Anonymous
12/19/2015 12:24
Subject: Poll: Who was the most important figure in Christianity (besides Jesus, of course)?
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.
You know, I am inspired by Paul but I reach out to Mary and depend on the inspiration of her enduring love and mercy. Means a great deal to me.
Anonymous
12/19/2015 12:21
Subject: Poll: Who was the most important figure in Christianity (besides Jesus, of course)?
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.
Anonymous
12/19/2015 12:20
Subject: Poll: Who was the most important figure in Christianity (besides Jesus, of course)?
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.
Anonymous
12/19/2015 12:16
Subject: Poll: Who was the most important figure in Christianity (besides Jesus, of course)?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Mary! No Mary, no Jesus!
Holy Mary, Mother of God...
Think about it: Jesus was a perfect man, according to Christianity. Only someone extraordinary could RAISE a perfect man. What was that upbringing like?
Anonymous
12/19/2015 12:14
Subject: Poll: Who was the most important figure in Christianity (besides Jesus, of course)?
It depends upon the denomination.
Anonymous
12/19/2015 12:14
Subject: Poll: Who was the most important figure in Christianity (besides Jesus, of course)?
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.
Anonymous
12/19/2015 12:14
Subject: Poll: Who was the most important figure in Christianity (besides Jesus, of course)?
The Holy Spirit, who guides all faithful/leaders of the faith. That's the "job" of the Holy Spirit.
Anonymous
12/19/2015 12:11
Subject: Poll: Who was the most important figure in Christianity (besides Jesus, of course)?
Anonymous wrote:I'd say Judas. I'm not being snarky.
Think about it: this is the one to whom most of us would truly relate, if we are honest with our flawed selves. Jesus' treatment and reaction of him, even though Judas was a part of Jesus' closest inner circle, might not have gotten a lot of coverage, but the implications are huge. I think the Judas situation gets a lot less attention because the fact that he IS so similar and relevant to us makes most people too uncomfortable to even begin to contemplate the implications.
That is an interesting observation. I always identify more with Peter, and also 'the mob' who choose Barabbas. But as to who is the most important figure in Christianity besides Jesus, I'd go with Paul.
Anonymous
12/19/2015 11:40
Subject: Poll: Who was the most important figure in Christianity (besides Jesus, of course)?
Anonymous wrote:Mary! No Mary, no Jesus!
Holy Mary, Mother of God...
Anonymous
12/19/2015 11:39
Subject: Poll: Who was the most important figure in Christianity (besides Jesus, of course)?
Among non-Christians, a runner-up would be Plotinus and Neoplatonism. When Nietzsche said "Christianity is Platonism for the masses," he kind of has a point (no offense meant!!).
Anonymous
12/19/2015 11:24
Subject: Poll: Who was the most important figure in Christianity (besides Jesus, of course)?
Mary! No Mary, no Jesus!
Anonymous
12/19/2015 11:16
Subject: Poll: Who was the most important figure in Christianity (besides Jesus, of course)?
Which branch of Christianity?
I'm Catholic and would vote for one of the early Christian leaders, but I have friends who are Orthodox and Protestant. I know their answers would be different.
BTW, I think Monica of Hippo is more important than Augustine since she prayed for his reform and he never would have been such a great theologian if he hadn't put aside his party-boy ways. Behind every great man is his mom.
I'm Catholic and would vote for one of the early Christian leaders, but I have friends who are Orthodox and Protestant. I know their answers would be different.
BTW, I think Monica of Hippo is more important than Augustine since she prayed for his reform and he never would have been such a great theologian if he hadn't put aside his party-boy ways. Behind every great man is his mom.
Anonymous
12/19/2015 11:11
Subject: Poll: Who was the most important figure in Christianity (besides Jesus, of course)?
I'd say Judas. I'm not being snarky.
Think about it: this is the one to whom most of us would truly relate, if we are honest with our flawed selves. Jesus' treatment and reaction of him, even though Judas was a part of Jesus' closest inner circle, might not have gotten a lot of coverage, but the implications are huge. I think the Judas situation gets a lot less attention because the fact that he IS so similar and relevant to us makes most people too uncomfortable to even begin to contemplate the implications.
Think about it: this is the one to whom most of us would truly relate, if we are honest with our flawed selves. Jesus' treatment and reaction of him, even though Judas was a part of Jesus' closest inner circle, might not have gotten a lot of coverage, but the implications are huge. I think the Judas situation gets a lot less attention because the fact that he IS so similar and relevant to us makes most people too uncomfortable to even begin to contemplate the implications.
Anonymous
12/19/2015 11:06
Subject: Poll: Who was the most important figure in Christianity (besides Jesus, of course)?
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.
Anonymous
12/19/2015 11:05
Subject: Poll: Who was the most important figure in Christianity (besides Jesus, of course)?
I'll start: Paul. He was critical in converting a still-Jewish movement into a Romanized fundamentally new religion.
Runner-up: St. Augustine.
(Signed, a former Catholic agnostic still fascinated by the history of Christianity)
Runner-up: St. Augustine.
(Signed, a former Catholic agnostic still fascinated by the history of Christianity)