Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
Mary’s Gospel and The Politics of Love

Mary’s Gospel and The Politics of Love

Last updated on: February 4, 2025 at 1:02 am by Keith Giles

0 Comments

Mary’s Gospel and The Politics of Love 2025-02-03T21:21:36+00:00 Keith Giles

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

IMAGE: Keith Giles

If there’s one thing guaranteed to make people uncomfortable, it’s talking about politics and religion in the same breath.

But here we are.

And what better way to stir the pot than to explore the Gospel of Mary—yes, that Mary, Mary Magdalene—and what it has to say to our current political climate?

The Gospel of Mary is one of those texts that got left on the cutting room floor when the powers that be decided what would make the “official” canon of Scripture. And that alone should make us curious.

Why was this Gospel, which portrays Mary Magdalene as not only a devoted follower of Jesus but as a leader among the disciples, so threatening?

And, why did Peter—yes, that Peter—challenge her right to speak as an Apostle?

The Threat of a Different Kingdom

The tension in the Gospel of Mary isn’t just about gender roles (though that’s a big one). It’s about authority.

Who gets to speak for Christ? Who gets to define the faith?

The Gospel presents Mary as someone who deeply understands Jesus’ message, even when the other disciples don’t. She embodies an authority that doesn’t come from status or power but from an intimate connection with divine wisdom.

Sound familiar? It should. Because today, we’re still wrestling with these same questions.

Who has the right to speak truth? Is it only those in power, the ones with institutional backing and official titles?

Or could it be the ones who have been pushed to the margins, the ones with no earthly authority but a deep, undeniable connection to justice, mercy, and truth?

Fear and Control

Peter’s challenge to Mary isn’t just about skepticism; it’s about fear. If Mary’s version of Jesus’ teachings is true, then the entire power structure the disciples assumed might not be what Jesus intended.

It flips the script. It removes control from the hands of a select few and democratizes divine wisdom.

And that’s exactly what makes the Gospel of Mary so relevant today. We live in a time where political and religious institutions desperately cling to control, policing who gets to speak, who gets to lead, and who gets to interpret truth.

We see it in the political sphere, where fear-mongering replaces actual discourse.

We see it in the church, where tradition is often used as a weapon to silence rather than to liberate.

The Politics of Love

At its core, the Gospel of Mary presents a radically different view of power. It’s not about dominance. It’s about love.

Mary describes Jesus’ teachings as an invitation to move beyond fear and embrace a deeper, inner knowing—a knowing rooted in love, not control.

Imagine if our political landscape looked more like that.

Imagine leaders who governed not by fear, but by love.

Imagine policies driven not by the desire to dominate, but by the desire to serve.

Imagine a world where those on the margins were given the microphone instead of being silenced.

Why It Matters

The Gospel of Mary isn’t just an ancient text nearly lost to history. It’s a prophetic challenge to us today. It asks us to rethink power, to question authority, and to embrace a love that is bigger than fear. It calls us to recognize the voices we’ve ignored, the wisdom we’ve dismissed, and the radical message of a kingdom that doesn’t play by the rules of empire.

So, is the Gospel of Mary political? Absolutely.

But then again, so was Jesus.

Our challenge is to recognize that everyone, everywhere, is connected to the Divine. None of us is separated from God. None of us are separate from one another.

We belong to each other. This speaks to our need to care for one another.

Everyone is their brother’s – and sister’s – keeper.

We have a shared Divine spark and a shared Human identity.

In the Gospel of Mary, Jesus reminds us that we are all connected in ways we can barely comprehend.

Never the less, this much is true: There is not “Them,” there is only “Us.”

The newest book from Keith Giles, “The Quantum Sayings of Jesus: Decoding the Lost Gospel of Thomas” is available now on Amazon. Order HERE>

Keith Giles is the best-selling author of the Jesus Un series. He has appeared on CNN, USA Today, BuzzFeed, and John Fugelsang’s “Tell Me Everything.”

He co-hosts The Heretic Happy Hour Podcast and his solo podcast, Second Cup With Keith which are both available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple, Podbean or wherever you find great podcasts.

Previous Post

February 2, 2025

The Last Days Of The American Empire?

Next Post

February 7, 2025 INNER CIRCLE: Mary Magdalene In Early Christian Texts

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"Googled: “In psychology and everyday language, intelligence is the capacity to learn, understand, reason, think ..."

Herm

AI Is A Gateway to the ..."

"It's so weird to me how anyone thinks that getting basic income is in any ..."

Scott Santens

AI Is A Gateway to the ..."

"Sounds very much like what Pope Leo wrote in Magnifica Humanitas - a lot of ..."

ffeineandsugar

AI Is A Gateway to the ..."

"As it is written in the canonical Gospels:But as many as received Him, to them ..."

Herm

INNER CIRCLE: God’s Transcending Love

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Biblicism Christian Politics Cosmic Christ Deconstruction Discipleship Dispensationalism Divine Unity Ekklesia End Time Stuff Eschatology Evergreen Following Jesus Gender General Christian Topics Gnostics God's Love Gospel of Judas Gospel of Mary Gospel of Philip Gospel of the Kingdom Gospel of Thomas Gospel of Truth Hell Historical Jesus Inner Circle Investigative Reporting Islam LGBTQ Issues Marriage Mental/Emotional Health Mystery Non-Duality Philosophy Podcast Poetry Politics Poverty Preemptive Love Prophecy Psychology Quantum Theology Racism Reconstruction Satire Sex Technology Theology Uncategorized Universalism

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Beersheba" mean in Hebrew?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Dwelling of the Lord Place of Bread Well of the Oath City of Peace

Books by This Author Books by Keith Giles

See All Titles »