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Mary Magdalene Revealed: The First Apostle, Her Feminist Gospel & the Christianity We Haven't Tried Yet
The Gospel of Mary Magdalene reveals a very different love story from the one we've come to refer to as Christianity. Harvard-trained theologian Meggan Watterson leads us verse by verse through Mary's gospel to illuminate the powerful teachings it contains.
A gospel, as ancient and authentic as any of the gospels that the Christian bible contains, was buried deep in the Egyptian desert after an edict was sent out in the 4th century to have all copies of it destroyed. Fortunately, some rebel monks were wise enough to refuse-and thanks to their disobedience and spiritual bravery, we have several manuscripts of the only gospel that was written in the name of a woman: The Gospel of Mary Magdalene.
Mary's gospel reveals a radical love that sits at the heart of the Christian story. Her gospel says that we are not sinful; we are not to feel ashamed or unworthy for being human. In fact, our purpose is to be fully human, to be a "true human being"- that is, a person who has remembered that, yes, we are a messy, limited ego, and we are also a limitless soul.
And all we need to do is to turn inward (again and again); to meditate, like Mary Magdalene, in the way her gospel directs us, so that we can see past the ego of our own little lives to what's more real, and lasting, and infinite, and already here, within.
With searing clarity, Watterson explains how and why Mary Magdalene came to be portrayed as the penitent prostitute and relates a more historically and theologically accurate depiction of who Mary was within the early Christ movement. And she shares how this discovery of Mary's gospel has allowed her to practice, and to experience, a love that never ends, a love that transforms everything.
A gospel, as ancient and authentic as any of the gospels that the Christian bible contains, was buried deep in the Egyptian desert after an edict was sent out in the 4th century to have all copies of it destroyed. Fortunately, some rebel monks were wise enough to refuse-and thanks to their disobedience and spiritual bravery, we have several manuscripts of the only gospel that was written in the name of a woman: The Gospel of Mary Magdalene.
Mary's gospel reveals a radical love that sits at the heart of the Christian story. Her gospel says that we are not sinful; we are not to feel ashamed or unworthy for being human. In fact, our purpose is to be fully human, to be a "true human being"- that is, a person who has remembered that, yes, we are a messy, limited ego, and we are also a limitless soul.
And all we need to do is to turn inward (again and again); to meditate, like Mary Magdalene, in the way her gospel directs us, so that we can see past the ego of our own little lives to what's more real, and lasting, and infinite, and already here, within.
With searing clarity, Watterson explains how and why Mary Magdalene came to be portrayed as the penitent prostitute and relates a more historically and theologically accurate depiction of who Mary was within the early Christ movement. And she shares how this discovery of Mary's gospel has allowed her to practice, and to experience, a love that never ends, a love that transforms everything.
246 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2019
2935 people are currently reading
18703 people want to read
About the author
Meggan Watterson
13 books344 followersMEGGAN WATTERSON is the author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling Mary Magdalene Revealed, and The Mary Magdalene Oracle, among others. She is a feminist theologian with a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School and a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary. She created The House of Mary Magdalene– a spiritual community that studies sacred texts left out of the traditional canon and practices the soul-voice meditation. Her work has appeared in media outlets such as The New York Times, The Huffington Post, TEDxWomen, and Marie Claire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 676 reviews
July 20, 2019
Inspiring
She speaks to my soul. I’ve never agreed with the version of the Bible dictated to us through a man’s lens, the men-only club, etc. and have often stated this is some man’s interpretation only to be challenged and ostracized because ‘You don’t believe’ and ‘will go to hell’ and so on. This book, this inclusive, loving, evolving guide makes sense. Can’t say thank you enough for the recognition of both masculine and feminine, for we are both; interwoven and dependent for survival. May the world become more balanced and heart-centered!
She speaks to my soul. I’ve never agreed with the version of the Bible dictated to us through a man’s lens, the men-only club, etc. and have often stated this is some man’s interpretation only to be challenged and ostracized because ‘You don’t believe’ and ‘will go to hell’ and so on. This book, this inclusive, loving, evolving guide makes sense. Can’t say thank you enough for the recognition of both masculine and feminine, for we are both; interwoven and dependent for survival. May the world become more balanced and heart-centered!
October 23, 2020
Hmmmm. I was really looking forward to reading this book. I ended up reading a book by someone who was unwilling to accept the status quo in religious doctrine. I'm not going to say that everything said in this book is wrong. Far from it. There were plenty of things that opened my eyes. I believe Mary got the raw end of the deal, having been demoted (and shamed), in history, by a male dominated hierarchy that certainly didn't have her best interests in mind. And while I truly believe that Mary had a much bigger role than what's depicted in the Bible, I don't know that I can agree with the authors MANY liberties and suppositions.
This author kept searching and searching and searching until she came up with something that she could accept. This is exactly the reason why there are so many different sects within Christianity. Everybody wants to keep the things they like and disregard what they're uncomfortable with.
But let's keep in mind that "religion" is man made, and as such is fallible. Being a believer doesn't make you perfect. And neither does being someone in authority. The religious leaders in Jesus' own time were wrong about Him.
I'm sure mistakes have been made in interpretation through the centuries, even those based solely on chauvinistic ideas. But the authors stretching and reaching to come to a place she's comfortable with, in my opinion, does a disservice not only to God, but to Mary Magdalene herself.
This author kept searching and searching and searching until she came up with something that she could accept. This is exactly the reason why there are so many different sects within Christianity. Everybody wants to keep the things they like and disregard what they're uncomfortable with.
But let's keep in mind that "religion" is man made, and as such is fallible. Being a believer doesn't make you perfect. And neither does being someone in authority. The religious leaders in Jesus' own time were wrong about Him.
I'm sure mistakes have been made in interpretation through the centuries, even those based solely on chauvinistic ideas. But the authors stretching and reaching to come to a place she's comfortable with, in my opinion, does a disservice not only to God, but to Mary Magdalene herself.
July 30, 2019
For as long as I can remember, I have felt that I was searching for something. Becoming a Christian in my early twenties and belonging to a church community was the closest I ever came to feeling as though I'd found it ... but it still wasn't quite right. Something was missing. It was like a giant jigsaw puzzle with a piece missing.
This book is the missing piece of the puzzle for me. Or to be more accurate - Mary Magdalene's gospel is the missing piece, but Meggan Watterson's interpretation of the gospel showed me the way it fit.
If you struggle to identify as a Christian because you can't fathom a Christianity that excludes women, LGBTIQ+ people, or a divinity that requires us to become less human, this book is for you. If you're a feminist Christian, this book is for you. If you are searching for a way to become more connected to yourself, this book is for you.
I don't have any qualms in saying this book has changed my life. I am so grateful.
This book is the missing piece of the puzzle for me. Or to be more accurate - Mary Magdalene's gospel is the missing piece, but Meggan Watterson's interpretation of the gospel showed me the way it fit.
If you struggle to identify as a Christian because you can't fathom a Christianity that excludes women, LGBTIQ+ people, or a divinity that requires us to become less human, this book is for you. If you're a feminist Christian, this book is for you. If you are searching for a way to become more connected to yourself, this book is for you.
I don't have any qualms in saying this book has changed my life. I am so grateful.
April 30, 2020
Autobiography of the author
I really wanted to like this book, as I really wanted to learn more about Mary. Unfortunately, this book is 95% about the author, and 5% of Mary. Very disappointing. The book itself is very messy, almost like an inedited diary, skipping from topic to topic of absolutely no relevance to the reader. Plus, I was appaled at the author's lack of historical rigor. President of Syria in the times of Paul??? I would have thought that a Harvard graduate would know that they weren't called Presidents at that time. There are more historical lapsus that I don't even bother mentioning. In summary - if you really want to learn more about Mary - look elsewhere. I wander if those who gave this book 5 stars have even read the book past the introduction (which was the best part of the book), or if they are author's fans who'd buy anything she sells. This is honestly of the worst books I've read in ages.
