Kristofer J Carlson

Why Mary Matters: Protestants and the Virgin Mary Kristofer J Carlson Fourth edition

Protestants tend to think of the Virgin Mary as a bit player in the first Christmas pageant; as a young Jewish peasant girl who quickly fades into the background of the Gospel story; as an incidental participant in the incarnation; and as an example of Christian obedience and womanly submission; and see no evidence in the scriptures to convince them otherwise. I know this, because this is how I was brought up in the faith. After years of study, and based on Sacred Scripture, I have been forced to accept certain Marian doctrines that initially made me uncomfortable. Since originality in theological matters is something to be avoided, I proudly state that you will find nothing original in this book. The most I can claim is some originality in the way the information is presented. I wrote the book I have been unable to find, and for the Protestant I once was ? and in many ways, still remain. Since I wrote this book with the Protestant in mind, I attempt to place the Virgin Mary within a larger theological context and illuminate some of the more troubling Mariological doctrines. My hope is that the record of my exploration of Marian doctrine will be interesting, and that my attempt at providing answers to the important Marian questions will be useful. I acknowledge that although the Marian questions deserve answers, the attempt to provide the answers is problematic; and, for those whose minds are already made up, the attempt is likely futile. I therefore ask you to examine the Sacred Scriptures with an open mind, to see them through another person's eyes, and to examine the views of people you might normally discard out of hand. If you do this, even if you remain unconvinced, you will find the process spiritually rewarding.