Not only do I not like books that portray Mary as Jesus' lover or wife, but ones that portray her as a prostitute also demean her. Mary Magdalene was NOT a prostitute nor does it imply that she was anywhere in the Bible. She was possessed of 7 demons which Christ cast out.

People should get their facts straight even when writing fiction. Artistic license is all well and good but this carries things too far

reading books is a great way of spending the train rides to and from work. With this book the rides were to short however. The story of Mary of Magdala, remembering her encounter and life with Jesus is refreshing and inspiring. The birth of Christianity and the life of Jesus is portrayed in a new way, through the eyes of a troubled woman and intermingled with her problems in society and her life. My view of Jesus was very much refreshed, and his teachings retaught in the view of a woman apostle. Highly recommended!

I read this book a few months ago; my mother sent it to me from Sweden, as she always does with Marianne Fredriksson's new books. This book gives a new perspective to Christianity; told by a heroine who loves and trusts no matter what. It also uncovers the dangers of relaying on words, rather than feellings. In reading Mary Magdalene it is easy to beleive that men of the church have hid the greater meaning in Jesus' teachings from us. In the book Jesus' words all make sence and yet fit badly with what we are tought from the bible. Marianne Fredriksson's books have a mystical and magical sence of revealing an alternative truth; she will never thrust it upon you, but will give you another (or several) new ways of viewing life and love. This is not her best book, but that does not say a lot!!! Try Simon's family and Hanna's daughters as well. If you read in Swedish you must read 'Den som vandrar om natten....'which is also set in biblical time and absolutely wonderful.

This is an unfortunate example of the sort of thing which academics produce and then force undergraduates to wade through. The author has found all the similar passages in Aquinas' many works and has collected them together in snippets varying from a paragraph to two to three pages in length. This results in great repetition, and the beauty of the sweeping logical development which is presumably present in the original, is lost.

A word of warning to anyone who would approach Aquinas: read your Aristotle first.

This book suffered from three weaknesses, the first of which may be idiosyncratic. 1. A "reader," I presumed, would be an introduction to Acquinas, one I could read without attending a class. Not so. This book assumed a lot of familiarity with Acquinas's terminology and intellectual heritage. 2. The book is organized by topics, with brief excerpts from Thomas's works yanked out of context to fit the editor's topic selection. A sequential selection from Thomas's principal writings would have better preserved the integrity of the works and allowed the reader better to follow Thomas's reasoning. 3. Finally, the editor needed an editor. Her writing is cumbersome. She seems to have forgotten how to write a simple declarative sentence.

I find Moses Maimonides no more approachable than Thomas Acquinas, but Isadore Twersky's "A Maimonides Reader" is far more approachable than Mary Clark's Acquinas reader.

I have just finished this book. I just took five minutes to tell the customers of Amazon that it is very interesting. It is well presented by Mary Clark with very interesting introductions to the five chapters. This presentation really makes St Thomas Aquinas very readable today. What the Saint focuses on is so important and so relevant to our understanding of our modern world and yet he wrote in the 13th century. When I read the book I tried to always think about how it applies to my life today. Don't be put off by reviews that sound a little bit over the top and too harsh.

If you want to read a book that deals with the facts of Mary of Magdalene's life and skip all the rumor and speculation presented as fact try "Mad Mary" by Liz Curtis Higgs.

I read all I can about Mary. This is a nice addition along with Starbird, and of course, Defenders of the Holy Grail. We have been the victims of a patriarchal plot to remove Mary's role. This book helps restore balance

This book was truly a pleasure to read. It is written clearly and gives a great deal of information in a relatively small space. It is worthy reading for one doing serious research, yet also qualifies as fun reading for one who is simply interested in Mary Magdalene. It includes excerpts from the Gospel of Mary, which are fascinating. I highly recommend this book to anyone.

If you are looking for an interesting and emotional account of what Jesus meant to some of the women who followed him, you will enjoy this. If you are looking for true scholarship, this is not for you. It's a quick, easy read. You can probably finish it in a single sitting if you are an avid reader.

