Can You Pray to Whoever You Want to?

The logic error above is subtle. It's called a "false dichotomy". In general that's when a premise erroneously limits what options are available. In this case the two options are "Jesus wanted me to sprinkle people" and "Jesus forbids me to sprinkle people." Of course a third option is that "Jesus does not particularly care one way or the other".
here's the premise: the word pray as used in the NT is in only reference to the Divine

What false dichotomy does the present?
 
here's the premise: the word pray as used in the NT is in only reference to the Divine

What false dichotomy does the present?
That doesn't present a false dichotomy. It just doesn't prove that prayer to others is forbidden.
 
That doesn't present a false dichotomy. It just doesn't prove that prayer to others is forbidden.
“Teach us to pray”
“pray like this”
“pray without ceasing”
“we constantly pray for you”

Does the meaning of the word “pray” matter?
 
Inquiring of the dead is forbidden in Scripture.
Spiritualism, séances and the like, are forbidden in Catholic teaching as well. Praying to the dead is not inquiring of them. Praying is attempting to make two-way communication as in Spiritualism. Praying to the dead is not spiritualism.

Here we see yet another logical fallacy - that of false equivalence. Perhaps the most famous example of false equivalence is in the song sung by Harold Hill in the musical, "The Music Man" that include "You got trouble, folks. Right here in River City, trouble with a capital "T" And that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool" In the song Hill tries to convince the townsfolk that the new pool hall will lead to young boys gambling on horses, neglecting their chores, smoking, lying about smoking, involvement with women of ill repute, etc. Essentially making all these thing equivalent to playing pool. In the example above we see praying to Mary for help at our hour of death as somehow equivalent to a séance with a medium and a crystal ball or using a ouija board.
 
Spiritualism, séances and the like, are forbidden in Catholic teaching as well. Praying to the dead is not inquiring of them. Praying is attempting to make two-way communication as in Spiritualism. Praying to the dead is not spiritualism.

Here we see yet another logical fallacy - that of false equivalence. Perhaps the most famous example of false equivalence is in the song sung by Harold Hill in the musical, "The Music Man" that include "You got trouble, folks. Right here in River City, trouble with a capital "T" And that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool" In the song Hill tries to convince the townsfolk that the new pool hall will lead to young boys gambling on horses, neglecting their chores, smoking, lying about smoking, involvement with women of ill repute, etc. Essentially making all these thing equivalent to playing pool. In the example above we see praying to Mary for help at our hour of death as somehow equivalent to a séance with a medium and a crystal ball or using a ouija board.

God wants us to look to HIM for everything.... not run to mommy dearest or some dead saint buried in a coffin somewhere. In every analogy you use, its always about how your institution should be excused, and God should look the other way.

NO! It doesn't work like that. God says... "He will NOT share His glory with another". Rc's refuse to accept the fact that "You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below." Applies to EVERYTHING. You or anyone else do NOT get to make exceptions.

The point is, God all throughout Scripture tells us to not communicate in any way with the dead. mary is no longer here on earth, and praying to her for help, is indeed doing exactly what God said NOT to do. Doesn't matter if your not going through a medium. The intention and act is the same.
 
God wants us to look to HIM for everything.... not run to mommy dearest or some dead saint buried in a coffin somewhere. In every analogy you use, its always about how your institution should be excused, and God should look the other way.

NO! It doesn't work like that. God says... "He will NOT share His glory with another". Rc's refuse to accept the fact that "You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below." Applies to EVERYTHING. You or anyone else do NOT get to make exceptions.

The point is, God all throughout Scripture tells us to not communicate in any way with the dead. mary is no longer here on earth, and praying to her for help, is indeed doing exactly what God said NOT to do. Doesn't matter if your not going through a medium. The intention and act is the same.
In my view nonCC's refuse to accept the fact that their own personal interpretation of Scripture is not infallible. The early Church developing doctrine and liturgy within a college of holy men and theologians, determine otherwise.

