Mary Magdalene - What is the Truth?

[Requiem]

I was motivated by a Washington Post article to read Charlotte Allen's book, "The Human Christ: The Search for the Historical Jesus." Although I am not finished reading the book, I am very interested in the opinion of the resident CG experts on the topic of Mary Magdalene. Specifically, what does history actually tell us about her?

Although the book is decidely written from a Catholic perspective, Allen adeptly avoids the sensational approach of Dan Brown. She points out the fact there are no biblical references to MM being a prostitute. MM was named by Mark (15:40-41), and Matthew (27:55-56) as one of the women from Galilee. Luke (8:2) relates the story of seven devils (popularly interpreted as mental illness) being cast from her. She was present at the Crucifixion - although from a distance. What symbolism should we attach to the fact she was the first witness to the Resurrection? Absent that event would MM have remained a footnote to history? John (20:16) eloquently relates how the weeping Magdalene mistakes Him for the gardener. "Jesus saith unto her, 'Mary.' She turned herself and saith unto Him, 'Rabboni,' which is to say, Master." Yet after MM told the disciples what she had seen, there is no further scriptural mention of her.

In 591 Pope Gregory declared that Magdalene, Mary of Bethany and the sinner were one and the same. With that statement he conveniently applied the label of prostitute to MM. The rest is history - or fiction depending on your point of view.

So then, what are your opinions? Are there any official Church positions on the theory that MM and Jesus were married?

[SeattleUte]

If there is a shred of evidence other than the NT (such as it is) a person such as MM even existed I'd be surprised.

[Archaea]

As you might imagine, we take no position on this issue. The evidence is too sparse to give an opinion about something which may be disproved in the future.

[All-American]

I know of a few leaders of the church who, off the record, believed that Mary Magdalene was the wife of Jesus. There's one or two who are on the record as believing it. But there's just nothing to confirm it.

[MikeWaters]

There is no particular reason to think that Jesus had only one wife, is there?

[Black Diamond Bay]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

There is no particular reason to think that Jesus had only one wife, is there?

Not that I'm aware of. Was polygamy practiced back then?

Be careful who you say that around. I've offended/disturbed more than one member with the idea that we do not all share the same heavenly mother. Apparently that's a problem for some people.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by Black Diamond Bay

Not that I'm aware of. Was polygamy practiced back then?

Be careful who you say that around. I've offended/disturbed more than one member with the idea that we do not all share the same heavenly mother. Apparently that's a problem for some people.

LOL. You're quite the character when it comes to these sorts of things.

[nikuman]

Originally Posted by Black Diamond Bay

Be careful who you say that around. I've offended/disturbed more than one member with the idea that we do not all share the same heavenly mother. Apparently that's a problem for some people.

Maybe I'm just dense, but this thought has never occurred to me. Not a problem for me, just a "huh, I'm an idiot to have not thought of that" sort of moment.

[Black Diamond Bay]

Originally Posted by nikuman

Maybe I'm just dense, but this thought has never occurred to me. Not a problem for me, just a "huh, I'm an idiot to have not thought of that" sort of moment.

This is the products of hours of speculating about things that don't really matter. The other thing I wonder about is whether perhaps people here are different races, because the heavenly mothers are of different races.

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

There is no particular reason to think that Jesus had only one wife, is there?

There is no particular reason to know for sure anything about Jesus from an evidentiary standpoint. That being said, one of Christianity's great contributions was to eradicate polygamy among the peoples and lands in its domain, but that happened long after Jesus' purported death and over time. By late antiquity Christianity had established a firm stance in opposition to polygamy but it tolerated the practice for a long time among its barbarous overlords. In the West polygamy has primarily thrived in more backward societies.