4 ms·
Right? Patron saints are such an interesting and weird compromise to polytheism.
by AceJohnny2 8y ago
Right? Patron saints are such an interesting and weird compromise to polytheism.
- User23 8y agoCatholics believe that all mankind is made in the image of God. The saints are just the ones who turned out best and we authoritatively know made it to heaven, and thus have achieved the perfection we all had before the Fall. Veneration is not worship, it's more like asking an experienced mentor with access to excellent resources for help.
- int_19h 8y agoThis all is true as a matter of Church doctrine, but the actual practice among worshippers is rather different (not just in Catholicism - same thing among the Orthodox).
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- dragonwriter 8y ago> Catholics believe that all mankind is made in the image of God. The saints are just the ones who turned out best and we authoritatively know made it to heaven There's a number of problems with that explanation, the three most obvious of which are Ss. Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel.
- User23 8y agoI was speaking of mankind.
- dragonwriter 8y agoBut the cults of saints aren't limited to those saints that were ever part of mankind, so a theological rationalization of such cults that only applies to human saints doesn't address the issue.