Most Protestants don't recognize dead believers as "saints", no. The word "saint" in scripture, is believed to refer to ALL believers, not just a select few.

We also believe that Christ is the intercessor and that no other is needed (I could give you chapter and verse for both of these beliefs, but you must understand that my readily available reference material is limited when I'm online), so we do not pray to saints on our behalf.

Many protestants, however, do tend to acknowledge the lives of past believers, and sometimes those believers happen to be Catholic saints. I, for instance, am a great admirer of St. Francis of Assissi (which should surprise absolutely NOONE who knows me).

Excellent question. Perhaps someone with the resources at the ready can give you a better answer.

I think you did a very good job of it yourself.  So if I am understanding you correctly, the concept of a Saint as the Catholic Church believes it, is not held by Protestants.  Since there are a lot more people in heaven than those just called saints.

I am not sure we are supposed to pray TO them, but ask for their intercession on out behalf.  Thus the concept of patron Saints of everything.  At least I dont pray to Saints, but I never really asked that question of my religion either.

And in a way, we can ask for the intercession of any person who is in heaven.  So in that respect, all who die without sin (the classic definition) are saints.  And that would jive with what you are saying.

Now you are reading to much into it!  I would have said, Manopeace, but I did not ask your permission first.  If you are ok with it, I will acknowledge you as the inspiration (It was a busy day at work!  Unlike others, that is why I can multi-task to a degree!  But not much when fighting 5 server failures!).

I knew (bad choice of words, but not sure how better to put it) that Jews did not have saints due to the waiting for The Messiah.  Tzadikm (that is a mouthful!) sounds very similar.  As I am gentile, I still hope and pray for your messiah to come and lead all of you to Heaven.  We dont have a different god, we have the same God.  We just have different messiahs.

IN the former we will always be brothers, in the latter, we will always be brothers.  One religion, with just a difference in nuance, not taste.

Shalom, Manopeace!  You are a Tzadikm, or to me, a Soon to be Saint! (we can do that, we dont need permission, just demonstrations of a godly life!)

no, as I said, it takes a very long time! And thank you for the language lesson!

I wont rush anything, I will pass it along to my children should you outlive me!

You may not make me a liberal, but you have restored my faith in humankind. Regardless of polical persuasion!

AHA!  With a T.  I never knew how to spell that.  But then as most have noticed, I dont know how to spell much anyway!

Oh, ok.  Kind of surprising as I have seen other langauges on the site.  Maybe that is something for Brad to look into once he gets the Speed issue settled.