Question: Have Libbie or any of the scholars taken a stab at dating the editorial redaction? I ask, because recall that in 325 ce Constantine declared Christianity to be the religion of the State. Immediately it became a public and political entity, as opposed to a domestic gathering. In the culture, public and politics was the purview of men, explicitly not women. (Cf. Karen Jo Torjesen's When Women Were Priests.) Is it possible that the redaction occurred at the time all women were being excluded from leadership in the Church because of this public v. domestic segregation?
Wow! If only this sermon and the research within had been available to the Women's Ordination Committee at Spiritus Christi 20 some years ago when we were attempting to study the role of women in the early church with the goal of finding a way to ordain Mary Ramerman! I've shared it today with as many as I could think of on that committee and others who were instrumental in that ordination. Thank you, Diana!
I am not a theologian or a master's student of the Bible, nor do I know other languages. I'm ordinary, 64, have been a believer since I was a child, am a God fan, who tries to grow and stay faithful. If all Libbie's new discoveries are true, and I am not doubting them, really, they are just on a much higher thought level than I'm on, how many more new discoveries are out there? What do new discoveries like this do to what I have always thought was my "firm foundation?" Can the Bible be counted on if the next new discovery is right around the corner?
This is a beautiful testimony of inspired & inspiring scholarship! Kudos to Libbie and thank you for sharing it. 18 months ago I took Cynthia Bourgeault’s CAC course on Mary Magdalene, which introduced Mary the Tower. Your last word all in caps here sums up the life-changing learning I got: IMAGINE. I had a fabulous TA named Cassie who encouraged me to try Ignatian imaginative prayer, explicitly with the Luke story of Mary & Martha, an experience that will forever change how I read (& pray) the Bible. I never got carried away with the 20th c pop lit on MM, but this new line of study is something else. I’ve begun searching for icons of MM. It is wonderful to read this, an historic turning point! and I look forward to more.
This is a fascinating article that could profoundly reshape our thinking, not only about ‘Mary the Tower’ but of the editorial changes which ‘split one woman’ (Mary) into two (Mary & Martha) and the dualism which has so profoundly shaped our thinking and practice (ie. ‘Doing’ and ‘Being’) and the endless conflict of which is the ‘better’ path 🤔
This is simply astonishing. Thank you so much, and please thank your friend, for her amazing work. It truly boggles the mind to think how things might have been different. It also validates so much of the work of the 20th century that finally got women into leadership in most of the protestant church. I am one of those. I went to seminary in my early 40s took my first full-time position in my early 50s and now in my retirement — actually second retirement! I stepped back in voluntarily for a few years — I’m doing a bit of spiritual direction. This after having been raised in an extraordinarily conservative, fundamentalist Methodist Church in downtown Los Angeles, but blessed with parents who were open to questioning and read widely. That paid position I took? It was here in Santa Barbara, very soon after your sad departure. I have regretted not knowing you for 25 years!
For many, especially Roman Catholics, the most common misinformation about Mary matgdalene is conflating her with the prostitute who bathed Jesus' feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. The Church has allowed that conflation to exist to counter the Gospel of Mary Magdalene. Elaine Pagels' book on the Gospel of Mary Magdalene is very enlightening on why this Gospel was deemed heretical by the early Church.
Thank you. I am no theologian, but I know the joy of research and scholarship. I am so happy for you and for what your discovery means for Christianity.
I love this biblical research. Can you clarify for me? In the original of John 11, are there two Mary's? One Mary is the sister of a man named Lazarus. The other Mary is likely Mary Magdalene, "at the village of Mary," that village, Bethany, you know, where MM lived. So is Mary Magdalene the sister of Lazarus, or is it the other Mary named? Either way, this research suggests that it is Mary Magdalene who utters the Christological confession in John 11 and who anoints Jesus's feet in John 12. Have I got it right? Thanks.
Wow just wow. I’ve always wondered why one text says one thing and another says something else. Thank you for sharing this amazing and important information. We know that when man translate the Bible, things get changed and moved around. That is why it’s important to research and dig deeper than just going by what someone says or what we read although it’s in the Bible. How many more hidden gems are there. It just makes you think. Thank you again for sharing.
Mary the Tower
Blessed be God
Praise be Mary the Tower...
Glory be to knowing the truth!!
