Quote:
Originally Posted by FlamingZword
Why use your valuable time reading about a concept that is not biblical or has little profit in it.
The worship of Mary comes from ancient paganism, they used only some pretexts from the Bible to retain this ancient pagan custom.
Does "Great is Diana of the Ephesians" ring any bells?
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Because it's my time to use?
But seriously, I intentionally read material I do not agree with, first as a challenge to my own suppositions, and second, to better equip myself apologetically against the arguments made by those who disagree with me and I with them.
If I can discern from their own apologists the weaknesses and flaws of their arguments, I can more easily dismantle their view of things, and help them see the light, should opportunity ever arise to do so.
And for the record, this isn't just pop-Catholicism distilled into a book. The author is professor of theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville and sat on Pope Benedict XVI's Chair of Biblical Theology and Liturgical Proclamation at Saint Vincent Seminary, while also serving as the President and Founder of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, in Steubenville.
The book in question received the
Nihil Obstat and
Imprimatur, which are official declarations of the Catholic Church indicating that a book or pamphlet is free of doctrinal or moral error.
So, this is a pretty important book for Catholics, and, if it can be dismantled and proven inaccurate, how many Catholic believers, who honor and respect the
Nihil Obstat and
Imprimatur of the Catholic Church, might come into a greater, more Biblically consistent profession of faith?
Lastly, I simply enjoy reading and make it my business to be as widely read as I possibly can. With the rare exception, such as
1984 mentioned above, I almost never read fiction, preferring to read history, theology and other Biblical studies, social science, and religious literature. I find the Lord uses this to help shape me and my understanding of the Word, and gives me a chance to find out and learn things many of my peers never have the chance to find out or learn, for lack of involving themselves in the same pursuits.