Margaret Starbird's theological beliefs were profoundly shaken when she read Holy Blood, Holy Grail, a book that dared to suggest that Jesus Chr... read full description
reviews
May 14, 2009
Lisse
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I think that when I read "The Gospel of Mary Magdalen" that I was looking for more of what I found in this book. I feel Margaret Starbird does a good job at the beginning of her book of showing the possibilities of what could have been and how the relationship between Mary Magdalen and Jesus could have been misinterpreted in the bible. I have been slightly bitter about the fact that I grew up believing Mary to be a prostitute b/c that is waht my Sunday school teachers taught me, only
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Nov 21, 2007
Kristine
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Okay, I admit I read "The DaVinci Code", and thought the premise was completely fascinating even if the writing was a bit too much with an implausible plot line. The premise encouraged me to dig deeper into the theme and I discovered this little gem of a book.
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Mar 24, 2008
Anna
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I am an avid researcher of the Jesus conspiracy so of course I loved this book. Worth reading if you are intersted in something other than what the Bible told you and want to keep an open mind.
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Jan 16, 2011
Siobhann
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This book was so fun to read because it was all about--what if Jesus got married to Mary Magdalen and had a daughter? In writing this, Margaret Starbird said that she couldn't prove that this was true--only that many people in the middle ages believed this was true. She talks about how this "heresy" was stamped out by the Church, but how its story survived in disguise, through symbols in art, literature, and music. It's everything I'm interested in: ancient history, theology, symbols,
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Apr 15, 2009
Murray
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Was well before the curve of the Mary Magdalen books that have come out in the last 10 years, and still one of the very best. That the church suppressed the truth (or mythology) surrounding this enigmatic friend of Jesus is well documented in this book. The unluckiness of the number 13 and the making the mark X (the St Andrew cross which apparently was the glyph that represented Mary) a sign representing 'wrong', were all part of the method of undermining those with a Marist interest.
A goo More...
A goo More...
Sep 08, 2008
Michel
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"I cannot prove that Jesus was married or that Mary Magdelen was the mother of His child... but I can verify that these are tenets of a heresy widely believed in the Middle Ages; that fossils of that heresy can be found in numerous works of art and litterature, that it was virulently attacked by... the Church of Rome; and that it survived in spite of relentless persecution." And, one might add, doctoring of the texts.
As the Rev. Father Sweeney says in his preface, "Until the More...
As the Rev. Father Sweeney says in his preface, "Until the More...
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Jun 27, 2008
Stacy
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The first few chapters, where the author is laying out an alternative reading of the Bible's Mary Magdalen, are intriguing. The Bible is so vague and open to interpretation, it's interesting to hear Starbird's ideas.
The later chapters, where Starbird presents "evidence" for a cover-up of the importance of Mary Magdalen and Jesus' descendant(s) are intended to be scholarly but come across as laughable. Watermarks, tarot cards, unicorn tapestries... these are her proof. Ea More...
The later chapters, where Starbird presents "evidence" for a cover-up of the importance of Mary Magdalen and Jesus' descendant(s) are intended to be scholarly but come across as laughable. Watermarks, tarot cards, unicorn tapestries... these are her proof. Ea More...
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Mar 18, 2010
Gabriel-paul
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I found the different undestandings of the sacred feminine and the discussion about tarot cards within this book quite interesting. I think that the discussions of imagery on tarot cards is interesting as Starbird gives different interpretations to the cards that are usually seen as negative. Starbird's ability to discuss complex ideas in simple ways causes an ease of reading for the information. I think that Starbird's book is a facinating example of thinking beyond contemporary Christianity
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Sep 20, 2011
Marilyn A.
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A surprisingly well written work offering a logical and coherent argument for the idea of the 'Holy Grail' as the offspring of Jesus. This line, story, and symbols of the virgin, the rose,and the vine were preserved in early Europe despite Church attempts to eradicate the story and/or the line. Through art, early Tarot symbols, and other evidences that the church may have been a return to a balanced spirituality which valued equally the male and the female.