I really wanted to like this book, as I really wanted to learn more about Mary. Unfortunately, this book is 95% about the author, and 5% of Mary. Very disappointing. The book itself is very messy, almost like an inedited diary, skipping from topic to topic of absolutely no relevance to the reader. Plus, I was appaled at the author's lack of historical rigor. President of Syria in the times of Paul??? I would have thought that a Harvard graduate would know that they weren't called Presidents at that time. There are more historical lapsus that I don't even bother mentioning. In summary - if you really want to learn more about Mary - look elsewhere. I wander if those who gave this book 5 stars have even read the book past the introduction (which was the best part of the book), or if they are author's fans who'd buy anything she sells. This is honestly of the worst books I've read in ages.
March 30, 2020
I gave up on this one. I was hoping for a more historical account, maybe a translation of what remains of the gospel of Mary, but this is just a personal memoir riddled with poor (invented?) translations of words ("anthropos" has literally nothing to do with God or Divinity, it just means "man" or "mankind"). Very disappointed and very confused about how this woman came to be a Harvard theologian.
July 28, 2019
The cover looks kind of conservative, yet this actually reads like a memoir. I loved it.
Each chapter is prefaced by a short epigram, a quote from one of the verses of the lost gospel of Mary Magdalene, which serves as inspiration for the author to share an anecdote and her understanding of the message.
The book is structured into seven parts, or the seven powers that exist within us, 'an ingredients label for the ego', powers that at various times and for differing duration, can potentially hold us captive.
The powers are Darkness, Craving, Ignorance, Craving for Death, Enslavement to the physical body, The False Peace of the Flesh and the the compulsion of Rage.
Meggan Watterson is a Hay House author (Harvard trained, feminist theologian) and some of her experiences mentioned in the book are shared with other authors I'm familiar with such as Christiane Northrup, Kyle Gray and Rebecca Campbell. She also makes a pilgrimage here, to the south of France, visiting Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, Aix-en-Provence, St Maximum and the Grotte-de Marie-Madeleine which made reading it feel very connected, as these are all places I have visited and know of the association of the stories of Mary Magdalene, who it is believed arrived as a refugee by boat, and lived her latter years in that cave in Sainte Baume.
Ultimately she shares that the point of this lost gospel is not to suggest we to become someone else, someone "better". It's about acquiring a vision that allows us to see what has always been here, within us, about being present, expanding awareness, rather than getting caught up in the endless stories the ego tells, it's about 'waking up to the fact that our system of understanding the world is no longer serving us.'
A thought provoking, insightful, humble, reflection of an ancient manuscript and a kind of coming-of-age of the author, as she navigates the challenges and the yearnings her own life presents.
Each chapter is prefaced by a short epigram, a quote from one of the verses of the lost gospel of Mary Magdalene, which serves as inspiration for the author to share an anecdote and her understanding of the message.
The book is structured into seven parts, or the seven powers that exist within us, 'an ingredients label for the ego', powers that at various times and for differing duration, can potentially hold us captive.
As with all the powers, it isn't the power itself that's harmful. It's the presence of the power and the absence of the soul. It's forgetting entirely that we are not just the ego that is subject to the power.
The powers are Darkness, Craving, Ignorance, Craving for Death, Enslavement to the physical body, The False Peace of the Flesh and the the compulsion of Rage.
Meggan Watterson is a Hay House author (Harvard trained, feminist theologian) and some of her experiences mentioned in the book are shared with other authors I'm familiar with such as Christiane Northrup, Kyle Gray and Rebecca Campbell. She also makes a pilgrimage here, to the south of France, visiting Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, Aix-en-Provence, St Maximum and the Grotte-de Marie-Madeleine which made reading it feel very connected, as these are all places I have visited and know of the association of the stories of Mary Magdalene, who it is believed arrived as a refugee by boat, and lived her latter years in that cave in Sainte Baume.
...most believe that Mary Magdalene arrived first in Saintes-Marie-de-la-Mer and preached for many years along the coastal parts of Southern France. Then when the Romans began to persecute the Christians more violently, her brother Lazarus was beheaded. And Saint Maximum wanted her safe. So Mary Magdalene followed a river upstream that runds from Sainte Baume down to the Mediterranean.
Ultimately she shares that the point of this lost gospel is not to suggest we to become someone else, someone "better". It's about acquiring a vision that allows us to see what has always been here, within us, about being present, expanding awareness, rather than getting caught up in the endless stories the ego tells, it's about 'waking up to the fact that our system of understanding the world is no longer serving us.'
A thought provoking, insightful, humble, reflection of an ancient manuscript and a kind of coming-of-age of the author, as she navigates the challenges and the yearnings her own life presents.
August 12, 2019
If you are interested in feminist religious philosophy and Christianity, this book might be for you. I wanted to know more about the gospel of Mary, but this book only took snippets and sermonized them. It ended up being more of a self-help book for feminist Christians.
August 17, 2019
Eavesdropping
I feel as though, as a male,if been evesdropping. By this I mean reading a book based on scarcity of unity and non dual. while was reading it I found myself squeezing to be included in some small way as a good man. I have found that to be fully human / divine, women and men must " vest in otherness so as to be present to pristine goodness, image and likeness. The fullest sense of the differentiates of our unity. Strangely, this past Holy Week I was inspired by my inner source Sophia, to follow Mary Magdalene and the other women on their journey. And suffice it to say in the end I found myself sitting on the ground beside her waiting.
I was an ordained deacon for 33 years. This year in May, I was told by the pastor of our church that I was no longer needed. I am a contemplative, I read spiritually daily, journal volumes and do Centering Prayer meditation. The practice of inclusive mysticism is not supported by clericalism or the status quo of institutional church. When told I was no longer needed, I responded, "I understand" and I submitted my note of resignation. I am an inclusive, pragmatic, radical, paradoxical Catholic. A couple years ago a priest on Easter Sunday actually built a full size cross at each mass as his homily, skill saw hammer, nails and all. Alli could think was "get beyond the cross!" But that's where most of us are stuck.
I have been given the gift of artest. I went home that day and made a copper tree of life, living cross vibrant and alive, and bearing much fruit. The center of the cross has a hole in it. The small plack says, "see through the cross." It's quite beautiful and holds much meaning for me. I have also removed the crucifix from my study wall and hung it more centrally so as to daily get beyond it with Mary and into New Life of love and heartfelt compassion. In daily life I practice healing and helping I infuse natural Alaskan herbal healing oils and share them without cost to others. For me this is a great "unknowing", a release of all that I was conditioned to "know" in the past, so as to be present to immanent divine feminine who is closer to me than I am to myself, so as to ebb and flow into the tides of life and always be filled with optimism and inclusive dynamic love.I
With love and blessings,
Dave
I feel as though, as a male,if been evesdropping. By this I mean reading a book based on scarcity of unity and non dual. while was reading it I found myself squeezing to be included in some small way as a good man. I have found that to be fully human / divine, women and men must " vest in otherness so as to be present to pristine goodness, image and likeness. The fullest sense of the differentiates of our unity. Strangely, this past Holy Week I was inspired by my inner source Sophia, to follow Mary Magdalene and the other women on their journey. And suffice it to say in the end I found myself sitting on the ground beside her waiting.
I was an ordained deacon for 33 years. This year in May, I was told by the pastor of our church that I was no longer needed. I am a contemplative, I read spiritually daily, journal volumes and do Centering Prayer meditation. The practice of inclusive mysticism is not supported by clericalism or the status quo of institutional church. When told I was no longer needed, I responded, "I understand" and I submitted my note of resignation. I am an inclusive, pragmatic, radical, paradoxical Catholic. A couple years ago a priest on Easter Sunday actually built a full size cross at each mass as his homily, skill saw hammer, nails and all. Alli could think was "get beyond the cross!" But that's where most of us are stuck.
