Originally posted by: zombie84
Yeah, but in common understanding when you say "Immaculate conception" people understand "virgin birth." To me, it seems that since "Immaculate (free of sin, virginal) conception" is not just a title but also simply a description it is still apt to use it in this broader sense, though its true that in Catholic theology it refers to a specific event (ie Mary's conception).
Originally posted by: caligulathegod
Content is excellent, as before. I did notice that the new edition still refers to Anakin's virgin birth as an "immaculate conception." Immaculate conception is not virgin birth. It is a Roman Catholic concept created to reconcile how Mary, as a human and subject to Original Sin, as are all humans, could give birth to a sinless Jesus. It was decided that Mary, unique among humans, was gifted a special grace by God and was not stained by Original Sin from the moment of her conception by normal sexual intercourse. So of Anakin Skywalker, Christ, Buddha, or Heracles, none was born by immaculate conception. Mary was.
The Roman Catholic doctrine of Incarnation refers to the virgin birth of Christ. Immaculate Conception and Incarnation are specifically Roman Catholic doctrines rather than generic terms for the concepts to which they refer.
Content is excellent, as before. I did notice that the new edition still refers to Anakin's virgin birth as an "immaculate conception." Immaculate conception is not virgin birth. It is a Roman Catholic concept created to reconcile how Mary, as a human and subject to Original Sin, as are all humans, could give birth to a sinless Jesus. It was decided that Mary, unique among humans, was gifted a special grace by God and was not stained by Original Sin from the moment of her conception by normal sexual intercourse. So of Anakin Skywalker, Christ, Buddha, or Heracles, none was born by immaculate conception. Mary was.
The Roman Catholic doctrine of Incarnation refers to the virgin birth of Christ. Immaculate Conception and Incarnation are specifically Roman Catholic doctrines rather than generic terms for the concepts to which they refer.
Yeah, but in common understanding when you say "Immaculate conception" people understand "virgin birth." To me, it seems that since "Immaculate (free of sin, virginal) conception" is not just a title but also simply a description it is still apt to use it in this broader sense, though its true that in Catholic theology it refers to a specific event (ie Mary's conception).
But it is still incorrect. I see no purpose in perpetuating a mistake regardless of the public misperception. The Secret History of Star Wars should illuminate the truth rather than perpetuate error. Plus, do you really want to rely on the assumption of error on the part of your reader to get your point across? Especially when those that do know the difference will be confused or irritated. Don't get me wrong. I'm not objecting to the religious content. I think earlier someone objected to what I found to be true and incisive scholarship on your part involving Christian myths. I'm only interested in correcting the nomenclature involved. Immaculate conception is something specific to Roman Catholicism and not even Christianity at large and it is only tangentially related to the virgin birth. Incarnation or simply "virgin birth" would be clearer rather than assume error on the part of the reader.
Here's a Wiki link to Incarnation. It is the more correct term regardless of religion.