Mary Magdalene is one of the most influential symbols in the history of Christianity-yet, if you look in the Bible, you'll find only a handful of verses that speak of her. How did she become such a compelling saint in the face of such paltry evidence? In her effort to answer that question, Cynthia Bourgeault examines the Bible, church tradition, art, legend, and newly discovered texts to see what's there. She then applies her own reasoning and intuition,...

"In this final volume of the acclaimed Maeve Chronicles, Maeve confronts a political and emotional complexity that speaks to our times. Her courageous and compassionate witness of an epic tragedy will challenge and comfort all of us who have ever faced intractable circumstances of our own."--Jacket.

Historian of religion Ehrman takes readers on a tour of the early Christian church, illuminating the lives of three of Jesus' most intriguing followers: Simon Peter, Paul of Tarsus, and Mary Magdalene. What do the writings of the New Testament tell us about each of these key followers of Christ? What legends have sprung up about them in the centuries after their deaths? Was Paul bow-legged and bald? Was Peter crucified upside down? Was Mary Magdalene...

Waiting to be rediscovered in the British Library is an ancient manuscript of the early Church, copied by an anonymous monk. This document is at least 1,450 years old, possibly dating to the first century, but it has never been properly translated and decoded -- until now. Working with an expert team of translators and digital imaging experts, the authors provide the first ever translation from Syriac into English of this unique document that tells...

She is one of the most transformative yet misunderstood women in history, alternately vilified as a sinner and canonized as a saint. For the first time, the incredible story of Mary Magdalene is told through her own eyes. In the first century A.D., the free-spirited Mary flees the marriage her family has arranged for her, finding refuge and a sense of purpose in a radical new movement led by the charismatic, rabble-rousing preacher Jesus.