Question: Have Libbie or any of the scholars taken a stab at dating the editorial redaction? I ask, because recall that in 325 ce Constantine declared Christianity to be the religion of the State. Immediately it became a public and political entity, as opposed to a domestic gathering. In the culture, public and politics was the purview of men, explicitly not women. (Cf. Karen Jo Torjesen's When Women Were Priests.) Is it possible that the redaction occurred at the time all women were being excluded from leadership in the Church because of this public v. domestic segregation?
Wow! If only this sermon and the research within had been available to the Women's Ordination Committee at Spiritus Christi 20 some years ago when we were attempting to study the role of women in the early church with the goal of finding a way to ordain Mary Ramerman! I've shared it today with as many as I could think of on that committee and others who were instrumental in that ordination. Thank you, Diana!
I am not a theologian or a master's student of the Bible, nor do I know other languages. I'm ordinary, 64, have been a believer since I was a child, am a God fan, who tries to grow and stay faithful. If all Libbie's new discoveries are true, and I am not doubting them, really, they are just on a much higher thought level than I'm on, how many more new discoveries are out there? What do new discoveries like this do to what I have always thought was my "firm foundation?" Can the Bible be counted on if the next new discovery is right around the corner?
This is a beautiful testimony of inspired & inspiring scholarship! Kudos to Libbie and thank you for sharing it. 18 months ago I took Cynthia Bourgeault’s CAC course on Mary Magdalene, which introduced Mary the Tower. Your last word all in caps here sums up the life-changing learning I got: IMAGINE. I had a fabulous TA named Cassie who encouraged me to try Ignatian imaginative prayer, explicitly with the Luke story of Mary & Martha, an experience that will forever change how I read (& pray) the Bible. I never got carried away with the 20th c pop lit on MM, but this new line of study is something else. I’ve begun searching for icons of MM. It is wonderful to read this, an historic turning point! and I look forward to more.
Marvelous research by Libbie; thanks so much for sharing.
This is a fascinating article that could profoundly reshape our thinking, not only about ‘Mary the Tower’ but of the editorial changes which ‘split one woman’ (Mary) into two (Mary & Martha) and the dualism which has so profoundly shaped our thinking and practice (ie. ‘Doing’ and ‘Being’) and the endless conflict of which is the ‘better’ path 🤔
I am in tears. Thank you.
This is simply astonishing. Thank you so much, and please thank your friend, for her amazing work. It truly boggles the mind to think how things might have been different. It also validates so much of the work of the 20th century that finally got women into leadership in most of the protestant church. I am one of those. I went to seminary in my early 40s took my first full-time position in my early 50s and now in my retirement — actually second retirement! I stepped back in voluntarily for a few years — I’m doing a bit of spiritual direction. This after having been raised in an extraordinarily conservative, fundamentalist Methodist Church in downtown Los Angeles, but blessed with parents who were open to questioning and read widely. That paid position I took? It was here in Santa Barbara, very soon after your sad departure. I have regretted not knowing you for 25 years!
DUDE.
For many, especially Roman Catholics, the most common misinformation about Mary matgdalene is conflating her with the prostitute who bathed Jesus' feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. The Church has allowed that conflation to exist to counter the Gospel of Mary Magdalene. Elaine Pagels' book on the Gospel of Mary Magdalene is very enlightening on why this Gospel was deemed heretical by the early Church.
I know every word to be true! A beautiful compliment to Cynthia Bourgeault’s work! Thank you and Libbie 🙏🏽
Thank you. I am no theologian, but I know the joy of research and scholarship. I am so happy for you and for what your discovery means for Christianity.
I love this biblical research. Can you clarify for me? In the original of John 11, are there two Mary's? One Mary is the sister of a man named Lazarus. The other Mary is likely Mary Magdalene, "at the village of Mary," that village, Bethany, you know, where MM lived. So is Mary Magdalene the sister of Lazarus, or is it the other Mary named? Either way, this research suggests that it is Mary Magdalene who utters the Christological confession in John 11 and who anoints Jesus's feet in John 12. Have I got it right? Thanks.
Damn, DBB. This was fire!
Wow just wow. I’ve always wondered why one text says one thing and another says something else. Thank you for sharing this amazing and important information. We know that when man translate the Bible, things get changed and moved around. That is why it’s important to research and dig deeper than just going by what someone says or what we read although it’s in the Bible. How many more hidden gems are there. It just makes you think. Thank you again for sharing.