debbiecuddy's review against another edition
4.0
I read this in anticipation of an online class I will be taking on Mary Magdalene taught by the author of this book. Based on this book, it should be a very interesting class.
adrienneturner's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
Not going to give this one a star rating as I feel I really wasn't the target audience. Much of it went over my head, but I found it interesting.
olga_naden's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully written and thoughtfully researched. No sensationalism. Reclaiming the real story that if known to all would change our society forever.
iseultofireland's review against another edition
medium-paced
5.0
While I don't necessarily agree with all the author's arguments, this is a very well-written, well-researched, and interesting book that made me consider my faith in new ways.
stubborn_girl's review against another edition
5.0
I have to give this book an A because despite its annoying drive at truths I do not hold, it was very well written and provided a lot of tangents to explore. I bought some of the books she referenced in order to continue my study.
I took her course on Mary Magdalene through the center for action and contemplation which is where I learned about this book.
It is the second book I have read by her, centering prayer being the first.
I differ with a lot of what she has said, including ordination of women to the priesthood. It’s not in line to with what I know to be true, and neither is Jesus and Mary having a special relationship .
I am in the Eastern Church and she seems to be writing for a Western audience where the priesthood is celibate . In the Eastern Church marriage is an equal path to salvation . Jesus Christ doesn’t have to have a special relationship with Mary Magdalene to make it so.
Perhaps my opinion may change after reading more on the subject, perhaps not. I do appreciate the hard work Rev. Cynthia put into this book.
I took her course on Mary Magdalene through the center for action and contemplation which is where I learned about this book.
It is the second book I have read by her, centering prayer being the first.
I differ with a lot of what she has said, including ordination of women to the priesthood. It’s not in line to with what I know to be true, and neither is Jesus and Mary having a special relationship .
I am in the Eastern Church and she seems to be writing for a Western audience where the priesthood is celibate . In the Eastern Church marriage is an equal path to salvation . Jesus Christ doesn’t have to have a special relationship with Mary Magdalene to make it so.
Perhaps my opinion may change after reading more on the subject, perhaps not. I do appreciate the hard work Rev. Cynthia put into this book.
lory_enterenchanted's review against another edition
Reviews and more on my blog: Entering the Enchanted Castle
A better understanding and appreciation of the figure of Mary Magdalene can "help us quit being afraid of human intimacy and start learning how to handle it better," claims Cynthia Bourgeault -- and what is more needed in the world today, both secular and religious? Her challenging, some would say heretical thesis is that Mary Magdalene has been denied her true role in the Christian story, as not only an intimate disciple and apostle, but the human beloved of Jesus. Bourgeault's treatment of this hot topic is subtle, thoroughly researched and argued, leading to a complex understanding of the principle of kenosis, or sacrificial, self-giving love, which can exist equally in celibate and non-celibate forms, neither of which is superior to the other -- but which is absolutely necessary to our continued human evolution, and central to the teaching and life of Jesus Christ.
Bourgeault is far from the simple-mindedness and ignorance of Da Vinci Code-style hype, which has only served to obscure and delegitimize an important area for modern spiritual questing. I'm not sure I agree with every one of her claims, but I do think she is on to something here. I certainly agree that we need a new frame of reference to permit "a genuine reconciliation of Christianity with human sexuality [that will] free both celibacy and conjugal love to be the transformative pathways that they truly are." If this is not found, I can hardly see any way forward for Christianity, whose death knell has long been rung by our sex-obsessed secular society; but with these new perspectives, some unforeseen possibilities start to open up. Exciting.
One caveat -- I am not sure enough caution is advised in regard to mixing sexual and spiritual transformation. Both are areas where human beings are extremely vulnerable to unscrupulous and unprincipled influences. Maybe traditional religious celibacy originates not so much from a fear of sexuality per se, but a fear of the damage that can be done to people through invading their vulnerable places -- and that has to be taken seriously.
