Why do Protestants Undervalue Mary?

Last updated on: December 7, 2015 at 12:10 pm by Kyle Roberts

Why do Protestants Undervalue Mary? 2015-12-07T12:10:59-05:00 Kyle Roberts

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

It’s no secret that Protestants gives much less attention to Mary, the mother of Jesus, than do Catholic and Orthodox Christians.

CC0 Public Doman, via Flickr

Sure, she shows up at Christmas–but we’re not quite sure what to do with her theologically.

The introduction to a book called Blessed Mary: Protestant Perspectives on Mary, describes the lack of attention to Mary in Protestant theology, but then suggests that Mary will be garnering more attention by Protestants in coming years. In that intro, Beverly Roberts Gaventa and Cynthia Rigby write,

The time has come for Protestants to join in the blessing of Mary. The Lukan story in which Mary visits Elizabeth draws attention repeatedly to the blessedness of Mary. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth twice proclaims that Mary is blessed (1:42, 45). In the soaring opening of the Magnificat, Mary herself declares that “From now on all generations will call me blessed” (1:48). This rich blessing of Mary has scarcely extended to Protestant faith and life, however. Although we Protestants identify Scripture as authoritative, the Lukan blessing of Mary has rarely inspired Protestants to act accordingly.

Perhaps that is too harsh an indictment. Perhaps we have blessed Mary, at least during the weeks of December. But then we have sent her on her way, not expecting her to stay and occupy a place among us. This is true theologically, as evidenced in our nearly complete silence about Mary in both biblical studies and systematic theology. It is true liturgically, where Mary is confined to Advent hymns and texts and to our profession of the Apostle’s Creed. And it is certainly true devotionally, since Protestant resistance to seeking intercession from the saints seems to render any reflection on Mary suspect. So fearful have we been of what seems to us excessive attention to Mary in Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions that Mary is virtually absent among us.

Developments in recent decades have prompted a number of Protestants to think again about Mary. It is as if her very absence has itself become a presence. As questions of feminism and theology come together, it seems imperative to ask about Mary’s place in Christian thought. Renewed interest in spiritual life among Protestants finds us listening to the music of earlier Christian generations, where much attention is lavished on Mary. Theological reflection on childbirth and parenting require a coming to terms with the mother of Jesus. The absence of Mary not only cuts Protestants off from Catholic and Orthodox traditions, it cuts us off from the fullness of our own tradition. We have neither blessed Mary nor allowed her to bless us.

This lack of attention is one reason I’ve decided to write a popular-level book on Mary and the birth narrative–and its theological implications. So, you can expect more posts on this topic in coming days.

Previous Post

December 4, 2015

Ernest Becker on the Logic of Killing Others

Next Post

December 8, 2015 The Appeal of ISIS to Foreigners: Not Politics, but Meaning

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2020 November 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 December 2018 July 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz