u/AllHomo_NoSapien

Hi! I have a few genuine questions for Catholics about the doctrines of Mary’s perpetual virginity and sinlessness, and I’d love to understand your perspective.

Why does Mary need to have been sinless to be worthy of honor and importance? If Mary could be sinless, how does that fit with the idea that humanity needs Jesus as a Savior? Wouldn’t her sinlessness raise the question of whether it’s possible for someone to be without sin without needing a Savior? And if the argument is that God preserved her from sin, couldn’t that same God ensure that Jesus was born without sin regardless of whether Mary herself was sinful?

Why must Mary have remained a virgin for her entire life? If Mary and Joseph were truly married, wouldn’t their marriage traditionally have been consummated through sexual relations? If they never had sex, how do Catholics understand their marriage and what it means for a marriage to be consummated?

I’m not asking these questions to disrespect Mary or dismiss her importance. I understand that Catholics hold her in very high regard, and I respect that. I’m genuinely trying to understand the biblical and theological reasoning behind these doctrines, especially since I interpret some of these things differently. I’d appreciate thoughtful explanations!

I have been working towards them for about a year now. I passed READ and science on first try, but math and social studies took two tries.

I got all of my official scores back today and I am so excited and proud. I will be interning and graduating in the spring

What is it with certain Christians and thinking they need to share their opinion about gay people on prompted? I was talking to a girl in a group conversation and I happened to tell her I was gay. Then a guy that I was not talking to commented and said, “yeah, I’m a Christian, so I don’t really support that but…” like OK? I did not ask and also was not talking to you. And then he proceeded to talk about how a lot of Christians who proclaim that they are Christians are not really, because to be a true Christian, you have to follow all (emphasis on all) of God‘s Commandments

Hey guys. I’m really sorry if things like this are said a lot but I don’t know where else to go as I’m spiraling.

I have an amazing relationship with my girlfriend of 3 years. I love her and want to spend the rest of my life with her. But once a month, during my luteal phase, I suddenly no longer want to be with her. I don’t want touch (romantic or sexual), I feel completely detached. I’m convinced I’ve fallen out of love with her and that we need to break up.

But usually, either once I start my period or after I’m off my period, I go right back to normal and I no longer feel this way.

The issue is…no matter how many times I remind myself during these phases that I’m in my luteal phase and it’s just hormones…it feels so REAL. The emotions are SO REAL. And I’m so scared of them. They’re so real and so strong and so scary because I’m terrified of falling out of love with her

Any advice for this at all???

Almost always, when I’m in my luteal phase, I overthink EVERYTHING about my relationship. I don’t want to be touched or be romantic/sexual. I don’t even really feel like I have any feelings for her/wonder if we are actually supposed to be together or if I’d be happier without her

And then when my luteal phase and period is done and over with, I’m perfectly fine😭it drives me crazy. Is this normal?

I have a friend whose parents oppose her relationship for no good reason other than the fact that she hid the relationship for a while and and then, found out, and now, they no longer trust her or agree with the relationship bc they feel it messed up their familial relationships due to the hiding.

The relationship between her and her partner is great and there are truly no red flags, but she is worried that since her family opposes it and that it’s causing offense that she is “causing her fellow believers to stumble” and that her relationship must be a sin because others dislike it.

She wanted me to ask the opinions of the people here because she is worried, even though her relationship has only brought her closer to God, that she is sinning since her family disapproves

You probably know me. I’ve posted on here several times about begging God for an answer/a sign that I’m on the right path with my life. Something that was obviously from Him. I wasn’t sure that there would ever be an update, as I’ve been praying for months about this. But here we are

My family and I became friends with this older gentleman from a restaurant we frequent. He is very kind and very very spiritual and Godly man.

We were meeting with him the other day, and out of nowhere, he wanted to speak to me. He told me that God had put it on his heart to come share this with me.

He said that God put it on his heart to tell me that I have a very special calling in my life. That I am a very special person to God, and that there is something really really important for me. He said that God told Him to tell me to just keep doing what I’m doing. That God loves me, He’s always with me, and that He’ll lead me where I need to go. That I’m doing great

While this wasn’t a clear cut “gay is a sin/is not a sin”…it gave me so much courage and confidence that at the very least…the path I’m taking is where God wants me right now and that He will work it out, regardless.

This man doesn’t know I’m a lesbian, he doesn’t know I have a wife, and he doesn’t know I’ve been praying for a sign EXACTLY like that. It was an insane God moment.

I just thought I should share

How did yall get to a point where you no longer imagine yourself/your relationship when you hear words like “sin”, “abomination”, etc. really anything that could be associated with sin or something God doesn’t approve of

Every time I hear words like that, my first immediate thought is myself and my relationship. It gives me anxiety because I don’t know if it’s conviction or condemnation

Sometimes, when I’m studying my Bible I can’t help but feel like an imposter. Like praising God and learning and seeking Him is all in vain because He could never accept me regardless. I’m going to hell for having a wife as a female, so why should I search for Him if I won’t get to live eternally with Him anyway?

Sometimes, when I’m studying my Bible I can’t help but feel like an imposter. Like praising God and learning and seeking Him is all in vain because He could never accept me regardless. I’m going to hell for having a wife as a female, so why should I search for Him if I won’t get to live eternally with Him anyway?

Sometimes, when I’m studying my Bible I can’t help but feel like an imposter. Like praising God and learning and seeking Him is all in vain because He could never accept me regardless. I’m going to hell for having a wife as a female, so why should I search for Him if I won’t get to live eternally with Him anyway?

I believe it is, correct? Since it goes against God’s original design for marriage?

I’m just wondering…does that mean King David went to heaven since he lived in unrepentant sin with his wives and concubines? I know God called him “a man after God’s on heart” regardless, but he lived in unrepentant sin. So, did he still get to go to heaven?

I know the devils prime tactic is manipulation, so I assume that something that seems even divinely orchestrated and good could still be from the devil to steer you off the right path, correct?

If so, what are some ways we could discern if it’s from God or the devil? I’m a bit confused on how to figure that out

Is it normal to NOT be romantically and/or sexually attracted to your partner sometimes during times where your hormones are off?

It doesn’t happen all the time, but sometimes during times when my hormones are off like ovulation, right before/after or during my period, I have no romantic or sexual attraction to my partner and it FREAKS me out bc I always think I’m losing feelings. But then give me a few days, and I’m good again

Is this normal?

What are the signs of being truly saved as a believer? How do you know if you are born again, 100%? And if you are truly saved, can you ever lose your salvation? (Unless you stop believing in God, ofc)?

I want to make sure that I am truly saved and not living in false hope, yk? And I struggle to find EXACTLY how to know I’m saved

Does anyone have practices that really helped you learn how to hear God speaking to you?

I really want to learn to hear Him better. I feel like I struggle with it because I overthink whether or not what I might be feeling/hearing/thinking is from Him or myself.

I see people talking all the time about how they can audibly hear God or see visions, etc. I’d really like to get to that point with God