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Mary, Founder of Christianity
Who was Mary? A radical rediscovery of the historical mother of Jesus
A radical reassessment of the role of Mary the mother of Jesus and other women in the early Church
Despite the commonly held assumption that the Bible says little about the mother of Jesus, there are many indications that Mary preceded and inspired her son in fostering the emergence of a new faith community. In the Gospel of John, Mary instigates Jesus’ first miracle, and in all four gospels she is present at the crucifixion, suggesting hers was a place of unparalleled importance in the Christian story.
Setting aside presuppositions based on doctrine, Chris Maunder returns to the New Testament to answer the question ‘Who was Mary?’ He re-examines the virgin conception of Jesus, Mary’s contribution to Jesus’ ministry, and her central role in the events of the crucifixion and the resurrection. In so doing, Maunder casts a thought-provoking new light on Mary and the women, including Mary Magdalene, who stood alongside her.
A radical reassessment of the role of Mary the mother of Jesus and other women in the early Church
Despite the commonly held assumption that the Bible says little about the mother of Jesus, there are many indications that Mary preceded and inspired her son in fostering the emergence of a new faith community. In the Gospel of John, Mary instigates Jesus’ first miracle, and in all four gospels she is present at the crucifixion, suggesting hers was a place of unparalleled importance in the Christian story.
Setting aside presuppositions based on doctrine, Chris Maunder returns to the New Testament to answer the question ‘Who was Mary?’ He re-examines the virgin conception of Jesus, Mary’s contribution to Jesus’ ministry, and her central role in the events of the crucifixion and the resurrection. In so doing, Maunder casts a thought-provoking new light on Mary and the women, including Mary Magdalene, who stood alongside her.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published April 12, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 1, 2025
Maunder's thoughtful investigation into the life of Mary, Mother of Jesus, was refreshing to read. It starkly contrasts the patriarchal tendencies of evolving organized religion by uplifting the feminist truths of Christianity and reimagining a Church in which women are recognized as equal devotees of Christ. As evidenced my Maunder's painstaking research and the fastidious (and impressive!) appendices he included, femininity is a critical aspect of Christianity and has been since its conception. Rather than downplaying the accomplishments of Christian men or negating the simultaneous masculinity of God the Father and of Jesus, Son of Man, Maunder has instead emphasized the codependent relationship of male and female ends of the Christian spectrum. Navigating the concepts he approached in this decade would be a difficult feat for many of the other most seasoned authors and biblical historians to accomplish. However, he handled this with a particular grace, providing commentary with a very Christlike nonviolent and non-combative approach. It's Christianity for the modern Christian, not in contrast to biblical truths but a delightful resolution back to the femininity at the Church's core. He takes every precaution not to offend anyone of disagreeable perspective, but rather to present this information as predominantly subjective and, to the best of his knowledge, a careful amalgamation of disciplines working together to give us, the believers, the most accurate and praise-worthy understanding of the Messiah.
While the book presents as much conversation about Mary as can be aided by biblical texts, it takes many alternative routes to get to its final destination in the summary chapter. It certainly lends itself to helping the reader construct a more divine (and still, more accessible) version of Mary, but it does more to highlight Mary as a representative of womanhood at the feet of God. It inspires the reader to spend more time exploring large-scale biblical womanhood.
I think that this book does an excellent job in breaking down an increasingly fundamental approach to Christianity that has resurged in the last several centuries (and that has seemingly skyrocketed in the last few decades). In a society that still often undermines the role of women in the Church, seeing women as afterthoughts and meek followers in service of the Lord, Maunder has plainly pointed out the faultiness in any behaviors that discredit women as being equally fervent and predestined servants. It's not an attack, per se, on fundamentalism or on those who blindly take biblical texts at face value. It is, however, a step-by-step clarification that beckons literalists to be more intentional when reading biblical texts and storing them in one's heart. When read with an open mind, this book provides an excellent basis for reaffirming faith.