Aug 09, 2010
Marija
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This book may have been written in a "scholarly" manner, but it completely lacks footnotes. We are simply supposed to take the author's word for everything she's written. I stopped reading when she stated that Languedoc (in France) is otherwise known as Provence. In fact, they are two different areas of the country.
Skip this one and go straight to "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" by Michael Baigent. His is the original on the subject and is well documented.
Skip this one and go straight to "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" by Michael Baigent. His is the original on the subject and is well documented.
Jun 09, 2009
I loved reading this book; it has changed my outlook forever more on the interpretations of biblical Mary Magdalene. And once you have read the book, how can you not ever again ask the question 'What is the name of the woman with the alabaster jar?' since Jesus commanded we should remember it for all time.
Oct 07, 2011
Kiesha
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Starbird does a wonderful job but I couldn't get past her rationalization of the Black Madonna as metaphor as opposed to, you know, Black African. In her denial she missed an incredible opportunity to reveal more truths.
Jun 07, 2010
heather
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This book was well written and easy to read, but I really didn't learn anything new on the topic at hand. I was dissappointed in that fact.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is new to the concept of a marriage between Mary Magdalen & Jesus; but if you have researched te topic at all before this book will shed little light.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is new to the concept of a marriage between Mary Magdalen & Jesus; but if you have researched te topic at all before this book will shed little light.
May 22, 2009
Jessica
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I loved the idea of bringing the feminism into christianity. But I feel like Starbird made alot of asumptions that weren't backed up by facts. But overall I enjoyed the feminine symbols that were discussed.
Feb 07, 2009
Pete
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I found Margaret Starbird's book very interesting. Her ideas are similar to mine, and a whole lot more plausible than Saul of Tarsus.
Jan 08, 2011
Karen
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Was Mary Magdalen the wife of Jesus? Not very convincing argument. Too many theories, supported by questionable sources.
Dec 05, 2008
Julie
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Very difficult reading. I did not like this book at all. Not from the content - more from the difficult reading.
Mar 14, 2010
Nicole
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It turned what I thought I knew about the Christian story on its head! I've been questioning even more ever since.
Nov 27, 2009
Deirdre
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If you're called by Mary Magdalen, you've probably already read this book. It should be on the list.
Aug 12, 2009
Gina
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Gave me some insight on this topic. Her research helped me to solidify some of my personal thoughts.
Mar 23, 2009
Ellen
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Even though this book was written in a scholarly way, it was easy to read and very enjoyable.
Jan 22, 2010
Tara
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Exploration of Mary Magdalen's hidden role in artwork and in today's culture and symbols.
Feb 13, 2009
F. Emmanuelle
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a great interpretation of Mary Magdalen's life that makes a lot of sense to me
Nov 21, 2008
Jeff
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One of the first books after HBHG to look at the saint in a new perspective
Dec 30, 2010
Sirpa
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Compared to Vern Swenson's work, this pales both in scholarship and theoretical rumination, but Starbird's book is fascinating as it comes from a Roman Catholic who worked through having her faith shaken by concepts that her church views as heretical. Her musings about Mary Magdalene have, I am sure, caused a lot of readers to ponder the fate of the women in Christ's life. Although much of this is conjecture, in light of the interest in the Dan Brown phenomena, Starbird proffers some possibiliti
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Nov 02, 2010
Nicole
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I am temporarily abandoning this book halfway through; I have to bow to my reading phases but I know that soon enough I will again be obsessed by the Holy Grail and will pick this back up.
May 22, 2007
Rebecca
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I adored this. A very thourough break down of the history of the bloodline of Jesus, and one of Dan Brown's references for the DaVinci Code. Well written and interestingly told. The author is a die hard Christian professor who set out to prove the opposite of what she ended up writing about. When confronted with her reasearch she changed her mind and wrote about Mary instead.
There is so much info in this book. I can't pass a church now without noticing the symbology, as well as seeing it More...
There is so much info in this book. I can't pass a church now without noticing the symbology, as well as seeing it More...