I have been given the gift of artest. I went home that day and made a copper tree of life, living cross vibrant and alive, and bearing much fruit. The center of the cross has a hole in it. The small plack says, "see through the cross." It's quite beautiful and holds much meaning for me. I have also removed the crucifix from my study wall and hung it more centrally so as to daily get beyond it with Mary and into New Life of love and heartfelt compassion. In daily life I practice healing and helping I infuse natural Alaskan herbal healing oils and share them without cost to others. For me this is a great "unknowing", a release of all that I was conditioned to "know" in the past, so as to be present to immanent divine feminine who is closer to me than I am to myself, so as to ebb and flow into the tides of life and always be filled with optimism and inclusive dynamic love.I
With love and blessings,
Dave
February 2, 2020
I am giving this book a 1 star because this book should have said on the cover “A self help book for Christian Feminist” the author did a poor job at showing us Mary we mainly got a memoir of the authors life with books that the author uses throughout the book to explain herself and not really showing us Mary there are several parts of the gospel of Mary missing and so the author start each chapter with a snippet of the gospel of Mary walking us through the gospel however not really giving of Mary at any point but continuously and in many cases repetitively telling us only of her life Meagan In my opinion completely omitting Mary there’s more in this book to be learned about the author if you’re looking for a book that is talking about Mary and really diving into who Mary is this is not it early on in the book before the author even starts talking about the first of the seven powers the author tells us that she will be giving us a sermon/her understanding of what that sermon is saying or what that gospel passage is saying in this is done poorly
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March 9, 2025I'm deep in a Mary Magdalene rabbit hole, finding inspiration from her story as part of the premise of my current novel-in-progress. Meggan's book seemed a given on my reading list. What I was expecting from a "Harvard-trained feminist theologian" was an examination of the life and times of Mary Magdalene and the writings attributed to her—or more likely, writings inspired by her imagined relationship with Jesus. What I found instead was a "theology-lite" memoir of the author herself that, although earnest and passionate in her exploration of the feminine divine, seems to repackage Mary Magdalene to support the author's own brand. That's harsh, but given Meggan's co-opting of Mary Magdalene's name to support her business enterprises, including books, seminars, retreats, I think it's an apt observation.
Meggan touts her degrees in theology and divinity from Union Theological Seminary and Harvard University, yet she seems to prefer the Dan Brown School of Theology, you know—the one that uses The Da Vinci Code as the source text. She relies on her sister-authors in the world of Mary Magdalene scholarship, Karen King and Cynthia Bourgeault, as well as the obvious definitive translation of The Gospel of Mary by Jean-Yves Leloup for nearly all of her back-up. But I understand that scholarship wasn’t her intent; creating and channeling the MM Vibe was. I just wish she wouldn’t assert new age mythology that her readers may take as, well, Gospel with a capital G.
Her credibility with me cratered early in Mary Magdalene Revealed when she repeated the canard that the canonical Bible was determined at the Council of Nicaea in 325. I realize this is the common assumption, but anyone with her level of training should know better. This myth was probably debunked within the first couple of weeks of seminary. The New Testament canon had been affirmed and taught as such for more than two centuries prior to the Council (see: the 1st century writings of Clement of Alexandria and his pupil Origen, and those of 2nd century scholars Iraneus and Theophilus). Mary Magdalene was not an apostle; Christ named his twelve and she was not among them. There is no deep conspiracy why The Gospel of Mary, which Mary Magdalene did not write, was excluded from the Biblical canon along with the other so-called Gnostic Gospels (including Thomas, Philip, Peter, among many others). By using sound historiographical methodology and theological inquiry, we know they were written long after the Biblical canon had been established and affirmed and they are not reliable sources for the life and teachings of Jesus (this is just one basic, empirical reason why we know the Gnostic writings were never meant to be a part of the canon. For an exhaustive treatise on how and why we have the Biblical canon we do, please read Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of the New Testament Books by Michael J Kruger.) That’s not to diminish the wonder and power of the Gnostic Gospels and their importance in Christian antiquity. But we don’t have to insist they were really meant to be a part of the Bible and cast them as victims of a prejudiced Church body to appreciate their value.
Meggan proclaims over and over that she is not a Christian and yet she wants us to try a “new” Christianity, one that centers Mary’s gospel, one that existed before the Church. Never mind that this is all predicated on nonsense: Mary’s Gospel was penned by someone long after the Christian Church had been established. Meggan cites cartoonish examples of evangelical Christians (e.g. the hollering wack-a-doodle campus preacher- didn’t we all encounter one of those?) to illustrate her scorn for Christianity. I get it. The Church, in all its unfathomable denominations, has done great harm to countless throughout history. But don’t conflate subjective interpretations and practices with the objective truth of Jesus and his teachings.
Meggan is forever using Mary Magdalene to tell and reinforce her own story, to recreate Mary in her own image. She rightly cites the concept of hermeneutics, “the lens you use in order to read or interpret scripture” but again, she simplifies it to mean, "I can determine what the scriptures actually say based on my worldview." That’s not what hermeneutics is! It’s a philosophical approach to critically analyzing text, particularly Biblical text.
What makes Meggan’s appeal for a new Christianity troubling to this Christian is that she advocates the centering of the self in her new religion. Self-love, self-discovery, the elevation of the self as the ultimate authority. That the most important journey is the discovery of who I am and what makes me happy. This relegates it a New Age belief system, where the focus is self-actualization. What true Christianity teaches is the centering of Christ in all things; that he is the Lord. I am not the God of me, Christ is. You are free to worship the self, but don’t call it Christianity.
What gets lost in all of this is Mary Magdalene herself. She disappears under this heavy burden of mysticism and lore and twenty-first century post-modern identity culture. What was the nature of Mary's relationship with Jesus? Was she Jesus’ lover or wife? Did she bear him a child and continue the matrilineal line, that fabled Sang Royal? (Da Vinci Code enthusiasts insist on the affirmative for the latter two; all creditable historical and apologetic research debunk these claims). Did she retreat to France and end her days living in a cave? Who was Mary as a woman, a believer, a disciple of Christ? Who was she when she was alone, with her grief and her desire? All we know, the launching point for so much speculation, conspiracy, and fascination, is that she was a cherished and revered companion of Jesus, that she was one of the few to bear witness to his death and his resurrection. We know something of her life prior to her transformation to a disciple and we have guesses as to what became of her after Christ ascended into heaven. I appreciate and honor the inspiration Meggan Watterson has found in imagining Mary Magdalene’s life before, during, and after Jesus as a whole and complete woman. But whatever she imagines Mary’s role in our present lives to be, it is not to create a “new” Christianity.
Meggan touts her degrees in theology and divinity from Union Theological Seminary and Harvard University, yet she seems to prefer the Dan Brown School of Theology, you know—the one that uses The Da Vinci Code as the source text. She relies on her sister-authors in the world of Mary Magdalene scholarship, Karen King and Cynthia Bourgeault, as well as the obvious definitive translation of The Gospel of Mary by Jean-Yves Leloup for nearly all of her back-up. But I understand that scholarship wasn’t her intent; creating and channeling the MM Vibe was. I just wish she wouldn’t assert new age mythology that her readers may take as, well, Gospel with a capital G.
