'Our Lady'

[Le Chat]

I'm sure this must've been asked before at some point (but I don't know how to find out!!)
Why is the Catholic Religion so keen on The Virgin Mary?
They seem to pray to her rather than God, as though she is able to 'answer prayers' when I was under the impression (wrongly?) that only God could answer your prayers.
I get that she gave birth to Jesus, which is a big deal but as far as the Bible goes, there's not an awful lot more about her....or is there?
The same can be said of praying to various saints. Why use (as I see it) a third party. Why not just pray to God directly? Is he too busy?

[Wharton]

birdie1971
I had hoped that you would have simply answered 'Yes', but there you are....truth hurts (maybe more than stones do).

[Wharton]

The truth that Roman Catholics have been stoned in the UK, this century, for attempting to attend Mass (not reported by the fourth estate of course), and the ones hurt? Let me think....the Roman Catholics hit by the stones?

[mike11111]

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you appear to be suggesting that because I am an atheist and I dislike religion in general and Catholicism in particular (along with Islam and Judaism), "
You are in serious danger of making yourself look silly with statements like that. Anyway, be that as it may, I think the point the previous poster was trying to make was that children, of whatever denomination, were routinely abused on their way to Divine Worship by those of an opposing denomination. I do not know, though I rather suspect, that there is a Northern Ireland connection here. The fact that such acts are committed supposedly in the name of "religion" does not vitiate against religion per se, but against those who have the spiritual care of the perpetrators.

[Wharton]

Okay. Now you don't understand.

At no point did I state that I was a theist. I merely stated that Roman Catholics are persecuted and this is generally accepted by the non-catholic majority (democracy, eh?), and this has nothing to do with Northern Ireland, this is Glasgow July 2012. Come with me to Mass next Sunday and have children make the V sign at you, effete old men tell you to go back to Ireland (the famine's over apparently), buses and cars sound their horns, oh, and bring a handkerchief to clean the spittle off your back. You'll become a believer (in the truth at least) at what's going on around you, believe me. Incidentally, the non-catholics won't discriminate because you're an atheist.

[mike11111]

If what you say is true, Wharton, and I have no reason to disbelieve you, then I am truly shocked. I had genuinely thought that that kind of pig ignorance had died out years ago, lingering only in the ghettoes of Belfast. Perhaps Mr. Salmond might like to focus his attention on such matters before pursuing his dream of severing the Union.

[naomi24]

Religion creates division.

Wharton, //Roman Catholics are persecuted and this is generally accepted by the non-catholic majority//

If this is happening in Glasgow, surely someone has brought it to the attention of the local press? Do you have a link?

[beso]

Actually it is stone throwing that the Bible tells its followers to do.

Unruly children - stone them
Unfaithful Women - stone them

[beso]

mike11111 // No, Wharton, that's an atheist. They know f***ing everything!//

Actually it is the religious who clai to know everything. Some of them even claim that their religious books revealed science that was not know to man at the time and hence proof that their book was indeed the work of God.

When an atheist doesn't know they will tell you that. They may also inform you of what is known about the subject and where the research is progressing.

Theists only have one answer, "God did it with His willy".

[beso]

Wharton // I merely stated that Roman Catholics are persecuted and this is generally accepted by the non-catholic majority (democracy, eh?), and this has nothing to do with Northern Ireland, this is Glasgow July 2012. Come with me to Mass next Sunday and have children make the V sign at you, effete old men tell you to go back to Ireland (the famine's over apparently), buses and cars sound their horns, oh, and bring a handkerchief to clean the spittle off your back. You'll become a believer (in the truth at least) at what's going on around you, believe me. Incidentally, the non-catholics won't discriminate because you're an atheist.
03:11 Mon 09th Jul 2012 //

That whole post is a deeply prejudiced tirade that characterises all non-catholics as behaving the same. It is exactly that kind of prejudice that religion encourages and incubates.

Most atheists at least have the honesty to direct their attack at the beliefs rather then the people who hold them.

[jomifl]

Wharton, it seems to me that it is 'believers' who are persecuting catholics not atheists. It is quite normal for believers of of one flavour to routinely persecute believers of another flavour. It has been going on for at least 2000 years, get used to it many non catholics have. The cathars were persecuted to oblivion by the catholic church, no apology, but then no-one is left to accept an apology.

[Truthabounds]

Jesus did not marry. Think of the chaos it would cause, as if we don't have enough chaos in this world as it is. A perfect race of people (descended from a perfect man) and an imperfect race (descended from an imperfect man).
You all think you have brains but I don't see any evidence of it from some of the answers. The day is fast approaching when each and every person living on this earth will have an accountability with the Almighty Creator and Judge of all. I would hate to be in your shoes. One cannot mock God and expect to get away with it. You may think you are now, but I assure you, you won't.
You have been warned and you have all ignored the warning signs. Not one of you can say "I did not know - no one told me".

[beso]

Hello TruthRebounds. "goodlife" getting tired is he?

[beso]

TruthRebounds //The day is fast approaching when each and every person living on this earth will have an accountability with the Almighty Creator and Judge of all.

That day has been "fast approaching" for two thousand years (indeed, one third of the age of the planet) but yet we still see nothing of the "prophecies" that were supposed to herald it.

[dave1948]

contrary to what has been said here the hail mary is frequently said at mass often at the end f the bidding prayers and i do attend mass frequently too.