Devotion to Mary in Catholicism centers around prayers that ask us to mediate on what she saw through her own human eyes. The Orthodox Christian devotion to Mary is different than in Catholicism, but much of the differences come down to doctrinal differences which might attempt to dissect mysteries in ways they are not meant to be dissected. Mary is venerated in Islam, perhaps more than Jesus.

I will change the above to reflect other traditions more clearly, when I have time, upon request, and in consideration of any suggestions.

Marian apparitions are controversial, but can not be ignored. I ask they not be judged, though pointing out specific problems with specific apparitions in a fair and understanding way is welcome. Some apparitions are complicated. Medjugorje is a perfect example: multiple seers, over a long time. Some things said are controversial. Some I think are misunderstood. Some seers I think are probably frauds. Does that mean everything said there is false? I can't say that as I do not know that. I ask that any criticism of any apparition deal with specifics, not generalities.

The number one rule is don't be a jerk. In keeping with that rule, this is not a place to say religion is stupid, nor to say "Marian apparitions are from the devil" because those ideas are simply not on topic. People delve very deeply into stupid things, games, and works of fiction. If you can not find meaning or use in these ideas, fine. This is a place for those who want to try to find meaning in these ideas. Some apparitions are questionable. But even "approved" ones must be approached cautiously, because the revelation might have been for the seer and not everyone. On top of that, an apparition being approved or not sometimes reflects politics or other factors besides theology.

My hope is to freely discuss any and all aspects of "Marianology". I only ask that all apparitions treated with the consideration that it may in deed be from Mary even if one thinks it is not.

But, there is so much more to Mary than apparitions. Shrines, prayers, and direct and indirect mentions in the bible and apocrypha are all fair game.

For now, and probably forever, I want to avoid a comparative religion approach. Without a doubt there is a lot of room for study and discussion when following that approach. But, that is entirely different kinds of discussion. Comparisons to Isis seem not so far off if we were taking a comparative mythological approach or an anthropological approach. But, when comparing Mary to deities from other cultures and even when comparing and contrasting with figures like Zoe or Norea or Sophia, we move into abstractions and it still ends up being more like anthropology or comparative mythology. With regard to Norea or the Sophia in texts like the Pistis Sophia, there is much more contrast than comparison to be made. Perhaps if there is interest in that, a separate sub should be made.

Another reason to keep it about Mary proper and not about these broader cross-cultural figures, is that the apparitions all point to very pressing matters that are at hand. If not for that, it might be easier and even fruitful to compare Marionology to how these other figures are seen and interpreted. But, as Fatima, La Salette, Akita, Garabandal, and Our Lady of the Revelation make clear: Mary is about today and events around us right now. For some, the time for thinking is over. The imperative from that point of view is to get right with God https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MQey_BAaiY