Her credibility with me cratered early in Mary Magdalene Revealed when she repeated the canard that the canonical Bible was determined at the Council of Nicaea in 325. I realize this is the common assumption, but anyone with her level of training should know better. This myth was probably debunked within the first couple of weeks of seminary. The New Testament canon had been affirmed and taught as such for more than two centuries prior to the Council (see: the 1st century writings of Clement of Alexandria and his pupil Origen, and those of 2nd century scholars Iraneus and Theophilus). Mary Magdalene was not an apostle; Christ named his twelve and she was not among them. There is no deep conspiracy why The Gospel of Mary, which Mary Magdalene did not write, was excluded from the Biblical canon along with the other so-called Gnostic Gospels (including Thomas, Philip, Peter, among many others). By using sound historiographical methodology and theological inquiry, we know they were written long after the Biblical canon had been established and affirmed and they are not reliable sources for the life and teachings of Jesus (this is just one basic, empirical reason why we know the Gnostic writings were never meant to be a part of the canon. For an exhaustive treatise on how and why we have the Biblical canon we do, please read Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of the New Testament Books by Michael J Kruger.) That’s not to diminish the wonder and power of the Gnostic Gospels and their importance in Christian antiquity. But we don’t have to insist they were really meant to be a part of the Bible and cast them as victims of a prejudiced Church body to appreciate their value.
Meggan proclaims over and over that she is not a Christian and yet she wants us to try a “new” Christianity, one that centers Mary’s gospel, one that existed before the Church. Never mind that this is all predicated on nonsense: Mary’s Gospel was penned by someone long after the Christian Church had been established. Meggan cites cartoonish examples of evangelical Christians (e.g. the hollering wack-a-doodle campus preacher- didn’t we all encounter one of those?) to illustrate her scorn for Christianity. I get it. The Church, in all its unfathomable denominations, has done great harm to countless throughout history. But don’t conflate subjective interpretations and practices with the objective truth of Jesus and his teachings.
Meggan is forever using Mary Magdalene to tell and reinforce her own story, to recreate Mary in her own image. She rightly cites the concept of hermeneutics, “the lens you use in order to read or interpret scripture” but again, she simplifies it to mean, "I can determine what the scriptures actually say based on my worldview." That’s not what hermeneutics is! It’s a philosophical approach to critically analyzing text, particularly Biblical text.
What makes Meggan’s appeal for a new Christianity troubling to this Christian is that she advocates the centering of the self in her new religion. Self-love, self-discovery, the elevation of the self as the ultimate authority. That the most important journey is the discovery of who I am and what makes me happy. This relegates it a New Age belief system, where the focus is self-actualization. What true Christianity teaches is the centering of Christ in all things; that he is the Lord. I am not the God of me, Christ is. You are free to worship the self, but don’t call it Christianity.
What gets lost in all of this is Mary Magdalene herself. She disappears under this heavy burden of mysticism and lore and twenty-first century post-modern identity culture. What was the nature of Mary's relationship with Jesus? Was she Jesus’ lover or wife? Did she bear him a child and continue the matrilineal line, that fabled Sang Royal? (Da Vinci Code enthusiasts insist on the affirmative for the latter two; all creditable historical and apologetic research debunk these claims). Did she retreat to France and end her days living in a cave? Who was Mary as a woman, a believer, a disciple of Christ? Who was she when she was alone, with her grief and her desire? All we know, the launching point for so much speculation, conspiracy, and fascination, is that she was a cherished and revered companion of Jesus, that she was one of the few to bear witness to his death and his resurrection. We know something of her life prior to her transformation to a disciple and we have guesses as to what became of her after Christ ascended into heaven. I appreciate and honor the inspiration Meggan Watterson has found in imagining Mary Magdalene’s life before, during, and after Jesus as a whole and complete woman. But whatever she imagines Mary’s role in our present lives to be, it is not to create a “new” Christianity.
April 18, 2020
This was nearly an interesting book because Watterson is a bona fide scholar of these ancient texts but unfortunately it is largely an account of her own up-and-down life delivered in jokey, blog-style prose that doesn’t cross the Atlantic well and isn’t interesting at all. I suspect she was aiming at something along the lines of Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love but it is nowhere close to that book.
Though I am not religious, I am curious about these ancient texts, such as the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, as well those found near the Dead Sea and Nag Hammadi in Egypt over the course of the last century. They all point to teachings about an enlightenment far closer to Buddhist philosophy than the Christianity which evolved over the centuries and which, ironically, saw no need of any kind of institutional religion. Many also emphasise the equality of all, including women, and give Mary Magdalene her rightful place – a respectable woman and the close companion of Jesus. Perhaps it was this that stuck in the craw of the bible-compilers in the 4th century as they effectively airbrushed her out of the picture to give full dominance to the men.
There are many books on this subject that veer sharply between rigorous but dry academic research and woo-woo conspiracy nonsense. This book is neither. It is Meggan Watterson Revealed with the occasional reference to Mary Magdalene.
Though I am not religious, I am curious about these ancient texts, such as the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, as well those found near the Dead Sea and Nag Hammadi in Egypt over the course of the last century. They all point to teachings about an enlightenment far closer to Buddhist philosophy than the Christianity which evolved over the centuries and which, ironically, saw no need of any kind of institutional religion. Many also emphasise the equality of all, including women, and give Mary Magdalene her rightful place – a respectable woman and the close companion of Jesus. Perhaps it was this that stuck in the craw of the bible-compilers in the 4th century as they effectively airbrushed her out of the picture to give full dominance to the men.
There are many books on this subject that veer sharply between rigorous but dry academic research and woo-woo conspiracy nonsense. This book is neither. It is Meggan Watterson Revealed with the occasional reference to Mary Magdalene.
March 21, 2021
Am I the only one who didn't enjoy this book? I'm an undergraduate theology student and planning to write my dissertation on women in the early church, so I thought this would be a bit more of a comprehensive academic text. I suppose I shouldn't have started reading with those expectations, especially as Watterson began to define terms such as hermeneutics, exegesis, etc.
I get the sense that Watterson is preaching to the choir in this book- it reads very much as if the reader is already convinced. Even in one of the first chapters, where she talks about how Mary Magdalane's Gospel was discovered, I wanted to hear more about how we're absolutely, positively sure it's not a forgery (especially more than just mentioning which century it's from). It's more a memoir of Watterson's own spiritual journey (aura photography, prophetic visions and all) with a blog-type style of writing, four-line long paragraphs, and very few sources to back up her claims. I don't really know how else to put it, but the style is very American. I felt that she got a few translations wrong as well: I don't think "anthropos" has the connotation of fully divine and fully human that she says it does (and I would have appreciated a source to tell me where she got that idea from!). Her translation of "kyrie eleison" as "Lord, Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me" reads into it far too much: it literally just means "Lord, have mercy".
There were some interesting parts, such as her re-telling of the Acts of Paul and Thekla, but I could have found those elsewhere and written in a more engaging style. I also agree that humans are inherently good, and that sin may have been misunderstood, and that the dismissal of the Gnostic texts is completely arbitrary and in some cases patriarchal. I enjoyed her thoughts against the woman who preached to her from the front of the car, and how some fervent Christians make their God so small and fragile. The main point of this book is to advocate for a more Gnostic understanding of Christianity, but I feel that what Watterson describes is far more akin to Buddhism, especially when she writes about salvation and how similar it seems to enlightenment.
This will be great for spiritualists, people seeking self-help in the form of something 'beyond', and some feminists who want to branch out into theology (thought I wouldn't recommend they start here), but academic theologians should look elsewhere.
I get the sense that Watterson is preaching to the choir in this book- it reads very much as if the reader is already convinced. Even in one of the first chapters, where she talks about how Mary Magdalane's Gospel was discovered, I wanted to hear more about how we're absolutely, positively sure it's not a forgery (especially more than just mentioning which century it's from). It's more a memoir of Watterson's own spiritual journey (aura photography, prophetic visions and all) with a blog-type style of writing, four-line long paragraphs, and very few sources to back up her claims. I don't really know how else to put it, but the style is very American. I felt that she got a few translations wrong as well: I don't think "anthropos" has the connotation of fully divine and fully human that she says it does (and I would have appreciated a source to tell me where she got that idea from!). Her translation of "kyrie eleison" as "Lord, Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me" reads into it far too much: it literally just means "Lord, have mercy".
