The Quest for Mary Magdalene

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: The Quest for Mary Magdalene - History. & Legend by Michael Haag

Extract:  “A woman who needed to earn an income could extend her domestic activities into the marketplace where she could sell clothing, farm produce and bread (the bakers were men)or she could be an innkeeper, letting out rooms in her house. Hairdressers, midwives, and professional mourners were traditional occupations for women. But a woman’s earnings were for the benefit of her family. She was not free to dispose of her money herself.

“In Judaism, women were legally the property of men. Before marriage girls were the property of their fathers, after marriage a woman became the property of her husband. Widows were placed placed under the authority of their fathers, sons, uncles, or brothers in law. A woman achieved a measure of social standing by becoming the mother of a son, but if she were childless for 10 years, her husband was obliged to divorce her. Men could initiate divorce at will, women were bound to remain married and faithful. Women were not permitted to receive an education. Such religious instruction as they received at home was given by men. Women were not free to become followers of a teacher or rabbi and they certainly could not travel with one. They did not count among the necessary quorum of Jews required for worship – only men mattered. A woman’s testimony was not accepted as evidence in a court of law.

 “Generally Jewish women were almost entirely dependent on men economically. They did not own property except in the rare case of inheriting land from a father who had no sons, and even then they were required to remarry within the tribe so as not to reduce its land holdings.”

Though the above extract describes the life of a strict Jewess, there were many Greek and Roman influences, and some independent women could make choices in a far more free lifestyle.  

Taking material from the Bible, to the Gnostics, Cathars and Feminism, Mary Magdalen, as companion of Jesus, goddess, whore and icon, but mainly from Gospel and other reliable sources, rather than speculations and possibilities. 

I like this book very much. It is based on the Gospels, and any conjecture is clearly described. We know where we stand, and it is well researched and well written. I found many passages insightful, moving and inspirational. There were lots of material that is fresh and new and written with conviction. 

My problem with the Magdalene's story is that it has been re-written so many times, all with new twists and new, often desirable elements. For every book, a new way of seeing the Magdalene takes place. We need evidence for each story, or fiction will take the place of fact, and we will be entirely lost to the truth. Of course, we have no idea how old the Magdalene was, or whether she was a relative of the big family that Jesus had, and all families had at that time. 

All you want to know, and has been known about MM from earliest to most recent times.

Review by Wendy Stokes https://wendystokes.co.uk