I-L:  In addition to their own Emerging Conversation, how do you think Emergents are also driving Evangelical conversations with regard to Mary and other historical characters in the Bible?

SMcK: Again, not sure I see this sort of thing.

I-L:  Do you feel that Evangelicals might consider it a little extreme to institute an annual “Mary Day” in their calendar? How would you suggest overcoming their objections, particularly in light of the fact that they don’t have an “Honor Peter Day” or “Honor Paul Day”?

SMcK: Do I say an “annual” Honor Day? I just looked over my last chapter and I don’t use the word “annual” (unless I skimmed too quickly). I’m asking churches to have an honor Mary day to study the Bible and let the Bible say what it says. I’m not asking for a new day in a Protestant calendar. We honor Paul all the time; less so for Peter.

I-L:  You mention in your book that Evangelicals accuse Catholics of adding tradition to their set of beliefs, yet Catholics see this as a benefit rather than an indictment. How would you propose overcoming this seemingly insurmountable barrier to mutual understanding?

SMcK: My own view is that this Tradition with Bible vs. a “Bible only” approach is not likely to change any time soon. I don’t think we can get over this. We have to learn to live with the two approaches. To help us, I suggest we learn to converse together with what the Bible does say and that will lead to genuine communication.

I-L:  What are some stereotypes of Mary you would like to see discarded in both Catholic and Evangelical traditions?

SMcK: Mary is more than a pious quiet passive figure; Mary is more than a mother; Mary is more than a stereotype for niceness.

Mary is not worshiped in Catholicism; Mary is a powerful woman of faith with great courage.

I-L:  You suggest that Mary was dangerous and represented a threat to Roman hegemony. What is it that made this young teen-aged girl such a threat?

SMcK: If one reads the Magnificat, Mary’s great song, now found in Luke 1:46-55, and asks this question: “What kind of woman would say these things when Herod the Great was on the throne and when Caesar Augustus was seen as the Savior of the World?” If you ask that question, you will see that this young woman, Mary, had the courage of the ages. In these words, whether she did face to face is not the issue, Mary went toe to toe and nose to nose with the powers that be in light of the powers that would be. This made her a threat.

I-L:  Can you briefly explain what the traditional expectations Mary might have had about the Messiah and how Jesus fulfilled or disappointed those expectations?

SMcK: The Messiah would be a political king; he would be victorious in military battle; he would sit on the throne in Jerusalem; he would restore the kingdom as promised in the Old Testament.

Jesus redefined each of these: his idea of “political” was “church.” His idea of “victory” was by way of suffering and self-sacrifice. His idea of “throne” was “cross.” His idea of restoring OT promise was to find one’s way to faith in him. No wonder Mary struggled – with other 1st Century Jews – with embracing Jesus’ kind of Messiahship.

I-L:  How does The Nativity Story movie compare/contrast with your book?

SMcK: On Mary… I think the movie delayed lines from the Magnificat far too long; they do not show up until the end. They are the best window into seeing Mary’s character. I don’t think the movie had enough courage in the personality and character of Mary; she’s too pious and passive.

I-L:  How would you distinguish adoration of Mary from worship of Mary?

SMcK: I prefer “honor” to either; both of these terms broach issues that lead too easily to detracting from the glory due Christ alone.