Outrageous. Unthinkable. The Gospel as experienced through the lives of the women who followed Jesus, that is The Magdalene Gospel. As a woman feeling out of sink with the rest of the world, no matter where she turns, how refreshing to realize we each in relation to Jesus have our own stories to tell. The Gospel accounts are filled with Jesus' friendships, encounters, even dependence upon women and yet most of my own focus has often been on the men who surrounded Jesus. Why is that? This book touched something deep inside me as a disciple of Jesus Christ, a story crying out to be heard, my own story aching to be told, how I see things, how I express my own relationship with Jesus, different from men and yet just as important and precious in Jesus' eyes. Truly an affirming book. I found myself identifying with Mary, Martha, Mary the Mother of Jesus and others as they each stood at the cross watching their dreams come crashing in around them, sharing their stories as they wait for the break of day, only to be first at the tomb to care one last time for his body in gratitude for all that He had meant to them and all that He did for them. They were no lesser disciples. They were His and they sought to follow their Master no matter what. Well researched. Well written. Readable and affirming for not only women but also men. We can be who we are as we follow the one who came to make us all we are meant to be.

This book is very good if you need to know about erroneous opinion regarding Christianity. This controversial book will be easily found 'ridiculous' and 'illogical' if it is read at least by a schoolar, which understand the topic that been presented. Tissa Balasurya (ex.) is so obvious, he wrote this essay based upon his own 'opinion', and not on the based of fact, his argument cannot be supported by any fact what so ever, nothing to support his thesis, it is worst than a high school student essay. I personally didn't uderstand how could it be for Mr. Balasurya and Helen Staton to claim themself as a 'theologian', are this title become so vain these days that can be used by a high school graduate? Please read this book and you will understand well what I'm talking about. This book should be titled "Pseudo of Balasurya and Staton", because this book are not worthy to be given a rational consideration.

In this polemic book, Fr. Tissa (one of the principal thinkers of the Feminist Theology), seek for the original Mary, the mother of Jesus. The search was centered in the Gospel, especially on the "Magnificat", with that the author tried to scape from all the thoughts that the european tradition add to the Mary image. Polemic, strong and clear, this book will show you a new Mary, closer to the reality, the poors and the liberation struggle.

The Catholic Church never has nor does she now regard the Blessed Virgin Mary to be a godess, or a divine person, in any way. She is the masterpiece creature, the perfect creature, but she is still a creature. Catholics and others who insist on worshipping Mary rather than honoring her to the glory of her Son are sincere, but sincerely mistaken. Holy Mary, pray for them.

I have long been interested in the apparitions of Mary, and of those who worshipped her. This book has beautiful photography, filled with quotes about Mary from famous people as well as quotes which are said to have come from Mary herself during apparitions. The book is filled with love and joy--both a warning and promise for the future of our world.

In this book, we learn that the Theotokos (the Virgin Mother of God) is a radical feminist made in the image and likeness of Megan McKenna. Our Lady is dehumanized by being compared to spiders and pencils; she is slandered by insinuations of an erotic relationship between her and her own cousin Elizabeth (a divinely felicitous typo in this part of the book: "the mysery overwhelms them completely"). This book is an almost criminal affront to the Catholic and Orthodox believer. We learn from the oracular Ms McKenna that being white is a mortal sin, praying the Rosary is a mortal sin, and believing that Soviet Communism was evil is a mortal sin. Anyone who loves Beauty and Truth (and the Mother of God) will feel violated in the most intimate depths of her soul as she reads "Shadow."

First of all I ought to congratulate Megan McKenna for the lovely portrayal of Mary in this book.She appears not as an icon, not as a person who is far removed from our sufferings etc, not as someone who is holy-holy, and not one of us.She is portrayed to be a common woman, who shares with us all her trials and sorrows just as an ordinary human being ..... like you and me. Even she didn't have all the answers on Day 1, but she believed....and she invites us to have faith.It is lovely to be able to relate to her as a human being and not an icon.She seems (and is) so much a part of our life that it's a fabulous feeling to have her as a part of our life.I commend Megan heartily and if she reads this (somehow) I'd like to tell her that I'm waiting to buy some of the other books she's written to enhance my knowledge of her vision of Mary,Jesus and Joseph.

