Mary: A Catholic-Evangelical Debate

by Dwight Longenecker and Roy David Gustafson

Book Overview

Longenecker and Gustafson offer a lively discussion about the Virgin Mary and related devotional practices from both Catholic and evangelical Protestant perspectives. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 158743072X
• ISBN13: 9781587430725
• Release Date: August 2003
• Publisher: Brazos Press
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.4" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

High expectations met

Based on previous reviews, I had high expectations for this book, and I'm happy to say that all of my expectations were met! This is an excellent book for understanding two different views about Mary. Both participants in the debate are respectful of each other's conclusions. The discussion never degenerates into mere name-calling. I think that Gustafson, the Protestant, sometimes bends over backwards and is too generous toward the Roman Catholic point of view, but that is much better than allowing the debate to degenerate into mere polemics. The foundational issue is authority. Once Longenecker accepts the authority of the Roman Catholic Church to decide on all doctrinal issues regardless of Biblical support, he cannot help but express his devotion to Mary. In that sense the discussion over Mary is secondary. The real issue concerns the relationship of the Bible to the church. Is the Bible authoritative? Or can the Roman Catholic Church legitimately add to its teaching? While reading the presentations of Longenecker, I couldn't help but observe that his commitment to the Roman Catholic Church and Mary pushes him to finding some kind of doctrinal defense no matter how much it strains credibility. His reasoning in defense of Mary's Bodily Assumption fits that description. (But it forced me to ask whether evangelicals ever do the same in some of their apologetic presentations on other issues. It's always easier to spot the speck in someone else's eye than the plank in our own.) After reading the book, I was more convinced than before that Marian devotion is misguided--to say the least. But Longenecker did make me realize that such devotion began relatively early in the life of the church. Evangelicals need to explain its early origin and its continued existence and development. Why did leading theologians such as Augustine not see how mistaken it was? How could Martin Luther go beyond the New Testament and speak of Mary in such glowing terms? I do have one minor criticism. The book uses both footnotes and endnotes. I could not figure out why some notes qualify for the bottom of the page but others are relegated to the end of the book. All in all, this is an excellent book for anyone who is genuinely seeking to understand the issues about Mary that are debated between Protestants and Roman Catholics. It is very informative, and I highly recommend it.

Excellent. Clears all the smoke.

When one deals with the subject of Mary, he is stepping into a sensitive arena especially with all that mutual misunderstandings between Catholics and Protestants for each others points. But before I state my opinion about the subject, allow me once again to state my denominational background so that I won’t be misunderstood or considered blindly biased for my denomination: I was born of an Orthodox father (thus I am officially an Orthodox), raised as a Catholic by my mother and school, and recently I am getting more acquainted with the Evangelical doctrines. So I can describe myself as a NON-denominational believer trying to take the best from each of those three mainline churches; this is where reading and studying comes in. So back to the subject of Mary, ever since I became a believer and started to read the Bible as well as read about the Evangelical line of thought, I noticed there is something wrong with some of the doctrines my Church (Catholic, and to a lesser degree Orthodox) taught me. The Bible doesn’t mention anything about the Immaculate Conception (Mary being exempt from the stain of original sin), doesn’t mention anything about her rapture, nothing about her being a co-redeemer or mediatrix or advocate, the Bible doesn’t mention anywhere that we should pray to her or venerate her… So naturally, I had a lot of questions and since there is a big dispute about these between the Catholics and Protestants, I needed a book that is the least possibly biased so that I get to know their respective arguments. And here is the real strength of this book! The title says it all. "Mary: a Catholic-Evangelical debate" is written in a form of a debate between a Catholic (Dwight Logenecker) and an Evangelical (David Gustafson). Each Marian subject has a chapter dedicated to it where the two authors each take turns to present their ideas and arguments. It’s like watching a live debate which was another positive point about the book. The subjects discussed are: the biblical presentation of Mary, the title "Mother of God", the virgin birth (all in favor here), the perpetual virginity, the title "Spouse of the Holy Spirit", the Immaculate Conception, the assumption, the veneration, the apparitions, the rosary and the titles "co-redeemer, mediatrix, advocate". Another important aspect which makes this book great is the brotherly and respectful spirit of discussion between the two authors. You really see that they aren’t arguing just for the sake of it, or to show who is scoring more points. They are really open to one another and both seem to debate for one reason: unravel THE truth. And so I started to read and reflect on each author’s point of view. In chapter one, you’ll see how much in common there is between the two. I live in a country where the Evangelicals are almost considered cultic (being a minority), sometimes put on the same level as Jehovah’s Witnesses’, and sometimes even called "Mary haters"! (wow). Such a big misunderstanding (I am

