a saint, who then takes the request to god. Other prefer to pray straight to god. There's no evidence to show if either system works better.

I hope this does not sound too snarky, but is there evidence to show that either system actually works? I don't mean to criticize prayer -- it certainly can make both the person doing the praying and the one being prayed for feel better, and it can't hurt. But the use of the word "evidence" piqued my curiosity. If the evidence is that someone prayed for somethig very unlikely and it came to pass, remember that there are unlikely things that have happened without people praying for them, and sometimes with people praying against them.

It seems to me that there should be some good reason for deciding to pray to a saint instead of to god. The main idea of prayer is to ask for something, so you'd figure that people who pray would want to choose the most effective method of getting what they want.

[Muslima]

Anonymous wrote:

Muslima wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Muslima wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The Pope is considered the person who intercedes with God on behalf of mankind.

Catholic here. The above is not accurate, because it makes it sound like Catholics pray to the Pope, and that he in turn prays to God for them. As with other faiths, Catholics pray directly to God. The Pope is considered the spiritual leader of the church, going back to St. Peter. He is not a God or demi-god.

How about confessions? When you confess to the priest, does he intercede for you, if not, what's the idea behind it?

the priest is god's representative on earth because he's taken vows and received advanced theological training.

Only saints can intercede with god. Some people prefer to pray to a saint, who then takes the request to god. Other prefer to pray straight to god. There's no evidence to show if either system works better.

Who determines who the saints are? Were they all from Jesus' time or can you have new ones?

There are new saints all the time. To become a saint, first you have to die - then it has to be proven that someone who prayed to you had their prayers answered.(e.g. cancer was cured without medical intervention) They are nominated by the Cardinals and go through a vetting process before becoming saints. Once you're a saint, then lots of other people pray to you too.

That's an interesting concept. But how can you "prove" that the prayers got answered? Is this just for the Catholic Church and if so, does it get vetted at the Vatican? Because let's say someone in a remote village wants to nominate someone, how would the other Cardinals find out? My other question is, if there are new ones all the time, how do you keep up or know which one to pray to?

[Muslima]

Anonymous wrote:

takoma wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the priest is god's representative on earth because he's taken vows and received advanced theological training.

Only saints can intercede with god. Some people prefer to pray to a saint, who then takes the request to god. Other prefer to pray straight to god. There's no evidence to show if either system works better.

I hope this does not sound too snarky, but is there evidence to show that either system actually works? I don't mean to criticize prayer -- it certainly can make both the person doing the praying and the one being prayed for feel better, and it can't hurt. But the use of the word "evidence" piqued my curiosity. If the evidence is that someone prayed for somethig very unlikely and it came to pass, remember that there are unlikely things that have happened without people praying for them, and sometimes with people praying against them.

It seems to me that there should be some good reason for deciding to pray to a saint instead of to god. The main idea of prayer is to ask for something, so you'd figure that people who pray would want to choose the most effective method of getting what they want.

Im curious about this too. Is the belief that prayers are answered faster when you pray to a saint and they ask God in return?

[Anonymous]

Muslima wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Muslima wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Muslima wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The Pope is considered the person who intercedes with God on behalf of mankind.

Catholic here. The above is not accurate, because it makes it sound like Catholics pray to the Pope, and that he in turn prays to God for them. As with other faiths, Catholics pray directly to God. The Pope is considered the spiritual leader of the church, going back to St. Peter. He is not a God or demi-god.

How about confessions? When you confess to the priest, does he intercede for you, if not, what's the idea behind it?

the priest is god's representative on earth because he's taken vows and received advanced theological training.

Only saints can intercede with god. Some people prefer to pray to a saint, who then takes the request to god. Other prefer to pray straight to god. There's no evidence to show if either system works better.

Who determines who the saints are? Were they all from Jesus' time or can you have new ones?

There are new saints all the time. To become a saint, first you have to die - then it has to be proven that someone who prayed to you had their prayers answered.(e.g. cancer was cured without medical intervention) They are nominated by the Cardinals and go through a vetting process before becoming saints. Once you're a saint, then lots of other people pray to you too.

