The Forgotten Gospel of Mary

This post has been sitting as a draft for a couple of weeks as I considered how best to approach the subject.  There isn't much to deal with as far as physical evidence to a Gospel of Mary, but what little is presented paints a significantly different picture of politics and women of the day, as well as a glimpse into the inner circle of Christ.

That Peter is a moody sexist is evident from his confrontation with Mary.

"Sister, we know that the Savior loved you more than other women.  Tell us the words of the Savior which you have in mind since you know him and we do not, nor have we heard them."

Now, as we have learned from texting and e-mail, emotion rarely translates well into the written word.  Are we to take Peter's request of Mary at face value, or is Peter baiting her?  Is Peter being a condescending smart ass?

After Mary tells her story of the Savior's conversation with her, Peter responds to the other Apostles with,

"Did he then speak secretly with a woman, in preference to us, and not openly?  Are we to turn back and all listen to her?  Did he prefer her to us?"

You can almost hear the disdain for women and his particular issue with Mary as the most beloved of Christ, as "woman" rolls off his tongue like vinegar.  Even Levi, in response to Peter's statement, and speaking to Peter's usual emotional state, as an attempt at defense of Mary, addresses her as "the woman."

"Peter, you are always irate.  Now I see that you are contending against the woman like the adversaries."

Male dominated society coming to grips with a Savior that saw all as equal in the eyes of God, and yet, even after His death they carry the old attitudes forward.  Now one has to wonder if Peter was pissed at being called down in front of a woman.  How does this affect his teachings and his writings?  Andrew had already voiced his disbelief of Mary's dialogue with Christ.  How are we to give credence to anything these men say when confronted with these obvious attitudes and agendas?  Where does this leave the written word of the Bible?

 

As one scholar describes it,

 

"It [The Gospel of Mary] presents the most straightforward and convincing argument in any Christian writing for the legitimacy of women's leadership; it offers a sharp critique of illegitimate power and a utopian vision of spiritual perfection; it challenges our rather romantic views about the harmony and unanimity of the first Christians; and it asks us to rethink the basis for church authority.  All written in the name of a woman."

I think it is necessary for Christians to look at all the gospels, not just those that have been translated until the meat and feeling of the story has been lost, and not just those some council of men dictated were all we need.  These new texts coming to light give us a new insight into the world of the Apostles.  This should not diminish the message behind the Bible or our faith in the teachings of Christ.  We should use this information to look at the stories in a new light.

 

I recommend everyone look up the Gospel of Mary online.  Read the associated commentary by numerous scholars.  It is free.  Christ wanted us to do our own due diligence, to seek the truth within ourselves, not just to accept a version of truth fed to us by others. 

 

You learn nothing through blind acceptance, except the flavor of the current Kool-Aid. 

After you have considered the words of Mary, look up The Sophia of Jesus Christ.  This document made my head hurt.  When you read the text, and try to understand it, I think you'll see why.  There is a difference between reading and understanding; this is a good example.  I will be re-reading this for years.

Remember always that science and archeology are not the enemies of God, they constantly provide new proof of God's greatness while providing new material with which to define our faith.