The writer Charles Williams, for example, whom Bourgeault cites as a model philospher of substitutional love, engaged in highly questionable behavior with young women who fell under his spiritual spell, having emotional (if not physical) affairs with them in which he released sexual energy through sadomasochistic behaviors like spanking. He was described in a recent biography as having an unhappy and unfulfilled life, not at all a good advertisement for the form of "love" that he practiced.
That said, I still think this is an important topic that needs to be opened up for investigation. But for all her research, perhaps Bourgeault still has some blind spots.
A better understanding and appreciation of the figure of Mary Magdalene can "help us quit being afraid of human intimacy and start learning how to handle it better," claims Cynthia Bourgeault -- and what is more needed in the world today, both secular and religious? Her challenging, some would say heretical thesis is that Mary Magdalene has been denied her true role in the Christian story, as not only an intimate disciple and apostle, but the human beloved of Jesus. Bourgeault's treatment of this hot topic is subtle, thoroughly researched and argued, leading to a complex understanding of the principle of kenosis, or sacrificial, self-giving love, which can exist equally in celibate and non-celibate forms, neither of which is superior to the other -- but which is absolutely necessary to our continued human evolution, and central to the teaching and life of Jesus Christ.
Bourgeault is far from the simple-mindedness and ignorance of Da Vinci Code-style hype, which has only served to obscure and delegitimize an important area for modern spiritual questing. I'm not sure I agree with every one of her claims, but I do think she is on to something here. I certainly agree that we need a new frame of reference to permit "a genuine reconciliation of Christianity with human sexuality [that will] free both celibacy and conjugal love to be the transformative pathways that they truly are." If this is not found, I can hardly see any way forward for Christianity, whose death knell has long been rung by our sex-obsessed secular society; but with these new perspectives, some unforeseen possibilities start to open up. Exciting.
One caveat -- I am not sure enough caution is advised in regard to mixing sexual and spiritual transformation. Both are areas where human beings are extremely vulnerable to unscrupulous and unprincipled influences. Maybe traditional religious celibacy originates not so much from a fear of sexuality per se, but a fear of the damage that can be done to people through invading their vulnerable places -- and that has to be taken seriously.
The writer Charles Williams, for example, whom Bourgeault cites as a model philospher of substitutional love, engaged in highly questionable behavior with young women who fell under his spiritual spell, having emotional (if not physical) affairs with them in which he released sexual energy through sadomasochistic behaviors like spanking. He was described in a recent biography as having an unhappy and unfulfilled life, not at all a good advertisement for the form of "love" that he practiced.
That said, I still think this is an important topic that needs to be opened up for investigation. But for all her research, perhaps Bourgeault still has some blind spots.
shhh_tamis_reading's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
4.25
Great background information as I learn more about Mary Magdalene. Well written. The author is transparent with her own biases and clear about where she is going. I will read more of her books.
barbaralunardi's review against another edition
5.0
Mark 14:9: Wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.
This book was extremely interesting. I took me a while to finish it, but it was so exciting and refreshing to read about her and finally having someone believing in everything you too believe about Mary Magdalene. <3 Thank you for this, Cynthia.
This book was extremely interesting. I took me a while to finish it, but it was so exciting and refreshing to read about her and finally having someone believing in everything you too believe about Mary Magdalene. <3 Thank you for this, Cynthia.
maddness22's review against another edition
5.0
This was damn near a spiritual experience for me. I wouldn't advise reading it as your first exposure to Mary Magdalene and her teachings, but the expansive explanations of how love needs to return to the central focus of Christianity in accordance to Mary Magdalene's own spiritual journey was very well done. It did a great job exploring both the Eastern and Western interpretations of love as a spiritual ascension. It also did very well analyzing the full relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene within any context possible while remaining true to the original Christian texts. Highly recommend if you're interested in feminist Christianity/Catholicism and already have a base knowledge of those teachings.
Oh also! Very excellent review and criticism of sexuality within the Church. I really appreciated that part as well.
Oh also! Very excellent review and criticism of sexuality within the Church. I really appreciated that part as well.