Thank you for this reflection Steph and helping me to review all these influences. You have reminded of the poignant JC Superstar song, “I don’t know how to love him” - listening to this as a teenager, I took it all at face value…..
Yes, partly. She was powerful in her own right - the [virgin] Mary's power comes from being the mother of Jesus, whereas Mary M chooses to follow him and fund his mission. That makes her independent and therefore powerful, and why I think she was a danger to the male-centred power of the Church.
I don't think she should be controversial - nothing in the Bible points to controversy - and those who try to claim her as some sort of sex-positive icon have got it as wrong as Pope Gregory, imo.
I guess by controversial I mean everyone has an opinion on what she was like and so I felt it was harder to write about her than a lesser known woman for the resurrection story in my book, even though Mary Magdalene is the first one recorded as seeing Jesus.
Mary Magdalene is so controversial I decided not to focus on her story in my book as I felt all the controversy could be a distraction. I don't believe she is the most powerful woman in the Gospels though. I believe that title belongs to Mary the mother of Jesus was. She birthed God!
Thank you for this reflection Steph and helping me to review all these influences. You have reminded of the poignant JC Superstar song, “I don’t know how to love him” - listening to this as a teenager, I took it all at face value…..
Yes, it's a great song all the same
Oh I see by power you may mean that she had money?
Yes, partly. She was powerful in her own right - the [virgin] Mary's power comes from being the mother of Jesus, whereas Mary M chooses to follow him and fund his mission. That makes her independent and therefore powerful, and why I think she was a danger to the male-centred power of the Church.
I don't think she should be controversial - nothing in the Bible points to controversy - and those who try to claim her as some sort of sex-positive icon have got it as wrong as Pope Gregory, imo.
I guess by controversial I mean everyone has an opinion on what she was like and so I felt it was harder to write about her than a lesser known woman for the resurrection story in my book, even though Mary Magdalene is the first one recorded as seeing Jesus.
Yes I totally understand that! I think it would be much more satisfying to focus on a lesser known person anyway.
Mary Magdalene is so controversial I decided not to focus on her story in my book as I felt all the controversy could be a distraction. I don't believe she is the most powerful woman in the Gospels though. I believe that title belongs to Mary the mother of Jesus was. She birthed God!