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The Meaning of Mary Magdalene
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Mary Magdalene is one of the most influential symbols in the history of Christianity—yet, if you look in the Bible, you’ll find only a handful of verses that speak of her. How did she become such a compelling saint in the face of such paltry evidence? In her effort to answer that question, Cynthia Bourgeault examines the Bible, church tradition, art, legend, and newly discovered texts to see what’s there. She then applies her own reasoning and intuition, informed by the wisdom of the ages-old Christian contemplative tradition. What emerges is a radical view of Mary Magdalene as Jesus’s most important disciple, the one he considered to understand his teaching best. That teaching was characterized by a nondualistic approach to the world and by a deep understanding of the value of the feminine. Cynthia shows how an understanding of Mary Magdalene can revitalize contemporary Christianity, how Christians and others can, through her, find their way to Jesus’s original teachings and apply them to their modern lives.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
From a pastoral perspective this book could cause problems for many readers, for it may create doubt and confusion, and their resolution may involve considerable prayer, study and reflection.
I came to it after reading the author's earlier work, and that was helpful.
So I recommend reading her books The Mystic Hope and The Wisdom Jesus, in particular, before you read this work.
And if the reader has profited from Love is Stronger than Death, then s/he will also benefit from this work.
Cynthia's central thesis is obvious from the title. What has happened to the Marys of the gospel accounts?
Mary Magdalene has been deleted from Church history and to the extent she is remembered, her memory and reputation has been blackened by male celibate church leaders who happily espoused and endorsed a tradition that Mary had been a harlot.
The author points out that Mary was the first witness to the resurrection.
My late father used to say that " reverent agnosticism is to be preferred to irreverent speculation", and some would say that Bourgeault indulges in extreme speculation, calling upon intuition as a major source of truth and support for her readings of both text and tradition.
I have no doubt that some would reject her insights as yet another brand of radical feminism. But her critique of the winners in church history is cogent, her comments about holiness/purity through kenotic mysticism rather than ascent (and therefore celibate) mysticism is persuasive. She elevates eros, human love to its rightful place as both sacred vehicle and soulmate (and thence Godmate- my terminology) formation.
I doubt any fundamentalist should read this book as it might bring on an apoplectic fit. What many hungry readers will find of help is Cynthia's deconstruction of many aspects of church institutions and practice that have hurt them and become major stumbling blocks.
On the other hand she strays far outside orthodoxy as to the Canon, and can be accused of undervaluing Atonement theology. Some may dismiss her as just another feminist, which would be a travesty.
Her take upon the loss of the Inner Path in Western Christianity is concise and finds much support elsewhere.The reader may disagree with Cynthia's conclusions but the safari is worthwhile. As some wisdom masters would say, the journey may be the destination.
Her writing style is very clear, only occasionally academic, but above all very human. It feels as if she has opened her heart to us, and it is a very large heart!
She emphasises love and connection, champions inclusion, and proposes some new rituals, and her Endnotes disclose her sources and thus open up a new realm of previously unknown esoteric authors for further reading. There is also a very helpful index.
I came to it after reading the author's earlier work, and that was helpful.
So I recommend reading her books The Mystic Hope and The Wisdom Jesus, in particular, before you read this work.
And if the reader has profited from Love is Stronger than Death, then s/he will also benefit from this work.
Cynthia's central thesis is obvious from the title. What has happened to the Marys of the gospel accounts?
Mary Magdalene has been deleted from Church history and to the extent she is remembered, her memory and reputation has been blackened by male celibate church leaders who happily espoused and endorsed a tradition that Mary had been a harlot.
The author points out that Mary was the first witness to the resurrection.
My late father used to say that " reverent agnosticism is to be preferred to irreverent speculation", and some would say that Bourgeault indulges in extreme speculation, calling upon intuition as a major source of truth and support for her readings of both text and tradition.
I have no doubt that some would reject her insights as yet another brand of radical feminism. But her critique of the winners in church history is cogent, her comments about holiness/purity through kenotic mysticism rather than ascent (and therefore celibate) mysticism is persuasive. She elevates eros, human love to its rightful place as both sacred vehicle and soulmate (and thence Godmate- my terminology) formation.
I doubt any fundamentalist should read this book as it might bring on an apoplectic fit. What many hungry readers will find of help is Cynthia's deconstruction of many aspects of church institutions and practice that have hurt them and become major stumbling blocks.
On the other hand she strays far outside orthodoxy as to the Canon, and can be accused of undervaluing Atonement theology. Some may dismiss her as just another feminist, which would be a travesty.
Her take upon the loss of the Inner Path in Western Christianity is concise and finds much support elsewhere.The reader may disagree with Cynthia's conclusions but the safari is worthwhile. As some wisdom masters would say, the journey may be the destination.
Her writing style is very clear, only occasionally academic, but above all very human. It feels as if she has opened her heart to us, and it is a very large heart!
She emphasises love and connection, champions inclusion, and proposes some new rituals, and her Endnotes disclose her sources and thus open up a new realm of previously unknown esoteric authors for further reading. There is also a very helpful index.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a great scholarly work that will turn many people's ideas of the very essence of the Christian teaching upside down. Conscious Love as expressed and lived by Jesus and Mary Magdalene appears at the very core of the teaching. The book is an impressive scholarly work based on an in-depth study of the Gospels of Mary Magdalene, Philip and Thomas, as well as the four canonical gospels.
It is also obvious that the Christian teaching is a teaching of unitive consciousness, essentially no different from the teaching of Nonduality/Oneness/Advaita. In that context, I also warmly recommend another work by the same author, "The Wisdom Jesus" The Wisdom Jesus: Transforming Heart and Mind - a New Perspective on Christ and His Message
It is also obvious that the Christian teaching is a teaching of unitive consciousness, essentially no different from the teaching of Nonduality/Oneness/Advaita. In that context, I also warmly recommend another work by the same author, "The Wisdom Jesus" The Wisdom Jesus: Transforming Heart and Mind - a New Perspective on Christ and His Message
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Very well written and easy to follow. The author keeps the interest going about a fascinating character who understood Jesus more than any of the disciples but who was not recognised in her lifetime in this capacity. A revelation for our times I think.
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