There were some interesting parts, such as her re-telling of the Acts of Paul and Thekla, but I could have found those elsewhere and written in a more engaging style. I also agree that humans are inherently good, and that sin may have been misunderstood, and that the dismissal of the Gnostic texts is completely arbitrary and in some cases patriarchal. I enjoyed her thoughts against the woman who preached to her from the front of the car, and how some fervent Christians make their God so small and fragile. The main point of this book is to advocate for a more Gnostic understanding of Christianity, but I feel that what Watterson describes is far more akin to Buddhism, especially when she writes about salvation and how similar it seems to enlightenment.
This will be great for spiritualists, people seeking self-help in the form of something 'beyond', and some feminists who want to branch out into theology (thought I wouldn't recommend they start here), but academic theologians should look elsewhere.
January 2, 2020
When a book is too esoteric or existential that only the author knows what the heck he or she is talking about--well forget it. Does the author think the average person can figure out her theology and "out there" thinking and deciphering of these gospels? What is the point of your message if they can't? She is writing in language that is as difficult to figure out as the gospels themselves. I thought her job was to translate them for us? I get snippets of language I understand but am lost for most of this book. Maybe it's me...Anyway I stopped reading halfway when she said she could never remember which way to cross herself. I can't take this seriously as she also declares that she is not a Christian. Then does she not believe in the Resurrection? Then why write this book? So odd.
October 16, 2019
This is not my usual reading fare. I saw the cover and a small still voice within said, "Read this book". I don't get those often so I did. It's a wild ride. The author is a feminist and a pretty freethinking ... Oh, dear she keeps saying she is not a Christian. But then I'm not either. I like to say I'm not a Christian, but I'm a big fan of Jesus. Meggan Watterson is that on steroids, because she is more than a fan. She is a real and serious scholar. She is also a bit of a trashmouth, a bit of a wiseass, and pretty much the opposite of a prude. I personally am an admirer of all those things. Her thesis, as I understand it is largely that a lot of pertinent stuff was left out of the Bible as it stands, because all of it tends to undermine the patriarchy, because the early Christians were very equal, and that didn't work for a hierarchical church in the service of an Emperor. I have no trouble believing this. A parallel in more recent history is the Southern churches before the Civil War who were all full of moral fervor for slavery. Anybody think Jesus was for slavery?
Personally I think men have a lot to gain from women's equality. Every son of a bitch I've ever known, if you knew his family background, really was a son of a bitch. And I think most of those bitches were pretty competent women who were tired of being treated as inferior by guys who weren't as smart as they were. But, aside from the theme the way tios woman writes and the stories she tells put me in a ... how can I say it? For a couple of hours they put me in a state of grace. I've really never felt anything quite like it before. God bless this beautiful wiseass holy chick.
Personally I think men have a lot to gain from women's equality. Every son of a bitch I've ever known, if you knew his family background, really was a son of a bitch. And I think most of those bitches were pretty competent women who were tired of being treated as inferior by guys who weren't as smart as they were. But, aside from the theme the way tios woman writes and the stories she tells put me in a ... how can I say it? For a couple of hours they put me in a state of grace. I've really never felt anything quite like it before. God bless this beautiful wiseass holy chick.
September 24, 2019
But was it?
A book that I was expecting to read about Mary Magdalene's Gnostic scriptures. In the main i enjoyed reading this book as I found it informative, and insightful. However, for me, the glaring omission from this text is the scripture in full (as what has been found) either at the start of the book, or the end.
A book that I was expecting to read about Mary Magdalene's Gnostic scriptures. In the main i enjoyed reading this book as I found it informative, and insightful. However, for me, the glaring omission from this text is the scripture in full (as what has been found) either at the start of the book, or the end.
May 11, 2024
i have never really read religious-based spiritual books but this has got to be one of the best spirituality ones i’ve ever read. serious divine feminine vibes. i will ride for mary magdalene till the rest of my days 🤍
May 3, 2021
Oh, where to even begin on this book? I only have two pages of all my thoughts and notes to try and condense into this review. I should start with why I decided to read this, after all, I am pretty outspokenly atheist, semi-pagan, and generally critical of Christianity. I picked up Meggan Watterson’s book mainly out of curiosity, I saw the book floating around my Goodreads and thought: “hey, why not?”
Watterson’s book is a mess, to say the least. A shocking lack of references, very little content from the actual gospel of Mary Magdalene, and too much blog-post type memoir/sermon-like writing. Going into this book you think you’ll learn something about this “new” gospel, instead, you mostly end up learning about a woman who is oddly obsessed with Christianity despite saying that she’s not Christian (and then going back on her own story) and despite disliking most everything Christianity teaches. Did I learn anything about Mary’s gospel? Well yes, but not from Watterson’s book. At one point I put the book down in frustration and turned to the almighty Google, where I learned much more interesting things like the fact that scholars can’t even agree on which Biblical Mary is the supposed author of this gospel. A point that Watterson curiously neglects to mention.
Meggan Watterson spends 226 pages trying to convince the reader that we are all inherently good, and that sin doesn’t mean what the Christian church has said it means. Which is all well and good, only she’s also trying to convince us that this is Christianity, only a type of Christianity that is “forgotten.” I’d much rather she start a new church and go from there, instead of trying to rebrand the old church. Because where is her proof? Oh, my bad her proof is her feelings. Watterson speaks with such authority on the subject of a gospel she barely even goes into, you would think that she would have something more backing her word up. But then maybe I thought this text was supposed to be educational rather than just a personal spiritual journey. Which if you enjoy that type of book, this is for you! But don’t be duped like I was.
Honestly, who am I to say her translation of Christianity is wrong. It’s all mythology, and at the end of the day maybe she’s getting some stuff right. To be fair, I haven’t done the years of theological study that she has done. But I can say is: I dislike her memoir meanderings, her inability to keep her own story straight. Her blog-like sermons that should have been edited more before going into book form. And I hate her stupid kitschy chapter titles. For example “same-sex divine feminine Noah’s ark” and “the yoni of the mountain.” I emphatically hate the way white people use the word yoni.
So there’s my one rant/bad review for the week, hopefully for the whole month. The rest of the reading I’ve been doing has been so inspiring! I gave Mary Magdalene Revealed 1 star on Goodreads.
Watterson’s book is a mess, to say the least. A shocking lack of references, very little content from the actual gospel of Mary Magdalene, and too much blog-post type memoir/sermon-like writing. Going into this book you think you’ll learn something about this “new” gospel, instead, you mostly end up learning about a woman who is oddly obsessed with Christianity despite saying that she’s not Christian (and then going back on her own story) and despite disliking most everything Christianity teaches. Did I learn anything about Mary’s gospel? Well yes, but not from Watterson’s book. At one point I put the book down in frustration and turned to the almighty Google, where I learned much more interesting things like the fact that scholars can’t even agree on which Biblical Mary is the supposed author of this gospel. A point that Watterson curiously neglects to mention.
Meggan Watterson spends 226 pages trying to convince the reader that we are all inherently good, and that sin doesn’t mean what the Christian church has said it means. Which is all well and good, only she’s also trying to convince us that this is Christianity, only a type of Christianity that is “forgotten.” I’d much rather she start a new church and go from there, instead of trying to rebrand the old church. Because where is her proof? Oh, my bad her proof is her feelings. Watterson speaks with such authority on the subject of a gospel she barely even goes into, you would think that she would have something more backing her word up. But then maybe I thought this text was supposed to be educational rather than just a personal spiritual journey. Which if you enjoy that type of book, this is for you! But don’t be duped like I was.
