The Cathar Mary Magdalene and the Sacred Feminine: Pop Culture Legend vs. Medieval Doctrine

Beavis, Mary Ann

doi:10.3138/jrpc.24.3.419

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Margaret Starbird1

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2012

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“…9.5; see Tabor, 2007; Bauckham, 2004). The only evidence of a French tradition of a married Jesus appears in three anti-heretical tracts, one of which claims that the Cathars distinguished between a good, spiritual Christ and an evil, corporeal Christ whose concubine was Mary Magdalene, the woman taken in adultery; a doctrine also attributed to the Manicheans (see Beavis, 2012). Another pillar of Starbird’s case – that the Gospels contain numerological hints that point to the sacred marriage – is beyond my competence to judge.…”

Section: Margaret Starbirdmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Deification of Mary Magdalene

Beavis¹

2012

Feminist Theology

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The past 25 years have seen an upsurge of interest in the figure of Mary Magdalene, whose image has been transformed through feminist scholarship from penitent prostitute to prominent disciple of Jesus. This article documents another, non-academic, interpretation of Mary Magdalene – the image of Mary as goddess or embodiment of the female divine. The most influential proponent of this view is Margaret Starbird, who hypothesizes that Mary was both Jesus’ wife and his divine feminine counterpart. The author suggests that feminist theologians/thealogians should (a) be aware of this popular understanding of Mary; and (b) consider what it is about Mary Magdalene as the sacred feminine/Bride of Jesus/Sophia that captures the public imagination in a way that other feminist christologies do not.

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Section: Margaret Starbirdmentioning

confidence: 99%