Prayers to the saints occur in almost all the ancient liturgies. Thus in the Liturgy of St. Basil: "By the command of Thine only-begotten Son we communicate with the memory of Thy saints . . . by whose prayers and supplications have mercy upon us all, and deliver us for the sake of Thy holy name which is invoked upon us". Cf. the Liturgy of Jerusalem, the Liturgy of St. Chrysostom, the Liturgy of Nestorius, the Coptic Liturgy of St. Cyril, etc. That these commemorations are not later additions is manifest from the words of St. Cyril of Jerusalem: "We then commemorate also those who have fallen asleep before us, first, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, that God by their prayers and intercessions may receive our petitions" ("Cat. Myst.", v, in P.G., XXXIII, 1113). (See Renaudot, "Liturgiarum Orientalium Collectio", Paris, 1716.)
 
In my view nonCC's refuse to accept the fact that their own personal interpretation of Scripture is not infallible. The early Church developing doctrine and liturgy within a college of holy men and theologians, determine otherwise.

Prayers to the saints occur in almost all the ancient liturgies. Thus in the Liturgy of St. Basil: "By the command of Thine only-begotten Son we communicate with the memory of Thy saints . . . by whose prayers and supplications have mercy upon us all, and deliver us for the sake of Thy holy name which is invoked upon us". Cf. the Liturgy of Jerusalem, the Liturgy of St. Chrysostom, the Liturgy of Nestorius, the Coptic Liturgy of St. Cyril, etc. That these commemorations are not later additions is manifest from the words of St. Cyril of Jerusalem: "We then commemorate also those who have fallen asleep before us, first, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, that God by their prayers and intercessions may receive our petitions" ("Cat. Myst.", v, in P.G., XXXIII, 1113). (See Renaudot, "Liturgiarum Orientalium Collectio", Paris, 1716.)

None of the apostles ever prayed to any one who died. They knew better. And I really don't care what some author eons ago had to say. What God says, supersedes everything else.
 
None of the apostles ever prayed to any one who died. They knew better. And I really don't care what some author eons ago had to say. What God says, supersedes everything else.
The Apostles were the very first Christians. They became the saints in heaven that Christians implored for intercession by virtue of their closeness to Christ in paradise.
 
The Apostles were the very first Christians. They became the saints in heaven that Christians implored for intercession by virtue of their closeness to Christ in paradise.

The apostles were Jewish, who believed IN and followed Jesus. They NEVER taught anyone to pray to the dead, nor did they teach anyone to pray to them. Any time anyone tried any of that crock, the apostles told them to NOT do it. Worship God only!.
 
In my view nonCC's refuse to accept the fact that their own personal interpretation of Scripture is not infallible. The early Church developing doctrine and liturgy within a college of holy men and theologians, determine otherwise.

Prayers to the saints occur in almost all the ancient liturgies. Thus in the Liturgy of St. Basil: "By the command of Thine only-begotten Son we communicate with the memory of Thy saints . . . by whose prayers and supplications have mercy upon us all, and deliver us for the sake of Thy holy name which is invoked upon us". Cf. the Liturgy of Jerusalem, the Liturgy of St. Chrysostom, the Liturgy of Nestorius, the Coptic Liturgy of St. Cyril, etc. That these commemorations are not later additions is manifest from the words of St. Cyril of Jerusalem: "We then commemorate also those who have fallen asleep before us, first, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, that God by their prayers and intercessions may receive our petitions" ("Cat. Myst.", v, in P.G., XXXIII, 1113). (See Renaudot, "Liturgiarum Orientalium Collectio", Paris, 1716.)
None of us claim the false gift of infallible, the only ones who do that are your pope and his cronies. Another false claim by a RC that is bearing false witnessThey have proved it a false claim by their myths doctrines and teachings
 
Inquiring of the dead is forbidden in Scripture.
Spiritualism, séances and the like, are forbidden in Catholic teaching as well.

Sorry, but inquiring of the dead...period...is forbidden.


Praying to the dead is not inquiring of them.

By definition, it is. Literally.

In case you do not know what inquire means....it means to ask.

דָּרַשׁ dârash, daw-rash'; a primitive root; properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or ask

Ya know...to ask....the very thing Catholics say the word PRAY means.


Can you do the math?

Isaiah 8:19 "should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?"
 
The Apostles were the very first Christians. They became the saints in heaven that Christians implored for intercession by virtue of their closeness to Christ in paradise.
Excuse me, but WE have closeness to our dear Savior, via the indwelling Holy Spirit. Have you forgotten? And Paul says it is the HS Who intervenes for us, when we do not know how we ought to pray! NOT dead saints!
 