Honestly, who am I to say her translation of Christianity is wrong. It’s all mythology, and at the end of the day maybe she’s getting some stuff right. To be fair, I haven’t done the years of theological study that she has done. But I can say is: I dislike her memoir meanderings, her inability to keep her own story straight. Her blog-like sermons that should have been edited more before going into book form. And I hate her stupid kitschy chapter titles. For example “same-sex divine feminine Noah’s ark” and “the yoni of the mountain.” I emphatically hate the way white people use the word yoni.
So there’s my one rant/bad review for the week, hopefully for the whole month. The rest of the reading I’ve been doing has been so inspiring! I gave Mary Magdalene Revealed 1 star on Goodreads.
April 23, 2020
Interesting analysis of the Gospel of Mary, one of the gospels that did not make the cut at Nicea (where flat out forgeries DID make the cut). The Gospel is Mary did not make the cut because it is not a patriarchal interpretation of Christ’s teachings and is, instead, an ascent narrative. The gospel here is about the soul coming alive to love, and God is not a gendered person but rather always referenced as “The Good.”
Considering there is not even a word in Aramaic for “salvation,” I find Mary’s gospel compelling. This gospel is not about life after death, but rather coming alive to life and love while yet in the body.
This is also a timely book. In part because of the MeToo movement, Mary’s time has finally come to be believed. In her gospel there is an account of Mary weeping when the disciples won’t believe the things she learned from Jesus. Thanks to the Copts, who rebelliously buried the Gospel of Mary for the benefit of future Christians, we can finally know what sort of radical things many early Christians believed.
I was ambivalent about the memoir aspect to this book. Some parts were illuminating but others felt like a stretch. I did like and learn from the author, though, so four stars even though the quality of writing might otherwise be a three.
Considering there is not even a word in Aramaic for “salvation,” I find Mary’s gospel compelling. This gospel is not about life after death, but rather coming alive to life and love while yet in the body.
This is also a timely book. In part because of the MeToo movement, Mary’s time has finally come to be believed. In her gospel there is an account of Mary weeping when the disciples won’t believe the things she learned from Jesus. Thanks to the Copts, who rebelliously buried the Gospel of Mary for the benefit of future Christians, we can finally know what sort of radical things many early Christians believed.
I was ambivalent about the memoir aspect to this book. Some parts were illuminating but others felt like a stretch. I did like and learn from the author, though, so four stars even though the quality of writing might otherwise be a three.
June 7, 2025
I don’t know how to do justice to the power and beauty of this book. I could FEEL the truth in it. It frequently brought me to tears, as I was resonating so deeply with the beautiful messages shared within. I’m so grateful.
December 19, 2019
I am not sure why that red book cover jumped out at me, but I dropped the book into my shopping cart without a second thought and made my purchase.
As the calendar turned to December, I thought it would be the perfect time to read something about Christianity, and Meggan Watterson’s book found its way to my nightstand. And for seven nights, I was enthralled.
Mary Magdalene Revealed is part history, part memoir, part self-help. Watterson expertly explains the history of Mary Magdalene, and describes her personal pilgrimage to southern France and England. Additionally, she shows the reader how the teachings of Mary Magdalene helped the author live her best life.
If you’ve ever felt like there’s a big hole in the story of Jesus Christ – and indeed Christianity (like I did) – you will want to add Mary Magdalene Revealed to your bookshelf right away. Watterson demystifies Mary Magdalene’s life and relationship with Jesus, and teaches us how to incorporate The Gospel of Mary into our lives.
My big takeaways:
#1: Question and be curious
For almost two centuries, the Church has told a patriarchal (and untrue) story of Jesus Christ, despite evidence that his life – and the people in his life – were different than the Church’s rendition.
I am thankful for scholars like Meggan Watterson who asked questions (such as where are the women?) and researched to find the answers.
Let’s face it: Men in power have altered the retelling of history and religion to meet their needs. That’s what happened with the story of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. We know better now.
#2: The Ego is part of us
Admittedly, when I speak about the Ego, I don’t have nice things to say. In fact, I refer to the Ego in the masculine (Mr. Ego) and encourage people to tell their Ego to buzz off.
Now that I’ve read Mary Magdalene Revealed, I have a kinder, more accurate interpretation of the Ego. The Ego is our human-ness. It reminds us of our pain, fear, and anger so that we can move in spite of them.
We can’t ignore our Ego. Instead, we can use the Ego’s messages as signals. Tuning in, instead of tuning out, actually makes you more Divine. I love that!
#3: Women are meant to be spiritual leaders
Mary Magdalene was Christ’s first Apostle. What Jesus taught Mary Magdalene appears in The Gospel of Mary, but we will never know Christ’s teachings because portions of Mary’s gospel have been destroyed. What’s for sure is that Jesus intended for Mary to be part of the process – not excluded and tossed aside.
(Let’s not forget other spiritual leaders of Christianity, including Mary of Nazareth and Joan of Arc.)
Female spiritual leaders also appear in other religions from Isis in Ancient Egyptian mythology to Tibetan Green Tara, a female buddha (see page 54 of this book to learn more).
Despite what religious lore may suggest, women are meant to be spiritual leaders. Mary Magdalene is proof of female spiritual leadership, and this comforts me right to my soul.
How Mary Magdalene Revealed relates to entrepreneurs:
This book won’t appeal to many entrepreneurs, but if you decide to read it, here is the big entrepreneurial lesson that’s in store for you.
Detach from the outcome.
Throughout this book, you’ll see examples and anecdotes about what happens when you stop worrying about the result and leave it to The Universe.
For example, when Watterson was worrying about flying across the Atlantic, she left it to The Universe (my interpretation) and was led to take the Queen Mary instead (resulting in so many enlightening moments for the author).
The Universe has your back, always. Let go and know you are in the hands of Divine Love. I love that, too.
As the calendar turned to December, I thought it would be the perfect time to read something about Christianity, and Meggan Watterson’s book found its way to my nightstand. And for seven nights, I was enthralled.
Mary Magdalene Revealed is part history, part memoir, part self-help. Watterson expertly explains the history of Mary Magdalene, and describes her personal pilgrimage to southern France and England. Additionally, she shows the reader how the teachings of Mary Magdalene helped the author live her best life.
If you’ve ever felt like there’s a big hole in the story of Jesus Christ – and indeed Christianity (like I did) – you will want to add Mary Magdalene Revealed to your bookshelf right away. Watterson demystifies Mary Magdalene’s life and relationship with Jesus, and teaches us how to incorporate The Gospel of Mary into our lives.
My big takeaways:
#1: Question and be curious
For almost two centuries, the Church has told a patriarchal (and untrue) story of Jesus Christ, despite evidence that his life – and the people in his life – were different than the Church’s rendition.
I am thankful for scholars like Meggan Watterson who asked questions (such as where are the women?) and researched to find the answers.
Let’s face it: Men in power have altered the retelling of history and religion to meet their needs. That’s what happened with the story of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. We know better now.
#2: The Ego is part of us
Admittedly, when I speak about the Ego, I don’t have nice things to say. In fact, I refer to the Ego in the masculine (Mr. Ego) and encourage people to tell their Ego to buzz off.
Now that I’ve read Mary Magdalene Revealed, I have a kinder, more accurate interpretation of the Ego. The Ego is our human-ness. It reminds us of our pain, fear, and anger so that we can move in spite of them.
We can’t ignore our Ego. Instead, we can use the Ego’s messages as signals. Tuning in, instead of tuning out, actually makes you more Divine. I love that!
#3: Women are meant to be spiritual leaders
Mary Magdalene was Christ’s first Apostle. What Jesus taught Mary Magdalene appears in The Gospel of Mary, but we will never know Christ’s teachings because portions of Mary’s gospel have been destroyed. What’s for sure is that Jesus intended for Mary to be part of the process – not excluded and tossed aside.