Additionally, this book is incredibly freeing for the female Christian reader because it negates the more-modernly concocted emphasis on physical virginity and manufactured purity, eliminating a disheartening barrier between a female believer and Mary, whose devotion to and faith in the Son of God are the inspiration for our own faiths. Moreover, the author makes no damning statements about those whose identities exist outside of a gender binary, reminding the reader that there are both feminine and masculine elements of the Church and that there will always be a place for both. Truly, the only person who could have an issue reading this book is someone who refuses to accept that someone may interpret the Bible in a different way and, thus, someone who has no room for a growing relationship with Christ and the Church, and I suspect that's what happened regarding any of the 1-or-2 star reviews here. Many people are uncomfortable when the minor tenets of their belief systems (for instance, Mary's "virgin" status or who specifically was present at the Last Supper) are challenged at all. I have encountered many such people who refuse to even consider that they could be "wrong" in their relationship with Jesus, and I pity anyone with such a one-dimensional view. If we cannot continuously get to know a friend, why can we not continuously be open to getting to learn new things about out Savior?
While the book presents as much conversation about Mary as can be aided by biblical texts, it takes many alternative routes to get to its final destination in the summary chapter. It certainly lends itself to helping the reader construct a more divine (and still, more accessible) version of Mary, but it does more to highlight Mary as a representative of womanhood at the feet of God. It inspires the reader to spend more time exploring large-scale biblical womanhood.
I think that this book does an excellent job in breaking down an increasingly fundamental approach to Christianity that has resurged in the last several centuries (and that has seemingly skyrocketed in the last few decades). In a society that still often undermines the role of women in the Church, seeing women as afterthoughts and meek followers in service of the Lord, Maunder has plainly pointed out the faultiness in any behaviors that discredit women as being equally fervent and predestined servants. It's not an attack, per se, on fundamentalism or on those who blindly take biblical texts at face value. It is, however, a step-by-step clarification that beckons literalists to be more intentional when reading biblical texts and storing them in one's heart. When read with an open mind, this book provides an excellent basis for reaffirming faith.
Additionally, this book is incredibly freeing for the female Christian reader because it negates the more-modernly concocted emphasis on physical virginity and manufactured purity, eliminating a disheartening barrier between a female believer and Mary, whose devotion to and faith in the Son of God are the inspiration for our own faiths. Moreover, the author makes no damning statements about those whose identities exist outside of a gender binary, reminding the reader that there are both feminine and masculine elements of the Church and that there will always be a place for both. Truly, the only person who could have an issue reading this book is someone who refuses to accept that someone may interpret the Bible in a different way and, thus, someone who has no room for a growing relationship with Christ and the Church, and I suspect that's what happened regarding any of the 1-or-2 star reviews here. Many people are uncomfortable when the minor tenets of their belief systems (for instance, Mary's "virgin" status or who specifically was present at the Last Supper) are challenged at all. I have encountered many such people who refuse to even consider that they could be "wrong" in their relationship with Jesus, and I pity anyone with such a one-dimensional view. If we cannot continuously get to know a friend, why can we not continuously be open to getting to learn new things about out Savior?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2023
Well written and an engaging read. It is challenging to a “normal” view of the gospels, consigning most miracles and signs to either the period after the resurrection (implying a mid-ordering in the gospel narrative), myth, or Jesus the Psycho-therapist (faith?). It is much more solid on the presentation of the founding of Christianity being a family affair with Christ’s mother and brothers taking leading roles in establishing the Church. This is a very valuable insight and helps me to understand why many regard St Mary as at least semi-divine. It would be interesting to know what better-known New Testament scholars make of this thesis, but I found the argument convincing.
I feel the book is less strong in what this means theologically. I don’t think it’s necessary to elevate St Mary to equality and equal partnership with Jesus to recognise that she was the first Christian priest and should be much much more to us than a tragic mother. She clearly needs to be reclaimed and women in general need to reclaim their position as “early adopters” of Christ’s message.
I feel the book is less strong in what this means theologically. I don’t think it’s necessary to elevate St Mary to equality and equal partnership with Jesus to recognise that she was the first Christian priest and should be much much more to us than a tragic mother. She clearly needs to be reclaimed and women in general need to reclaim their position as “early adopters” of Christ’s message.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2022
This book brings to light the important role of Mary in ushering in the redemption of all humanity. While for centuries the patriarchal system have been downgrading Women as subject to their desire for power, this book takes us on a journey to restore her in the very core of Christianity. At times, the author gets down to finite details, it is the arc of Mary and the need for divine balance.
August 19, 2023
An interesting discussion on the role of Mary in the life of Jesus. The author broadens it out by looking at the roles of other women in Jesus’ day as well as members of his family.
At times challenging and the text can meander a bit but a refreshing book.
At times challenging and the text can meander a bit but a refreshing book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews