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Yes, Brother, that is true! :curtsey:But knowledge isn’t wisdom.
Yes, Brother, that is true! :curtsey:But knowledge isn’t wisdom.
Yes, Nate, this is definite and wonderful.It may be she was wise enough to know that by keeping her innocence she would be better able to serve God.
True.I think Virgin Mary excelled in the Christian virtues.
It seems, from her intervention at the wedding at Cana, that she was sensative to people’s needs.Since she didn’t have original sin, was her intellect far above the likes of say socrates or plato? Was she thus wise in the philosophical sense or was she wise in another way?
Is there any Church teaching on this?
She had a mother’s wisdom; it must have been quite a task to raise Jesus, knowing who and what he was, yet keeping him human. I always thought the Cana wedding story was a good one about her; Jesus may have been annoyed to be told what to do, but he did it anyway. As a good son should.Since she didn’t have original sin, was her intellect far above the likes of say socrates or plato? Was she thus wise in the philosophical sense or was she wise in another way?
Is there any Church teaching on this?
How would being sheltered in a religious community make her knowledgeable?Well, no , we (I) don’t accept this definition - It’s something you made up. :tsktsk: ,
Catholics accept that Mary was without sin. Period. That is the meaning of "innocence".
Additionally, one can also be knowledgeable about particular things without having personally experienced them.
To concede a point , how knowledgeable do you think anyone was back then ?
To take back half the conceded point :
And
- would further imply she would have been more knowledgeable than most , being educated by the most educated of her day. But knowledge isn’t wisdom.
But as the Catholic Church is usually quick to remind usTo say that innocence = ignorance is stretching it … close to the breaking point. Lack of knowledge of evil, would keep it in the same ballpark.
A Catholic definition of innocence by Fr. John Hardon S.J., is as follows:
INNOCENCE
Freedom from sin or moral guilt. Applied to Adam and Eve before the Fall, to those who have just been baptized, and to persons who never lost the state of grace because they never committed a grave sin. (Etym. Latin innocens: in-, not + nocere, to harm, hurt.)
What is notable is that the majority of reputable secular dictionaries are in agreement.
The Oxford dictionary defines innocence as
Merriam Webster Dictionary’s prime definition of innocence is :
- the state , quality, or fact of being innocent of a crime or offence:
- lack of guile or corruption; purity:
a : freedom from guilt or sin through being unacquainted with evil : blamelessness
(only as the 5th and final definition is lack of knowledge listed)
American Heritage Dictionary’s prime definition of innocence is
a. Freedom from sin, moral wrong, or guilt through lack of knowledge of evil
(again, lack of knowledge is only listed as the fifth definition)
Several more definitions from Fr. John Hardon S.J.’s Modern Catholic Dictionary would support the plausibility of this post –
I don’t intend that as an insult in any way. But considering these two definitions:
And seeing as you lay claim to being agnostic, the definition of wisdom we are using is impossible for you because for agnostics, certitudes about ultimates is impossible ; and God is the first cause and last end of all things.
We aren’t arguing on the same plane. How can someone who doesn’t believe in the existence or perfections of a personal God, try and teach us who do about His Mother ?
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No we are not.To say that innocence = ignorance is stretching it … close to the breaking point. Lack of knowledge of evil, would keep it in the same ballpark.
A Catholic definition of innocence by Fr. John Hardon S.J., is as follows:
INNOCENCE
Freedom from sin or moral guilt. Applied to Adam and Eve before the Fall, to those who have just been baptized, and to persons who never lost the state of grace because they never committed a grave sin. (Etym. Latin innocens: in-, not + nocere, to harm, hurt.)
What is notable is that the majority of reputable secular dictionaries are in agreement.
The Oxford dictionary defines innocence as
Merriam Webster Dictionary’s prime definition of innocence is :
- the state , quality, or fact of being innocent of a crime or offence:
- lack of guile or corruption; purity:
a : freedom from guilt or sin through being unacquainted with evil : blamelessness
(only as the 5th and final definition is lack of knowledge listed)
American Heritage Dictionary’s prime definition of innocence is
a. Freedom from sin, moral wrong, or guilt through lack of knowledge of evil
(again, lack of knowledge is only listed as the fifth definition)
Several more definitions from Fr. John Hardon S.J.’s Modern Catholic Dictionary would support the plausibility of this post –
I don’t intend that as an insult in any way. But considering these two definitions:
And seeing as you lay claim to being agnostic, the definition of wisdom we are using is impossible for you because for agnostics, certitudes about ultimates is impossible ; and God is the first cause and last end of all things.
We aren’t arguing on the same plane. How can someone who doesn’t believe in the existence or perfections of a personal God, try and teach us who do about His Mother ?
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This kind of argument only adds awe to the way God reveals Wisdom.Don’t many scholars say that the Virgin Mary was most likely illiterate?
Specifically the descriptions of her as being utterly sinless her whole life.**What descriptions of Our Lady make her seem childish and robot-like? I’m curious.**Innocence and ignorance aren’t even remotely related.
How does being experienced in sex make you wise?
Lots of people believe a lot of crazy stuff.The Incarnation wasn’t something flesh could reveal. Believing that kind of thing really happened requires revelation from heaven. I think because the Incarnation happened through her that maybe her intercession played a part in who would become members of that community hidden in the shadow of the Holy Spirit. The ones that know something that flesh can’t reveal. Knowledge in it’s deepest form is a union of likeness. Truth is the fruit of her womb. Only she could know and love Truth like that. I think she was as shrewed as a serpent and as harmless as a dove.
Who on earth could have had faith in the Resurrection before it happened but the person who the Incarnation happened through.? Who else could know what Jesus meant when He was telling them He had power over life, or that on the third day He would rise again? She knows in a way no one else could that He didn’t come in the normal way only she could believe in something not normal.
No it doesn’t.This kind of argument only adds awe to the way God reveals Wisdom.
Do you really think literacy or an education makes one wise? I know quite a few people with advanced degrees that I do not consider wise. I know others with nothing more than a HS degree who I think are very wise and smart.How would being sheltered in a religious community make her knowledgeable?
Don’t many scholars say that the Virgin Mary was most likely illiterate?
Wisdom is not in the knowing as much as the doing.No it doesn’t.
If wisdom isn’t intelligence or knowledge what good is it?
You’re sort of proving my point. You see, if you would debate or make assertions or speculate about our Blessed Mother at CAF , as evidenced by your posts , *you presume us to be bound by your definitions - which are contrary to Catholic definitions and * which even secular dictionaries relegate to the rank of least pertinence.No we are not.
I am not bound by the same assumptions you are.
How can someone who doesn’t believe in the existence or perfections of a personal God, try and teach us who do about His Mother ?
If you simply define wisdom as faith and trust in God, then you shouldn’t have a special word for wisdom at all and just say faith instead.Do you really think literacy or an education makes one wise? I know quite a few people with advanced degrees that I do not consider wise. I know others with nothing more than a HS degree who I think are very wise and smart.
I think you are confusing worldly wisdom with the wisdom of God. Someone with worldly wisdom, like the person who calls himself an angry atheist, thinks believing in Christ is foolish. Someone with divine wisdom can understand that believing in Christ is the path to salvation.
I don’t think you’re using the normal definition of the word.Wisdom is not in the knowing as much as the doing.
I have no interest in teaching Catholic theology.The question still stands :
Quote:
Originally Posted by NeedImprovement
How can someone who doesn’t believe in the existence or perfections of a personal God, try and teach us who do about His Mother ?
:
Wisdom is the ability to see the big picture of what life is all about. This could require extensive knowledge but that is not necessary. So for us Mary would be wise because she is the great example of someone who understood what life was all about and lived it perfectly. Since by your understanding she was pretty much duped by a myth, and gave birth to someone you have to consider mentally insane since he believed he was God, it makes sense you would not see her as wise.If you simply define wisdom as faith and trust in God, then you shouldn’t have a special word for wisdom at all and just say faith instead.