Christology

===Mariology===
{{main|Mariology|Roman Catholic Mariology}}
Some Christians, notably [[Roman Catholics]], view Mariology as a key component of Christology.<ref group="web">"Mariology Is Christology", in [[Vittorio Messori]], ''The Mary Hypothesis'', Rome: 2005. [http://www.zenit.org/article-14658?l=english] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080805194304/http://www.zenit.org/article-14658?l=english|date=5 August 2008}}</ref> In this view, not only is Mariology a logical and necessary consequence of Christology, but without it, Christology is incomplete, since the figure of Mary contributes to a fuller understanding of who Christ is and what he did.<ref>Paul Haffner, 2004 ''The mystery of Mary'' Gracewing Press {{ISBN|0-85244-650-0}} p. 17</ref>

Protestants have criticized Mariology because many of its assertions lack any Biblical foundation.<ref>Walter A. Elwell, ''Evangelical Dictionary of Theology'', Second Edition (Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States: Baker Academic, 2001), p. 736.</ref> Strong Protestant reaction against Roman Catholic Marian devotion and teaching has been a significant issue for [[Ecumenism|ecumenical]] dialogue.<ref>Erwin Fahlbusch et al., "Mariology", The Encyclopedia of Christianity (Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States; Leiden, Netherlands: Wm. B. Eerdmans; Brill, 1999–2003), p. 409.</ref>

[[Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger]] (later [[Pope Benedict XVI]]) expressed this sentiment about Roman Catholic Mariology when in two separate occasions he stated, "The appearance of a truly Marian awareness serves as the touchstone indicating whether or not the christological substance is fully present"<ref>[[Communio]], 1996, Volume 23, p. 175</ref> and "It is necessary to go back to Mary, if we want to return to the truth about Jesus Christ."<ref>Raymond Burke, 2008 ''Mariology: A Guide for Priests, Deacons, seminarians, and Consecrated Persons'' {{ISBN|1-57918-355-7}} p. xxi</ref>