CHARGES

Charge #1: Worshipping the Virgin Mary (a.k.a. "The Queen of Heaven") is idolatry.

Charge #2: The Virgin Mary/Baby Jesus iconography is the traditional pagan mother goddess/infant son deities with a Christian coat of paint.

 

BACKGROUND

The Veneration of The Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic dogma that encourages the worship of and prayers to Mary, the mother of Jesus. This dogma stemmed from The Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. This practice was promoted even more so in modern times by Pope John Paul II. The Roman Catholic Church believes that she should be worshiped because Mary was the mother of Jesus and she should be prayed to because they falsely believe that Jesus is perpetually angry, ready to strike you down with a lightning bolt whenever you sin, and only Mary can placate His anger.

Mary has been given several titles by the Roman Catholic Church. These titles include: Mother of God, Queen of Heaven, Mother of the Church, Mediatrix, Co-Redemptrix, and Our Lady. Mary's title of "Queen of Heaven" shall receive particular focus in this case.

 

QUEEN OF HEAVEN WORSHIP PREDATES MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS

In Jeremiah 44, we learn that the worship of the Queen of Heaven was active in Jeremiah's time:

"Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying, As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee. But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine. And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?" (Jeremiah 44:15-19)

However, the Biblical Prophet Jeremiah's ministry has been dated to 626-586 B.C., over 500 years before Mary, the mother of Jesus was born (circa 18 B.C.). Given these dates, there is no way the Queen of Heaven mentioned in Jeremiah could be Mary, the mother of Jesus. In fact, it verifies that the Queen of Heaven, and the worshiping of her predate he birth of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

 

WHO IS THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN?

The Queen of Heaven is the traditional pagan mother goddess often depicted together with her infant son, "The Redeemer". Queen of Heaven worship began in ancient Babylon by Queen Semiramis, the mother and wife of King Nimrod. Semiramis claimed that her infant son Tammuz, fathered by Nimrod and born after Nimrod died, was the reincarnation of Nimrod himself.

Semiramis & Tammuz (Ancient Babylon)

 

This mother/son deity duo has been prevalent in many of the world's pagan religions throughout history, just the names and backstories changed. In ancient Egypt, they were known as Isis and Horus. In ancient Greece, they were known as Aphrodite and Eros. In India, they were known as Devaki and Krishna. Take a look at these images:

 

PAGANISM GIVEN A CHRISTIAN COAT OF PAINT

As the Roman Catholic Church was know to do in its early days, it often compromised with the pagans it was trying to convert. The Roman Catholic Church would allow the pagans to keep their customs and even beliefs as long as they were Christianized, thus gaining new converts to fatten their coffers at the expense of the integrity of the Word of God. Thus Semiramis & Tammuz, Isis & Horus, Aphrodite & Eros and Devaki & Krishna became the Virgin Mary & Baby Jesus (see image below).

The Virgin Mary & Baby Jesus (Roman Catholicism)

 

ROMAN CATHOLIC POPES WORSHIPPING THE VIRGIN MARY

As you can see from the images below, both Pope John Paul II and his successor Pope Benedict XVI are seen publicly worshipping the "Queen of Heaven". Most lay Catholics are unfamiliar with the Word of God (The Holy Bible), but are at least familiar with the Ten Commandments. In the photos you can witness both popes personally violating the first two commandments as well as Jeremiah 44 which prohibits the worship of the "Queen of Heaven" (see section below). In addition, they are violating 1 Timothy 2:5 which states, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" The Roman Catholic Church believes and teaches that Jesus is a perpetually angry God ready to strike you down with a bolt of lightning if you get out of line and that his mother Mary is the only one who can stave his anger. Catholics pray to Mary as an intercessor between themselves and Jesus.

 

THE CASE AGAINST

Prohibition Against The Worshipping of False Gods

Idolatry is the worship of a false god, usually accompanied by a man-made image of the false god. The Word of God (aka The Holy Bible) strictly forbids idolatry of any kind. In fact, God Almighty Himself laid out these commandments to the people of Israel not long after the Exodus from Egypt. They are commonly referred to today as the First Commandment (prohibition against worshipping other gods) and the Second Commandment (prohibition against making and bowing down to images of a false god), both of which are part of the so-called Ten Commandments that were written by God on tablets that Moses brought down from Mount Siani.

 

FIRST COMMANDMENT

"I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:2-3)

 

SECOND COMMANDMENT

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." (Exodus 20:4-6)

 

In other scriptures in the Old Testament this warning against idolatry and worshipping false gods is repeated:

"Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 19:4)

 

"Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips." (Psalm 16:4)

 

"Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them." (Psalm 115:4-8)

 

"They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing? Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together. The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint. The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?" (Isaiah 44:9-20)

 

"I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things. Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord have created it. Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth? Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts. Thus saith the Lord, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God. Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour. They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols. But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end. For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else. I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory." (Isaiah 45:5-25)

 

However, the prohibition of idolatry and the worshipping of false gods was not just for the children of Israel, but this prohibition was echoed by the Apostles in the New Testament as well:

 

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." (Romans 1:18-25)

 

"Therefore, my dear freinds, flee from idolatry." (1 Corinthians 10:14)

 

"Dear children, keep yourself from idols." (1 John 5:21)

 

"And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk." (Revelation 9:20)

 

Worship of the "Queen of Heaven" Forbidden

In addition to idolatry in general, the worship of the "Queen of Heaven" in particular,  is forbidden in the Book of Jeremiah:

"Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you. Do you not see what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger. Do they provoke Me to anger?' says the LORD. 'Do they not provoke themselves, to the shame of their own faces?' Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Behold, My anger and My fury will be poured out on this place–on man and on beast, on the trees of the field and on the fruit of the ground. And it will burn and not be quenched." (Jeremiah 7:16-20)

 

"Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying, As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee. But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine. And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?" (Jeremiah 44:15-19)

"IN THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES SHALL EVERY MATTER BE ESTABLISHED." (2 Corinthians 13:1)