Avoiding the "Straw Man"

Few topics can get the tempers flaring between Catholics and Protestants than devotion to Mary. While Catholics (as well as the Orthodox and some Anglicans) see it as a natural outgrowth and reflection of the Incarnation, there is a general feeling within much of Protestantism to look upon Marian devotion as bordering on idolatry. Attempts to mediate the differences usually take one of two paths: either the real differences between Christians are minimized in a banal soup of least common denominator theology or else it dissolves into angry polemical exchanges shedding far more heat than light.The debate presented in Mary between Dwight Longenecker and David Gustafson is a wonderful exception to this unfortunate pattern. Both participants graduated from Bob Jones University (a known bastion of anti-Catholic polemic) before moving from the Protestant fundamentalism promoted there to a more historically rooted Christianity in Anglicanism (with Longenecker favoring the more Catholic and Gustafson the more Evangelical wings of the Anglican tradition). Longenecker has since moved on to Rome and with it an acceptance of beliefs peculiar to it - many dealing with Mary. These and other Marian beliefs and practices are the center of the debate and the result is an almost unparalleled attempt to discuss the truth in love on both sides. It is indeed rare to have a book endorsed by both Richard Neuhaus and J. I. Packer (both of whom write forwards) as well as by both Michael Horton and Peter Kreeft (both of whom write cover blurbs), and the backing by such noted theologians on both sides is testimony to the book's clear exposition of the issues. It is a joy to see both men desiring to fully comprehend the other's position and addressing their objections accordingly. There are neither "straw men" raised here nor is there an avoidance of the central issues. Both participants are intelligent, knowledgeable, and fair. In fact, it is safe to say the best each side has to offer is presented in a clear and concise manner and left for the reader to prayerfully consider. At times each of the two debaters are put on the defensive - Gustafson is at a loss to explain how the early Church fathers (including such important figures as Sts. Athanasius and Augustine) could possible make such an obvious and crucial "error" as Marian devotion while Longenecker all but apologizes for papal (although not yet binding doctrine) pronouncements bestowing upon Mary the titles co-Redemptix, Mediatrix, and Advocate. The exchanges are stimulating and those with opinions formed from ecclesial bias will find themselves challenged time and again. In the end, the book may not change opinions, but Christians on each side should fully appreciate the opposing view. There are many books and tapes available contrasting Protestant and Roman positions on Mary but few with the clarity and honesty put forth in Mary. Longenecker and Gustavson are to be commended for producing this impo

A straight forward and level headed conversation

This really is a level headed and straight forward book on Mary. The book is subtitled as a "debate" but it truly is a conversation, as the previous reviewer noted, although the writers tackle the issues without kid gloves. A great feature of the book is that the authors treat each suject in a sequential order and each chapter flows easily into the next. Perhaps the best feature about the book is that each side offers serious and knowledgeable arguments without jumping into un-informed caricatures or smear tactics. If your a Roman Catholic or a Protestant and want to learn what the "other side" believes this is the book for you.

Refreshing apoligetic work

As a Catholic convert from Evangelicalism, I really was intrigued by this debate from two very talented laymen. Both views were vigourously defended, and the respect both sides had for one another made the book work. I felt Mr. Gustafson did a great job of bringing up all the tough questions Evangelicals rightly ask concerning Marian devotion, and Mr. Longenknecker did what I thought was the single best job of not only defending, but helping to teach the logic and rationale behind the dogmas and practice of Catholicism regarding Mary. A highly readable book. Mr. Longanecker scored a home run with his metahpor of a future Christian sect misreading Evangelical devotion to the scriptures.. a perfect analogy. Mr Gustafson rightly cornered the Catholic writer on much of the excessive devotional writings, especially the popes on the Mediatrix issue.Overall, the single best book Ive read on the subject...and how refreshing both men still considers the other a brother in Christ..there is hope.