That's an interesting concept. But how can you "prove" that the prayers got answered? Is this just for the Catholic Church and if so, does it get vetted at the Vatican? Because let's say someone in a remote village wants to nominate someone, how would the other Cardinals find out? My other question is, if there are new ones all the time, how do you keep up or know which one to pray to?

Some people pray to the saint they're named after. I think that's why so many Catholic girls are named Mary or Maria -- so they'll have Mary to pray to, who has a special place in heaven as God's mother. Catholics believe she was bodily assumed into heaven, like Jesus. But you can pray to whatever saint you want to - whoever seems most appealing to you. There are books of all the saints, but some saint are more well known than others - like St Anthony, who is the saint of lost items. For instance if you lose your contact lens and pray to St Anthony, some people believe their prayer to him is why you find the lens.

There are also patron saints who guard over certain cities. For instance, St. Genevieve protects Paris.

As for proving a prayer has been answered, they have doctors examine a person who claims to be cured after having been prayed for in the name of the dead person and if they can't find a medical explanation for the recovery, they assume the dead person is responsible, so therefore has special powers given by god and deserves to be a saint.

[Anonymous]

Muslima wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

takoma wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the priest is god's representative on earth because he's taken vows and received advanced theological training.

Only saints can intercede with god. Some people prefer to pray to a saint, who then takes the request to god. Other prefer to pray straight to god. There's no evidence to show if either system works better.

I hope this does not sound too snarky, but is there evidence to show that either system actually works? I don't mean to criticize prayer -- it certainly can make both the person doing the praying and the one being prayed for feel better, and it can't hurt. But the use of the word "evidence" piqued my curiosity. If the evidence is that someone prayed for somethig very unlikely and it came to pass, remember that there are unlikely things that have happened without people praying for them, and sometimes with people praying against them.

It seems to me that there should be some good reason for deciding to pray to a saint instead of to god. The main idea of prayer is to ask for something, so you'd figure that people who pray would want to choose the most effective method of getting what they want.

Im curious about this too. Is the belief that prayers are answered faster when you pray to a saint and they ask God in return?

I don't know. I never understood that part. It seems more like a comfort thing. Some people are more comfortable praying to saint, while others want to go straight to the top.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Muslima wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Muslima wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Muslima wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The Pope is considered the person who intercedes with God on behalf of mankind.

Catholic here. The above is not accurate, because it makes it sound like Catholics pray to the Pope, and that he in turn prays to God for them. As with other faiths, Catholics pray directly to God. The Pope is considered the spiritual leader of the church, going back to St. Peter. He is not a God or demi-god.

How about confessions? When you confess to the priest, does he intercede for you, if not, what's the idea behind it?

the priest is god's representative on earth because he's taken vows and received advanced theological training.

Only saints can intercede with god. Some people prefer to pray to a saint, who then takes the request to god. Other prefer to pray straight to god. There's no evidence to show if either system works better.

Who determines who the saints are? Were they all from Jesus' time or can you have new ones?

There are new saints all the time. To become a saint, first you have to die - then it has to be proven that someone who prayed to you had their prayers answered.(e.g. cancer was cured without medical intervention) They are nominated by the Cardinals and go through a vetting process before becoming saints. Once you're a saint, then lots of other people pray to you too.

That's an interesting concept. But how can you "prove" that the prayers got answered? Is this just for the Catholic Church and if so, does it get vetted at the Vatican? Because let's say someone in a remote village wants to nominate someone, how would the other Cardinals find out? My other question is, if there are new ones all the time, how do you keep up or know which one to pray to?

Some people pray to the saint they're named after. I think that's why so many Catholic girls are named Mary or Maria -- so they'll have Mary to pray to, who has a special place in heaven as God's mother. Catholics believe she was bodily assumed into heaven, like Jesus. But you can pray to whatever saint you want to - whoever seems most appealing to you. There are books of all the saints, but some saint are more well known than others - like St Anthony, who is the saint of lost items. For instance if you lose your contact lens and pray to St Anthony, some people believe their prayer to him is why you find the lens.