Because it is.
Yes, I clearly stated that Protestants believe Catholics engage in idolatry when they honor the saints.
You need the HS to open your eyes to the truth.
I am not the one who is blind here, Bonnie.
Oohhhh, so those Marian prayers we have posted, like to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pleading with Mary to help and save them, are just "honoring" her?? :rolleyes:
Now another thing I do not understand: why can't Protestants tell hyperbole and poetic exaggeration when they see it?
 
Funny how Christ, their Master and unmatched Teacher, never taught them or anyone else to pray to the dead.

The record of the NT Scriptures span almost the entirety of the 1st century....with many Christians dying. Yet not a word that we should pray to them.

Yet you think you are smarter than these men?
Revelation was written at the end of that time period where John records his vision of the 24 elders offering the prayers of the saints to the Lamb in heaven. Rev 5:8.
 
Sorry, but inquiring of the dead...period...is forbidden.
I know. Praying to the dead is not forbidden. It is not inquiring of the dead. That's a false equivalence.

In case you do not know what inquire means....it means to ask.
You pick and choose the meaning that is most helpful to your view, rather than the meaning that is most in keeping with Scripture. Nowhere in Scripture is a specific literal injunction against praying to the dead for blessings. Nowhere.


Isaiah 8:19 "should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?"
Why didn't you quote ALL of Isaiah 8:19? Could it be that it clarifies the meaning in a way that is inconvenient to you? Isaiah 8:19 in full says, “And when they say to you, ‘Consult the mediums and the wizards who chirp and mutter,’ should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?” This is an example of the Bible’s prohibition on necromancy, or communicating with the dead in order to obtain information or knowledge (Deut. 18:11). The Catechism condemns necromancy (CCC 2116). But those who pray to saints ask them to pray for us; they do not use such prayers in order to gather information from the saints.
 
Yes, I clearly stated that Protestants believe Catholics engage in idolatry when they honor the saints.

Catholics dishonor the saints when they pray to them as they would to God, for help, comfort, and even salvation! And especially, when they pray to them to appease our dear Savior's wrath! He does not need appeasing!

Non-RCCers truly honor the saints, by teaching the truth about them, and by teaching and believing what they taught and believed, in the first century.
I am not the one who is blind here, Bonnie..

Oh, yes you are, along with you fellow RCCers. The fact that Catholics cannot see the idolatry in praying to saints, especially Mary, for help, comfort, and even salvation shows how blind
spiritually they truly are.
Now another thing I do not understand: why can't Protestants tell hyperbole and poetic exaggeration when they see it?
Oh, is that what worshiping saints dead in the Lord is called now...hyperbole and poetic exaggeration...:rolleyes:

So, calling Mary the "ONLY hope for sinners" and "CAUSE of our salvation" and "gate of Heaven" is just hyperbole and poetic exaggeration, eh? I call it lying and blasphemy!
 
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Revelation was written at the end of that time period where John records his vision of the 24 elders offering the prayers of the saints to the Lamb in heaven. Rev 5:8.

Revelation 5:8
And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb.

There is no interceding for believers in the above passage, that would contradict 1 Timothy 2:5

1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind,
the man Christ Jesus,

The Holy Spirit does NOT contradict Himself. Your quoting this one lone verse does NOT justify in any way the rc practice of praying to mary and dead people.

Verse 8 says they fell down before Jesus, and worshipped Him. Verse 9,

And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign[ on the earth.”


There was no praying to Jesus at all in chapter 5 of the book of revelation.
 
Revelation 5:8
And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb.

There is no interceding for believers in the above passage, that would contradict 1 Timothy 2:5

1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind,
the man Christ Jesus,

The Holy Spirit does NOT contradict Himself. Your quoting this one lone verse does NOT justify in any way the rc practice of praying to mary and dead people.

Verse 8 says they fell down before Jesus, and worshipped Him. Verse 9,

And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign[ on the earth.”


There was no praying to Jesus at all in chapter 5 of the book of revelation.
What it comes down to is that being your interpretation of Revelation but as I've shown before, the early Fathers, those involved in translating and collating the canon of the NT, believed otherwise.
 
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