The meaning of Mary Magdalene Discovering the woman at the heart of Christianity
Book - 2010
Mary Magdalene is one of the most influential symbols in the history of Christianity-yet, if you look in the Bible, you{u2019}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.
- Subjects
- Published
-
Boston :
Shambhala
2010.
- Language
- English
- Main Author
- Edition
- First edition
- Physical Description
- xii, 289 pages ; 22 cm
- Bibliography
- Includes bibliographical references and index.
- ISBN
- 9781590304952
- Preface
- Part 1. Mary Magdalene as Apostle
- 1. Mary Magdalene in the Canonical Gospels
- 2. The Woman with the Alabaster Jar
- 3. The "Gnostic" Gospels
- 4. The Gospel of Mary Magdalene
- 5. Dying and Rising
- 6. Winners and Losers
- Part 2. Mary Magdalene as Beloved
- 7. Reclaiming the Path of Romantic Love
- 8. The Great Identity Theft
- 9. The Path of Conscious Love
- 10. The Bridal Chamber
- 11. Jesus and Mary Magdalene in the Bridal Chamber
- 12. Substituted Love
- Part 3. Mary Magdalene as Unitive Wisdom
- 13. First Apostle
- 14. The Alchemical Feminine
- 15. Anointing and Anointed
- 16. Why France?
- 17. The Wisdom Mary Magdalene
- Appendix 1. Mary Magdalene and the Song of Songs
- Appendix 2. The Anointing according to John
- Appendix 3. The Passion of Mary Magdalene
- Notes
- Index