Obsession with Mary Magdalene?
posted April 13th, 2007 at 9:31 am by Betty
I am interested in your thoughts. The recent film on Mary Magdalene on the history channel (see Something About Mary Magdalene )mentioned an “obsession with Mary Magdalene.”
I wouldn’t call it an obsession but rather a “mystique” – a fascination and veneration for someone whose character has been harmed. I think it’s fair to say that this mystique has taken hold of some of us who want to right a wrong. A wrong done to a saint, and to women in general. And it’s a fork in the road – a turning point - that is changing our thinking in powerful ways.
mary magdalene 
women in the church
misogyny
feminism
religion
christianity
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April 13th, 2007 at 11:05 am
Betty,
I did see the program, too, and I wouldn’t call the fascination with Mary Magdalene an obsession either. Obsession implies an unhealthy relationship. “Mystique” is a much better word…as is veneration. I’ve come to revere Mary Magdalene for many reasons, not the least of which is the new scholarship surrounding old writings which show Her as a leader in the early christian movement…perhaps even as Jesus chosen successor.
As I’ve expressed before, until the wrongs done to the feminine aspect of the divine and to women spiritual leaders are righted, we as humans are not going to be able to move forward and achieve peaceful co-existence with all peoples. I see great hope in this fascination with Mary Magdalene.
Bridgitt
April 13th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
“Obsession” may be a word that doesn’t describe how this community thinks or feels of documentaries, books and discussion of Mary Magdalene, I think most American Christians are not prepared to accept the possibility that Mary was much much more than previously believed. I come from a fundamentalist Baptist up bringing. I assure you that very view if any of my relatives would believe or even discuss what we consider fact of Mary Magdalene’s history. My Grandfather was a Baptist preacher as are 2 uncles and a cousin. It is simply accepted that the bible as written is word for word, the word of God. Any attempt to add or subtract would be blasphemy.
According to a survey by the Gallup Poll, 28 percent of Americans believe that the Bible is literally true, compared with 38 percent 30 years ago. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/02/AR2006060201224.html That may be progress but I do believe there is a way to go before the mainstream (whatever that is) would consider Magdalene as Mystique instead of an obsession. The same polls found “Literal belief in the Bible was highest among older Americans (36 percent), those with the lowest levels of education (39 percent), Southerners (39 percent), Republicans (33 percent) and Protestants and other non-Catholic Christians (37 percent).”
I also think that with the largest growth in major Christian Denominations over the past 10 years as Assembly of God - 68%, Churches of Christ 47%, Pentecostal 38% illustrates to me a growing more fundamentalist approach in America. Source http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html
I don’t want to be such a negative naysayer because I do know that we (those that love and believe the Mary Magdalene Mystique) are making great strides in opening up peoples eyes and minds. As the old adage goes “you have to crawl before you can walk and walk before you can run.” We are walking.
April 14th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Tom,
I, too, was brought up Southern Baptist, and my parents and siblings won’t discuss Mary Magdalene as other than what we were traditionally taught. When I even mentioned The Da Vinci Code to my mom as one of my favorite books, she nearly had apoplexy! One of my brothers is a converted Catholic and the other is a converted Church of Christ. Neither of them think much of the Magdalene phenomenon either. Who knows what my goofy sister thinks or believes! So, I quietly live my life, honoring the Mystique. And, as you say, walk. However, my youngest daughter is raising my youngest grandson with an open mind and heart, particularly in spiritual matters. So, there is hope after all.
Bridgitt