Mary Magdalene Cover-Up

This is another pretty good book on Mary Magdalene (although I don't like the cover very much.) The book takes a topic, usually quotes from various sources and then has an explanation of how that all ties in to the topic. Some of the main points of the book include:

The idea of Mary Magdalene being a sinner and a prostitute is based on legends and on an order by Pope Gregory the Great.

As far as actual straight facts about Mary there is very, very little known. There just aren't any objective writings from that time. What there is is either from the Bible itself (which had a purpose in portraying Mary Magdalene as a prostitute, etc.) or from various Gnostic writings.

There is no historical proof of Mary and Jesus being married.

Even the material about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus was written at least two decades after the event so again it's accuracy can be questioned.

The male disciples had a tendency to disappear when things got rough. One even betrayed Jesus.

From the Gnostic materials and from interpreting what is written in the Bible it seems obvious that the male disciples, particularly Peter, had a major problem with Mary, a woman, being with their group, being like by Jesus and seeming to have a better grasp on Jesus' teachings then they did.

There is no doubt that Mary was, at the very least, a devoted follower of Jesus and may very well have bankrolled his journeys.

No one knows who wrote the Gospel of Mary. A fair bit of that is also missing.

Several of the Gnostic writings suggest that Mary had her own disciples.

The way Peter defines discipleship makes sure that women are excluded.

Around the fourth century the role of women in the church began to be very strictly controlled, giving them less and less of any say in anything at all.

'I permit no woman to teach.' Peter.

',,,the man is the head of the woman.' Peter again.

The book also has a bibliography. This is an academic-type book and very well done.


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