Rating: 
Summary: Wishful Thinking Meets Bad Scholarship
Review:
The actual gospel text contained in this book is rather interesting, if abstruse. But this gospel was probably not written by Mary Magdalene herself or even narrated by her, but only attributed to her -- an issue which the editors pass over entirely, taking the text at face value as a book that contains "authentic" teachings from the actual Mary Magdalene, who received them from the actual Christ upon his resurrection.
As for the editor's interpretation of this gospel, they have simply projected their fantasies onto the text. For example, from a very, very minimal text, the editors have concluded that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married to each other, or if they were not married, they at least had sex with one another. They conclude that Jesus passed his "secret" teachings to Mary Magdalene when he met her outside his tomb upon his resurrection (never having, I guess, gotten around during his lifetime to telling them to his other disciples, including Peter, upon whom Jesus expressly founded his church).
Piling assumption upon assumption, the editors conclude that Christ's "real" church is really to be found in Mary Magdalene's gospel, and not in all those "other" and "later" gospels (like Mark, Luke, etc.)
If I had been a Church Father, I would have burned this book and its authors -- not for heresy, but for bad scholarship and wishful thinking.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the Nag Hammadi discoveries
Review:
This is one of the scrolls found in the Nag Hammadi desert, in Egypt, in 1945, and is of more importance, from a religious standpoint, than the so-called Dead Sea Scrolls, which dealt more with legal and more mundane affairs and gave an insight into living conditions in the early centuries before the present era.
There is much information about the Nag Hammadi find in Professor Elaine Pagel's book, The Gnostic Gospels. I met her briefly several years ago, in New York. Only fragments of The Gospel of Mary Magdalene were found, of the total 19 pages. Pages 1-6 are missing, as are 11-14. However, the pages that were found and translated from the coptic are of great interest since they primarily purport to be quotations of Yeshua (better known by his Greek name, Jesus) and conversations between his disciples. A tension between Mary Magdalene, who is described as being closer to Yeshua than the others, and Peter, is evident: "How is it possible that the Teacher talked in this manner with a woman about secrets with which we ourselves are ignorant? Must we change our customs and listen to this woman? Did he really choose her, and prefer her to us?" Then Mary wept and answered him: "My brother Peter, what can you be thinking? Do you believe that this is just my own imagination, that I invented this vision? Or do you believe that I would lie about our Teacher?" Is his reaction only male chauvinism, or pure jealousy? The scrolls found in the Nag Hammadi are important because the Gnostics were opposed by the dominant Constantinians, who tried to stamp them and their writings out, and refused to allow them into the canon of the New Testament. I once heard that Constantine's scholars went into a room, and when they came out, said that the books included in the canon were chosen because they "jumped up on the table" of their own accord, and the ones that did not were not included. I can't verify the statement's truth, but it is no more far-fetched than some others. The antiquity of the Nag Hammadi books alone, as well as the subject matter, should make them as valuable as any of the other gospels. Joseph (Joe) Pierre
author of The Road to Damascus: Our Journey Through Eternity
and other books
Rating:
Summary: Truth Revealed
Review: As a previous reviewer stated better than I can, many questions about the source of the King James' bible remain unanswered. Why were many books discarded in the formation of the Gospel, leaving us with the four we are familiar with? As a curious Christian I cannot but wonder abut the messages concerning my faith that certain church bodies and governing powers have tried to exclude from my scrutiny.
After finding the Book of Thomas on the Internet and learning that I could approach God directly, without having to go through the Pope, my interest in these controversial "lost" Gospels was piqued. Later my wife introduced me to the theory of the Priori Scion, that I believe Brown also discusses in his "Da Vinci Code" which basically states members of the Priori Scion are keepers of the blood of Christ-that is, descendants of Christ. If this is the case, who bore a child from Christ? The Gospel of Mary Magdalene sheds light on this question. Another similar concept concerns the Holy Grail, which most of us believe refers to a cup that held the wine used in The Last Supper. While visiting the original painting of the Last Supper, I noticed the grail is not depicted in Da Vinci's famous painting, however a V, which refers to a female, is depicted in the painting, and suggests Mary Magdalene is the cup (meaning holder) of the blood of Christ. Also, Mary's uterus is referred to as the "cup." This book reveals a side of Christ from Mary Magdalen's perspective, free of papal revisionism. I highly recommend this book for any scholar or casual inquirer of the truth. In my opinion, the information in this book strengthened my faith, rather than threatened it.
