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Q.
Was Mary Magdalene a prostitute?
- Liz Curtis Higgs, Unveiling Mary Magdalene: Discover the Truth about a Not-
So-Bad Girl of the Bible (WaterBrook, 2004). - Karen King, The Gospel of Mary Magdala (Polebridge, 2003).
- “Scholars seek to correct Christian tradition, fi ction of Mary Magdalene”:
http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=19680. - Amy Welborn, De-Coding Mary Magdalene: Truth, Legend, and Lies (Our
Sunday Visitor, 2006).
Suggested Questions for Further Discussion/Thought
- Why have artists been so fascinated with Mary Magdalene as
an ex-prostitute? What does it say about our culture that this
mischaracterization—that of the repentant sexual sinner—makes her so
fascinating? - Can you remember some Bible stories from childhood? Were they
embellished by curriculum or feltboard stories in Sunday school or
Vacation Bible School? - The Da Vinci Code and other books, movies, and Web sites have prompted
a great deal of interest in Mary Magdalene. How have such theories
affected your faith or your perspective on Jesus’ humanity? - Can you see any parallels between the portrayals of Mary Magdalene in
contemporary society, particularly in the church, and the way that female
leaders are portrayed?