For centuries, Mary Magdalene was portrayed by the Catholic Church as a former prostitute.
A recent novel, “The Da Vinci Code,” portrays Mary married to Jesus and giving birth to his child. And there’s been a burst of scholarly books trying to determine the true identity Mary Magdalene. Harvard Divinity School professor Karen King analyzes “The Gospel of Mary,” a 2nd Century text that never made it into the New Testament canon. No hint of being a fallen woman, here Mary Magdalene is a forceful preacher, competing with male disciples for leadership in the early church.
Why is there so much interest in Mary Magdalene these days? Is it simply the result of a best-selling thriller? Or does Mary Magdalene raise basic questions about the way women are perceived in church and society?
Guests:
Karen King, Professor of Ecclesiastical History, Harvard University Divinity School, author, “The Gospel of Mary of Magdala”
Lesa Bellevie, creator and webmaster of magdalene.org.