Rating:
Summary: Splendid and Thought-Provoking
Review: At last a Gnostic Gospel is presented in a way that even non-Gnostics can love. Leloup's excellent commentary adequately summarizes the Gnostic world-view without being intrusive, and the light he shines on the Gospel of Magdalene will make you ponder no matter what you believe, even if you believe nothing. It is short enough to read quickly -- but you probably won't. It's too good. Savor its wisdom and go back to it often. It's a spiritual experience par excellance and a bargain to boot.
Rating:
Summary: We come out of the world, not intuit.
Review: First there was the three wise men being Zorastrian Astrologers from Persia. Then there was Jesus having greater knowledge than the Jewish leaders of his community by the age of twelve. Then his mysterious disappearance from the Constantine Canon until he reached the age of majority. Why were 18 years of Jesus life left out of the Bible? Where did Jesus go so that he could be about his Father's business? Did he go to Persia and study under the three Magi? Then there is the Roman Emperor Constantine sanctioning a group of Bishops to establish a State Religion in 323 AD under the ruse of a minority question concerning Jesus essential nature. Why was the Book of Thomas left out of the new canon? Why was the Book of Enoch left out? Why was the Gospel of Mary left out? Could it have been a conspiracy between the Roman Emperor, the Pope, and the Jewish leaders of the time? Would a governing body lie? Is the Judeo/Christian Bible of today the product of mysogynistic revisionism? What is a thinking person to do? Read this book, that is what. My people perish for lack of knowledge. Mary was closer to Jesus than anyone else. The Apostle John called her the greatest Apostle. When the men were all hiding Mary was there at the crucifixion. And again Mary was the first to see the risen Lord. Mary was the first Christian. Did Jesus have esoteric teachings that he did not share with everyone. When he grew weary of dealing with the crowds would he retreat and teach those closest to him by means other than parable? A direct means. A knowing. A Gnosis. Jean-Yves Leloup has my sincere admiration for his bravery in the face of so much dogmaticism in such matters. (I promise not to pick on the French for a whole week.) The crowd is still a scary thing at times. We have a tendency to want someone else to be responsible for our actions. For our lives. They aren't. We are each made in the image of God. If we have but the faith of a mustard seed we can shape reality. That pretty much says it all. Long live Mary Magdalene and 5 Stars for Jean-Yves.
Rating:
Summary: Dissapointment!!
Review: Hey - everyone - If you get a chance to read this book - do yourself a favor and don't! Save your money and time for better projects. I've never been so disappointed in my life! This was promoted as part of the Dead Sea Scroll find that had been finally translated. 1 - Translation was first into French and then into English, which might explain many segments of this book that make poor sense or no sense at all. Although why the same exact word has come to be translated 3 different ways, is beyond me. Perhaps, it was not saying what the 'author' meant for it to say? (I am not a great linguist, so this is only my opinion, but 'esprit' as 'heart' as 'spirit' as 'breath' - I can stretch my mind to all these - but as 'head'??) 2 - This 'find' was not a book - the entire found text was not even 4 pages long when I put it together typing. From this, which might have made interesting reading, the 'author/translater' has padded out a book of amazing imaginary mental convolutions. 3 - This 'find' is not even part of the Dead Sea Scroll find. It surfaced in 1896 - in Egypt - no where near Nag Hammadi <signed> sad and disappointed!
