About this item
Who was Mary? A radical rediscovery of the historical mother of JesusA 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.
About the Author
Chris Maunder writes and edits academic books and articles on Mary the mother of Jesus and her cult. The latest is 'The Oxford Handbook of Mary' (OUP, 2019) , and previous works include 'Our Lady of the Nations' (OUP, 2016) and 'Origins of the Cult of the Virgin Mary' (Bloomsbury, 2008) . Chris is a founder member of the Centre for Marian Studies, a trustee of a 15th century Marian shrine near his home, and a serial pilgrim: along with his wife Natalie, he does not allow a holiday to go past without visiting a new shrine of Mary somewhere in the world. The best known of Chris' books, however, is the general historical collection in 'Documents of the Christian Church' (OUP, 2011) , the editorship of which he inherited from Henry Bettenson. Chris is also interested in new and alternative spiritualities, and has written a novel, 'Calling', describing the dramatic spiritual experiences of a young Leeds woman which change her life as she approaches 30. The background for Chris' writing consists in his many enjoyable and fulfilling years as a lecturer in Theology and Religious Studies at York St John University.
