Marian Theology

[holly3278]

What is mainstream Marian theology according to the Episcopal Church? Do Episcopalians believe that Mary is the Mother of God? Do they believe that she is the Queen of Heaven? Do they believe that she is sinless and immaculately conceived? Do they believe she was assumed in to Heaven? I believe all of these things except for the one that says she was sinless and immaculately conceived. I can still be an Episcopalian and believe these things right?

Sorry, I'm a former Catholic and I just don't want to let go of some of my old Catholic theology. I hope that is okay with the Episcopalians.

[srigdon]

Episcopalians/Anglicans have never articulated much official theology about Mary. Official positions include that articulated in the Nicene Creed:

"...by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary and was made man."

The catechism of the church is located in the Book of Common Prayer, p. 845-862. It explains the church position on what this means (p. 849):

"We mean that by God's own act, his divine Son received our human nature from the Virgin Mary, his mother."

In general we don't talk about Mary all that much. Opinions vary. So, if you want to retain your beliefs about Mary, nobody will object. If you are interested in a parish in which there is more attention paid to Mary and her role, you might be interested in a parish which calls itself "Anglo-Catholic".

[Canadian Phil]

Anglican attitudes to Mary depend very much on which Anglican you as. As srigdon points out, an Anglo-Catholic will tend to have a more Roman Catholic concept of Mary than, say, an Low Church (evangelical) person.

As someone who is rather in the middle of those extremes, I would say that Mary is clearly the Mother of God. She is the first of the Saints and an especially vivid example of faith. I'm really not sure about the assumption as there is no Biblical warrant, but there is an early tradition about it and I see little harm in it. I'm with you about the suggestion that Mary was sinless and immaculately conceived because there are some very significant theological problems with those beliefs.

I think you'll find most Anglicans will tend to agree with those positions, so I think you're on safe ground.

Peace,
Phil

[holly3278]

Thanks guys. It helps to know this stuff.

[ixiwexa]

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