Douglas Connelly's new book has the fascinating subtitle What the Bible Really Says. I was very disappointed to find that it is overflowing with things the Bible really does not say. Connelly's title is misleading because the vast majority of his book is speculation--very interesting, but speculative. Here's an example: "The second genealogy of Jesus recorded in Luke's Gospel [sic] most likely traces Jesus' heritage through Mary," (36). When Matthew 1:1-16 is compared to Luke 3:23-38, one cannot help noticing many differences, including the name of Joseph's father. But one thing is certain-the name before Jesus' in both trees is "Joseph." In both cases "Joseph" refers to the husband of Mary: "Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born" (Matt. 1:16) and "Jesus being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli" (Lk. 3:23). Theories that "Joseph" was the name of Jesus' maternal grandfather are interesting, but not substantiated by scriptural (or traditional) evidence. Another example on page 82 reads: "One common misconception about [Joseph & Mary finding Jesus in the Temple] is that Jesus was teaching the religious leaders of Israel. Luke makes it clear that Jesus was listening to the teachers and asking them questions (Luke 2:46). In this setting, Jesus was the learner, not the teacher." This opinion is not only unfounded, but called into question by the fact that Jesus frequently taught by asking questions (Matt. 5:46-47, 6:27, 7:3, 22:41-45; Mk. 8:36; Lk. 6:9). Jesus may have been "the learner" or "the teacher" or both. All who heard Him that day were astonished by "His answers," (Lk. 2:47). Connelly speculates about every subject imaginable, from Joseph's age to what Mary was thinking at any number of moments. This information is not found in the pages of the Bible. I don't mind good historical fiction, but the book is called Mary: What the Bible Really Says, not Likely Stories of the Life of Mary. Connelly's book has some good features. He considers Mary, too often ignored by Protestants, a model of persevering obedience, active reflection and meditation, and courageous vulnerability. All Christians, he believes, would indeed do well to imitate her virtues. But the title of the book belies its speculative content. The majority of the book is not What the Bible Really Says.

I found this book to be a great start for people who are not sure what to think of Mary. Connelly really made it clear what kind of life she lived and explained what it took to be the mother of the Son of God.

This book should be carefully avoided. It has a modernist bias and seems to almost criticize the Church's holy saints. A perfect example is the passage on St. Louis Grignion de Montfort and his treatise on the Virgin Mary "True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin", which according to the author, "waned considerably in influence after Vatican II, when emphasis was placed more on Jesus and the Bible". Pope John Paul II has used De Montfort's motto "Totus Tuus" throughout his pontificate, not to mention the fact that "True Devotion" is interlaced with exhaustive scripture quotes and references, from both the Old and New Testaments. This is not a Catholic book, I don't know what it is, but don't line a birdcage with it. Don't buy this book, but do pray for the author!!!!!

This book is a worthwhile guide to McBrien's odd biases. As a noted 'dissenter', this book should be a great comfort and resource to like-minded people.

To those looking for a credible, well-written guide to Saints - those chosen by God as exemplars off heroic virtue, the book will not do at all. A few lines on great, wildly popular modern saints such as Faustina and Padre Pio? But longer disquisitions on McBrien hobbyhorses such as Albert Schweitzer. Martin Luther King, and Cardinal Bernardin? Please.

Lives of the Saints
Richard McBrien

McBrien's compilation of saints for each day covers a multitude of canonized and non-canonized people. He also offers saints who are recognized by the Anglican/Episcopalian, Lutheran and Greek Orthodox churches. His descriptions are short, comparatively with Butler's descriptions, but non-devotional. He includes in his short essays references to history, legend and myth. This book can exist along side other longer works and can offer some perspectives that others do not.

All right, I will admit that I laughed out loud when Parker compared a human tongue to a cow's udder - what a word picture! But I can't imagine who wouldn't take offense at this book. High ranking Catholic cardinals are depicted as scheming power mongers, the one black person mentioned is murderous, all of the seemingly intelligent women are doomed to impossible relationships with men, the Germans are conscienceless mercenaries, and the only Muslim is a fanatic. And this is all in addition to the concern anyone might have about an author just making up an account of Jesus' childhood and his post-resurrection relationship with Mary. I kept thinking things had to get better but they never did.

I took great offense at this book. The author obviously has a very negative view of the Catholic Church and tried to impart his outlook on the unfortunate readers of this book. What really gauls me is that I bought this in a Christian bookstore!

Parker takes a worthy--though not unique--idea and tries to turn it into a Ludlum-type thriller with a spiritual twist. He makes a valiant effort. I appreciated that he avoided cliched sermons and diatribes in the middle of the story, and, at times, I was reminded of Morris West's sensitive handling of Catholic issues. Unfortunately, I kept tripping over Parker's forced similes and attempts at brisk narrative. He has the right idea, but a good editor could've cleaned this up, pared it into a lean thriller. Like MacAuley, the book's overweight archaelogist, the plot tries to rise to the occasion and deliver the knockout punch; instead, it trips over itself and its own excess baggage. With a fistful of antagonists to deal with, I found myself fearing none of them. Money seemed to be the primary motivator for all of them. Maybe deeper motivations for all involved would've increased my own interest in the story. I'll try another Parker book. Like his protagonist, Michael del Rio, he has the muscles; he just needs a skillful editor to show him how to land those punches.