RT Article
T1 The Deification of Mary Magdalene
JF Feminist theology
VO 21
IS 2
SP 145
OP 154
A1 Beavis, Mary Ann 1955-
LA English
PB Sage
YR 2013
UL https://www.ixtheo.de/Record/1776895657
AB 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.
K1 Thealogy
K1 Starbird
K1 Mary Magdalene
K1 Goddess
K1 Christianity
DO 10.1177/0966735012462840