(Let’s not forget other spiritual leaders of Christianity, including Mary of Nazareth and Joan of Arc.)
Female spiritual leaders also appear in other religions from Isis in Ancient Egyptian mythology to Tibetan Green Tara, a female buddha (see page 54 of this book to learn more).
Despite what religious lore may suggest, women are meant to be spiritual leaders. Mary Magdalene is proof of female spiritual leadership, and this comforts me right to my soul.
How Mary Magdalene Revealed relates to entrepreneurs:
This book won’t appeal to many entrepreneurs, but if you decide to read it, here is the big entrepreneurial lesson that’s in store for you.
Detach from the outcome.
Throughout this book, you’ll see examples and anecdotes about what happens when you stop worrying about the result and leave it to The Universe.
For example, when Watterson was worrying about flying across the Atlantic, she left it to The Universe (my interpretation) and was led to take the Queen Mary instead (resulting in so many enlightening moments for the author).
The Universe has your back, always. Let go and know you are in the hands of Divine Love. I love that, too.
April 7, 2021
I needed this book, I needed to keep rereading passages in this book. It was recommended by a friend whose perspective on life, love of all creatures, acceptance, curiosity, empathy, calm and action I greatly respect. I told her I felt lost, seriously lost after a year of judgement, hatred, loss and fear, so she recommended this book. Traditional and social media have driven such destruction of the soul. Enter the female perspective. Mary Madeline’s gospels shine a light on the good. That we are inherently good and at times when we feel lost we have to remember we are the good. Very soulful and insightful yet buried deep in the cave of Christianity. A light I needed presented at just the time I needed it. Now off to reread a chapter and readjust my itchy attitude.
“If this is all you read, if you put down this book at the end of this sentence, know that this is the most important message of Mary’s gospel: we are inherently good. Now, if you’re still with me, that goodness can never be lost. We can feel lost to it. But it is woven into the fabric of who we are; it’s our nature. Goodness. And the word that for me describes this experience, of knowing this inherent goodness, is soul. The word soul to me describes that eternal aspect of our being; an aspect that allows us to feel loved, and to experience that we are love. And that our humanity is not intrinsically sinful, or shameful. This human body is the soul’s chance to be here.”
― Meggan Watterson, Mary Magdalene Revealed: The First Apostle, Her Feminist Gospel & the Christianity We Haven't Tried Yet
“If this is all you read, if you put down this book at the end of this sentence, know that this is the most important message of Mary’s gospel: we are inherently good. Now, if you’re still with me, that goodness can never be lost. We can feel lost to it. But it is woven into the fabric of who we are; it’s our nature. Goodness. And the word that for me describes this experience, of knowing this inherent goodness, is soul. The word soul to me describes that eternal aspect of our being; an aspect that allows us to feel loved, and to experience that we are love. And that our humanity is not intrinsically sinful, or shameful. This human body is the soul’s chance to be here.”
― Meggan Watterson, Mary Magdalene Revealed: The First Apostle, Her Feminist Gospel & the Christianity We Haven't Tried Yet
July 27, 2019
Not everyone is going to love this book, because not everyone agrees that orthodoxy was made by elite dudes on top of the political and socio-economic food chain. But this book, for all of its potential flaws or self-indulgences, the very subject matter of this book dismantles an orthodoxy for the oppressor and opens up a whole new level of spiritual wonder. If that is still a scary thing for you, maybe don’t start here. But if it’s the least bit exciting, give it a shot. Judgement free. Ask questions of yourself. Ask all the questions.
August 30, 2019
This book could not have come into my life at a better time. I highly recommend it to anyone who is open to learn all about the feminine and the truth that humanity forgot for millennia that we have everything we ever need within ourselves. Meggan Watterson has a poetic way of writing and weaving words together; I look forward to reading her first book Reveal. Thank you Meggan for sharing your story and for being open and vulnerable with us 💓
July 13, 2020
The sacred embrace of Mary
The Gospel of Mary Magdalene presents a radical interpretation of Jesus' teachings as a path to inner spiritual knowledge. Both the content and the message lead inward toward the identity, power, and freedom of the true Self. The soul is set free from the powers of matter and the fear of death. For example, The Savior said, all nature, all formations, all creatures exist in and with one another, and they will be resolved again into their own roots (Mary 4:22, Pages 1 to 6 of the original manuscript containing chapters 1 - 3 are lost. The extant text of this gospel starts on page 7, chapter 4). Such a metaphysical message is all too familiar in the ancient Hindu scriptures of Upanishads and the Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy. Mary’s teachings reject the most fundamental concept of Christian beliefs (e.g. John 3:16) that Jesus paid for the sins of others, and whosoever believe in him as a savior will find everlasting peace. The gospel of Mary also rejects that there is such a thing as sin! For example, Then Peter said to him, you have been explaining every topic to us; tell us one other thing. What is the sin of the world? The Savior replied, there is no such thing as sin (Mary 4:25). Another distinctive feature of the gospel Mary is that God is not referred to as the Father, and this gospel does not say that Jesus is the son of God. The parables of Jesus that is the only form of Jesus’ teachings found in synoptic gospels are not found in this gospel.
When the Christian church leaders decreed that the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are to be canonized to form the New Testament, at the council of Nicaea in 325 A.D., they also believed that no rival gospels must exist that contradict the canons. Therefore, the gnostic gospels such as the gospels of Mary Magdalene, Thomas, Philip, and others were destroyed.
This book is written to re-emphasize the teachings of Mary who was the closest female follower of Jesus. She was present at the Jesus’ crucifixion, she was there at the burial, and she was there alone at the empty tomb, and the first to witness the resurrection. In fact, she was assigned to carry out the mission of the ministry of Jesus Christ. I recommend the original work of Harvard University Professor Karen King “The Gospel of Mary of Magdala: Jesus and the first woman apostle” for a deeper discussion.
The Gospel of Mary Magdalene presents a radical interpretation of Jesus' teachings as a path to inner spiritual knowledge. Both the content and the message lead inward toward the identity, power, and freedom of the true Self. The soul is set free from the powers of matter and the fear of death. For example, The Savior said, all nature, all formations, all creatures exist in and with one another, and they will be resolved again into their own roots (Mary 4:22, Pages 1 to 6 of the original manuscript containing chapters 1 - 3 are lost. The extant text of this gospel starts on page 7, chapter 4). Such a metaphysical message is all too familiar in the ancient Hindu scriptures of Upanishads and the Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy. Mary’s teachings reject the most fundamental concept of Christian beliefs (e.g. John 3:16) that Jesus paid for the sins of others, and whosoever believe in him as a savior will find everlasting peace. The gospel of Mary also rejects that there is such a thing as sin! For example, Then Peter said to him, you have been explaining every topic to us; tell us one other thing. What is the sin of the world? The Savior replied, there is no such thing as sin (Mary 4:25). Another distinctive feature of the gospel Mary is that God is not referred to as the Father, and this gospel does not say that Jesus is the son of God. The parables of Jesus that is the only form of Jesus’ teachings found in synoptic gospels are not found in this gospel.
When the Christian church leaders decreed that the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are to be canonized to form the New Testament, at the council of Nicaea in 325 A.D., they also believed that no rival gospels must exist that contradict the canons. Therefore, the gnostic gospels such as the gospels of Mary Magdalene, Thomas, Philip, and others were destroyed.
This book is written to re-emphasize the teachings of Mary who was the closest female follower of Jesus. She was present at the Jesus’ crucifixion, she was there at the burial, and she was there alone at the empty tomb, and the first to witness the resurrection. In fact, she was assigned to carry out the mission of the ministry of Jesus Christ. I recommend the original work of Harvard University Professor Karen King “The Gospel of Mary of Magdala: Jesus and the first woman apostle” for a deeper discussion.
June 7, 2020
Literally stopped reading this when she said “If you stop reading after this sentence, then this is the most important thing you need to hear. We are inherently good.”