There are also patron saints who guard over certain cities. For instance, St. Genevieve protects Paris.

As for proving a prayer has been answered, they have doctors examine a person who claims to be cured after having been prayed for in the name of the dead person and if they can't find a medical explanation for the recovery, they assume the dead person is responsible, so therefore has special powers given by god and deserves to be a saint.

A point of clarity -- the dead person who is being considered for sainthood must be recognized as having performed a miracle here on earth. Curing a terminally ill person is an example of that - but the Catholic church must be convinced that the cure really was a miracle -- the result of prayers to the dead person, who then successfully interceded with god for the cure -- and not just a result of human medical intervention. It has to be supernatural, not just natural.

[Muslima]

Thank you PPs for explaining how people become saints and what it entails. I appreciate it, never heard about it before

[Anonymous]

Another point of clarity: technically, you are not supposed to pray directly to a saint. To do so would be polytheism. Instead, you are supposed to ask the saint to help you pray for something, so that you are praying together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another point of clarity: technically, you are not supposed to pray directly to a saint. To do so would be polytheism. Instead, you are supposed to ask the saint to help you pray for something, so that you are praying together.

Right -- the end of a prayer to any saint, is "Please saint ___, intercede for me."

[Anonymous]

Muslima,

I am a reform jew. I am not particularly observant -- I do not keep kosher and observe the sabbath in the way I choose...I will use power, and will drive to synagog.

If you are interested, I am sure you would be welcome at many synagogs for friday or saturday services. I am confident my synagog would be welcoming (Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church). If you do come to services, please be aware, you will here strongly pro-israeli speak, even if specific policies are debated.

At my synagog, people are very supportive of Israel, even though we want to see some policies change.

[Muslima]

Anonymous wrote:Muslima,

I am a reform jew. I am not particularly observant -- I do not keep kosher and observe the sabbath in the way I choose...I will use power, and will drive to synagog.

If you are interested, I am sure you would be welcome at many synagogs for friday or saturday services. I am confident my synagog would be welcoming (Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church). If you do come to services, please be aware, you will here strongly pro-israeli speak, even if specific policies are debated.

At my synagog, people are very supportive of Israel, even though we want to see some policies change.

To be honest, though id love to , I'd be bit scared to go to a synagogue. I have been to churches before but never dared enter in a synagogue, especially now with all the Israeli-Palestinian discourse. I've already lost 2 Jewish and one Israeli friend over it and they unfriended me on Fbook as well, so I know it's an emotional topic.

[Muslima]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another point of clarity: technically, you are not supposed to pray directly to a saint. To do so would be polytheism. Instead, you are supposed to ask the saint to help you pray for something, so that you are praying together.

Right -- the end of a prayer to any saint, is "Please saint ___, intercede for me."

I see. Thank you

[Anonymous]

Muslima wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Muslima,

I am a reform jew. I am not particularly observant -- I do not keep kosher and observe the sabbath in the way I choose...I will use power, and will drive to synagog.

If you are interested, I am sure you would be welcome at many synagogs for friday or saturday services. I am confident my synagog would be welcoming (Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church). If you do come to services, please be aware, you will here strongly pro-israeli speak, even if specific policies are debated.

At my synagog, people are very supportive of Israel, even though we want to see some policies change.

To be honest, though id love to , I'd be bit scared to go to a synagogue. I have been to churches before but never dared enter in a synagogue, especially now with all the Israeli-Palestinian discourse. I've already lost 2 Jewish and one Israeli friend over it and they unfriended me on Fbook as well, so I know it's an emotional topic.

Wait until things settle down. They will settle down. At my synagog, you would probably be safe. There is heightened security, though, and people might question you. If you were to come, I would encourage you to reach out to the clergy first.

In general, jews do not try to convert. And we alway pray for peace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"The World's Religions" by Huston Smith is a well-written, readable book that explains the basics of major religions. This is a better way to learn than relying on the possibly uninformed opinions of us DCUM'ers!

I agree. The truth is many of us actually know very little about both the history and the doctrine of our faiths.