Rating: 
Summary: bible thumpers beware
Review: I can see very well why the people who believe that the present day bible is the absolute authority on ancient christianity would dislike this work. I found it thoughtful and thought provoking. And a threat, like all the gnostic texts, to the narrow minded who hold on to the vision that there is only one side to the teachings of jesus and early christians
Rating:
Summary: Enlightening and Truth-filled
Review: I found this book to be simply amazing. I believe this book illuminates the mystical truths shared by Jesus with his close friend and confidant, Mary Magdalene. This books restores her to the positions from which the Insitutional Church has systematically removed her. (I would invite the Vatican to search their secret archives for the 7 missing pages of the original text!!!!) This book illustrates the esoteric (inner and mystical) path to the Divine and the stages we as humans must pass through on our own journey's of enlightenment and freedom. (Not coincidently, parallelling the Chakra's of Eastern thought) "The Truth shall set you free". Jean-Yves writes his commentary from this perspective and it is INSPIRED!!! A Must read for all seriously committed to the path of the Truth!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Sorry "scholar mystics" she belongs to us
Review: I give this work two stars for existing at all - I had not seen this early pre-gnostic treasure and am pleased indeed to read it. It seems to be a good idea to revisit her most famous scene - it pops in and out of the canon and two different gospels but reads like an eye-witness account - here let me translate it for you and add a few questions. Magdalena And all went to their homes,
Jesus to the Olive Mount,
At dawn to be seen once more in the Temple,
The people all around Him,
He seated and teaching them, She dragged in
By the writers and nit-pickers.
'Rabbi - we took her red-handed,
By Moses' Law she must be stoned!
What say you to that? Teacher.'
Jesus bent to the earth and with his fingerWrote
She before him. They hard hassling for his answer.
'That man among you who has no error:
He will now be first to stone her' He again to the ground inscribing dirt.
First the eldest - shamed - went
Then the rest of them.
Only Jesus remained
The woman standing. He then with straight back, softly:
'Where are they? Is there no soul left to Damn you?'
'Not one sir' 'Nor I woman.Go nowbe free of fault.' _______________________________
What sign, phrase or Signature of All Things did He write?
Who was she? Some whore, a girl as you or me, Pallas Athene?
Later, did she softly touch him, promise to be there for him:
At the eventual opening of Death's Oven?
In that garden.
Was she very beautiful indeed?
Where where the essenes, gnostics and other anorexic flesh-despising scholar mystics (diagrams in pocket)? That's right - concealing their hardness in their robes "exeunt omnes". "Sawnterelles" all. Download the web version like the man says
Rating:
Summary: A meditation on the fragments
Review: I had read the 'Gospel of Mary Magdalene' in 'The Other Gospels: Non-Canonical Gospel Texts', by Ron Cameron. Finding the commentary a little thin, I looked for something a bit more thought provoking and got a copy of this book. The book is organized into introductory comments, the ancient text itself and an extended exegesis. For my taste, the introductory comments were too short and the exegesis too long. I had to force my way through LeLoup's geometric hierarchies of spiritual insights which include a quadrangle labeled in counter clockwise order from the top, 'I AM', 'The Teacher', I am not' and 'The Human'. In the center, within 4 concentric circles is (from top to bottom) 'masculine,' ANTHROPOS' and 'feminine'. Additionally, LeLoup provides us with a 10 page commentary on the 10 Commandments, almost 10% of the exegesis. The ancient text provides LeLoup plenty of justification for this numerology. Mary describes a vision that includes the soul's journey through 4 climates. The 4th climate (also called wrath) had 7 manifestations darkness, craving, ignorance, lethal jealousy, enslavement of the body, intoxicated wisdom, guileful wisdom. Though I winced more than once, I'm glad I read it. It is important to slow down the thought processes while trying to tease out a context for the ancient-source text. I had to wonder if one could compare the numerology to that originating in India a few hundred year before Jesus and Mary walked the earth. The introduction was all to brief and will leave you wanting more. The Berlin Papyrus, and the Rylands Papyrus should have been described as physical objects with a chemical composition, process of creation, evidence of age and current condition. What do we know about other documents of the same age? What group of people would have been writing it? Storing it? What can we surmise regarding the missing pages 1-6 and 11-14. Is the Nag Hammadi library's 'Sophia (Wisdom) of Jesus' an embellished version of the Mary Gospel? More could be done with the translation of specific terms. In particular, what in other translations is rendered 'male' is rendered here as 'fully human'. What is elsewhere rendered 'mind', is rendered 'nous'. The delicate shades need to be explicitly explored, probably by multiple authors (including someone familiar with the 7 chakras). LeLoups takes a start at this, but I can't abide with his geometric solution. Additionally, there ought to be a discussion of what clues in the text might suggest the authority of eye-witness commentary (or lack of same).
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