NOPE.
She states several times she is not a Christian, okay other views are good to have, but with that bias she then states we are all good. The opposite of what God tells us in the Bible. We are wicked because of sin, we will never depart from sin especially not without Jesus.
Extreme deception.
Not for this at all. I mean, I’m just seeing the other books she has written and it makes so much sense. Now I’m concerned for the Christian Author who recommended this book to other Christians.
NOPE.
She states several times she is not a Christian, okay other views are good to have, but with that bias she then states we are all good. The opposite of what God tells us in the Bible. We are wicked because of sin, we will never depart from sin especially not without Jesus.
Extreme deception.
Not for this at all. I mean, I’m just seeing the other books she has written and it makes so much sense. Now I’m concerned for the Christian Author who recommended this book to other Christians.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2020
About 30% into this book I realized this was not what I expected. This is more of a personal memoir than containing any revelations of Mary Magdalene. You're better off reading books by Margaret Starbird, Gloria Amendola and Katherine McGowan. You will learn more about Mary Magdalene from these authors than from Watterson. In the end, disappointing.
August 29, 2019
Amazing.
This book has been profoundly transformational for me. Every page is an inner reorganization that uncovers missing pieces of my heart I scarcely knew I was looking for.
This book has been profoundly transformational for me. Every page is an inner reorganization that uncovers missing pieces of my heart I scarcely knew I was looking for.
August 25, 2019
The core of this book is about Mary Magdalene and the lost teachings of Christ, that we find God in ourselves and heaven on earth. The parts of the book that are about the history of Mary and the work done to suppress her story (and the stories of other important women in early Christianity) are the most interesting.
However, the author chose to present this information as a memoir. The book follows her own spiritual path. She mentions one of the teachings of Mary Magdalene and Jesus, and then she explains it in the context of her own life.
While I don't want to judge and belittle her life, it just wasn't interesting to me to read. I thought I was reading a book about Mary Magdalene, and, instead, I'm reading about how the felt abandoned when her husband left her and how she overcomes her fear of planes.
My partial dislike for this book might be my own general dislike of memors. I catch myself rolling my eyes when everything a writer comes across is somehow meaningful. Three different times, she writes about walking into a Barnes and Noble and being compelled to read a book and sitting on the floor and weeping and not getting up until she was finished. While I get that part of the message she's trying to share is an interconnectedness in our human experience, it gets a little old to read about the significance she finds in every place she goes and in colors and numbers and eggs and thread and people and childbirth and tattoos and aura readings and yoga and headlamps and skinny dipping and shapes and articles of clothing and... well, you get the picture.
I persevered through the memoir and enjoyed the historical components. It's really very interesting to learn about this early history through the eyes of a feminist. There's a lot of historical context that's missing through traditional Christian teachings.
So, in the end, I'm glad I read this book, but I think her overall message is lost in all the fluff.
However, the author chose to present this information as a memoir. The book follows her own spiritual path. She mentions one of the teachings of Mary Magdalene and Jesus, and then she explains it in the context of her own life.
While I don't want to judge and belittle her life, it just wasn't interesting to me to read. I thought I was reading a book about Mary Magdalene, and, instead, I'm reading about how the felt abandoned when her husband left her and how she overcomes her fear of planes.
My partial dislike for this book might be my own general dislike of memors. I catch myself rolling my eyes when everything a writer comes across is somehow meaningful. Three different times, she writes about walking into a Barnes and Noble and being compelled to read a book and sitting on the floor and weeping and not getting up until she was finished. While I get that part of the message she's trying to share is an interconnectedness in our human experience, it gets a little old to read about the significance she finds in every place she goes and in colors and numbers and eggs and thread and people and childbirth and tattoos and aura readings and yoga and headlamps and skinny dipping and shapes and articles of clothing and... well, you get the picture.
I persevered through the memoir and enjoyed the historical components. It's really very interesting to learn about this early history through the eyes of a feminist. There's a lot of historical context that's missing through traditional Christian teachings.
So, in the end, I'm glad I read this book, but I think her overall message is lost in all the fluff.
October 22, 2021
How do you actually review a book that is more than a book?
As I expected, reading this was a very personal journey. I knew about it for so long I was surprised it's not that old. And I kept it apart, not finding it right to read in a specific time frame. And now, for no reasons, I couldn't put it down.
I didn't knew actually what it was all about. So not to go blindly: it's an analyses of Mary Magdalene's gospel put into context and wrote from a feminist perspective. And from a very personal point of view. It's like Meggan journals and connects her entries with the gospel.
It is weird to keep so close a book of an author you cannot connect much to. While I admire Meggan, I never felt close to her, only intellectually. However, I found through this pages so many "friends" that take part into her adventure, so many authors I felt close to. If you read Hay House books you will know them right away. My heart melted a little when I read about her meeting with Rose, who I was sure (and right) it was the lovely Lyna Rose Jones, one of my guiding stars in the ways of Mary Magdalene.
This book is a journey of discovering Mary Magdalene, understanding the beginning of Christianity from the times when Mary was the beloved and not erased from the story, with a very modern approach as a writing style. The books focuses on Mary's importance, the legacy she is and the legacy she started. It only hints a little about Mary's relationship with Christ and her part in the resurrection, it doesn't go too deep. It's a reclaiming of the feminine side of Christianity, from a feminist theologian. As it is with books like this, new age and focusing on the feminine, it's a treasure of connections, messages, it's layers upon layers of notes from the Universe. And, in this note, a road map for a journey to Mary's France.
As I expected, reading this was a very personal journey. I knew about it for so long I was surprised it's not that old. And I kept it apart, not finding it right to read in a specific time frame. And now, for no reasons, I couldn't put it down.
I didn't knew actually what it was all about. So not to go blindly: it's an analyses of Mary Magdalene's gospel put into context and wrote from a feminist perspective. And from a very personal point of view. It's like Meggan journals and connects her entries with the gospel.
It is weird to keep so close a book of an author you cannot connect much to. While I admire Meggan, I never felt close to her, only intellectually. However, I found through this pages so many "friends" that take part into her adventure, so many authors I felt close to. If you read Hay House books you will know them right away. My heart melted a little when I read about her meeting with Rose, who I was sure (and right) it was the lovely Lyna Rose Jones, one of my guiding stars in the ways of Mary Magdalene.
This book is a journey of discovering Mary Magdalene, understanding the beginning of Christianity from the times when Mary was the beloved and not erased from the story, with a very modern approach as a writing style. The books focuses on Mary's importance, the legacy she is and the legacy she started. It only hints a little about Mary's relationship with Christ and her part in the resurrection, it doesn't go too deep. It's a reclaiming of the feminine side of Christianity, from a feminist theologian. As it is with books like this, new age and focusing on the feminine, it's a treasure of connections, messages, it's layers upon layers of notes from the Universe. And, in this note, a road map for a journey to Mary's France.
August 11, 2020
A Lot of Fluff
This book reads more like a memoir for millennials who are searching for a female deity to worship or believe in. It has relevancy to the time we live in since the rise of the Divine Feminine is part of our growth towards acceptance and equality of the “missing half” of the story of Jesus. It is an easy read but I did not like the casual way swear words were thrown into the narrative nor was I interested in her life story. There were a few gems of wisdom sparsely littered throughout, but if you are a serious student of spiritual knowledge, this may not be for you.
This book reads more like a memoir for millennials who are searching for a female deity to worship or believe in. It has relevancy to the time we live in since the rise of the Divine Feminine is part of our growth towards acceptance and equality of the “missing half” of the story of Jesus. It is an easy read but I did not like the casual way swear words were thrown into the narrative nor was I interested in her life story. There were a few gems of wisdom sparsely littered throughout, but if you are a serious student of spiritual knowledge, this may not be for you.
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