Forever Changed

Where does The Meaning of Mary Magdalene rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I can honestly say it is at the top of the list.

What did you like best about this story?

It was written by someone who has lived, studied and contemplated the topic for many, many years. The idea of the church being formed by "male, celibate monastics" caused a major shift in my perspective. This combination resonated with me as a major cause of movement away from the Beginning Church.

Which scene was your favorite?

I have celebrated the Mass for many years and today, it was different for me; it was different as a result of Cynthia's presentation of what "This is my Body" means. I am forever changed and eternally grateful....and I get it!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

This Is My Body is not what you think

Any additional comments?

This book is for those who are open to a new way of looking at Christ, women, Mary M and the Church. If you're a conservative Roman Catholic or Evangelical, I suspect you won't like her or this book unless the Holy Spirit is drawing you into a deeper love relationship with God. I caution the reader, though. Hold onto your hat. She will say things that might shake you up; she may say things that might upset you. But hang in there. LISTEN to what she says, take it in, pray about it. I confess I was ready, at one point, to put the book down and not pick it up. Truly. But today, after the 2nd reading of it, I deeply sense she is a modern day prophet worthy of your time to read or listen to what she has to say.

36 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Great Book, even with the narrator

I almost didn't buy this book because of the negative reviews of the narrator. But after reading Cynthia Bourgeault's Wisdom Jesus, I just had to read (listen to) more of her brilliant work. The narrator isn't great. She's overly dramatic at times. But don't let that stop you if you are a fan of this author and of contemplative Christianity. Eventually the content of the work takes center stage, and the narrator isn't really that bad.

8 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Well written, poorly narrated.

As usual, Bourgeault has written a thought provoking and well-crafted argument. I found this book challenging, frustrating, enlightening and an overall good "read"

This audiobook has one major drawback, though, which is narrator Gabra Zackman's reading of the material, which I find is not true to the spirit of Bourgerault's writing. Zackman's tone frequently adds a layer of snarkiness or "gotchya"-style provocative flare that the material does not warrant. I noticed this because I have read Bourgealts other books and heard her speak publicly about materials I have read and her own delivery of her work is markedly absent any flavor of that condescending "oh-I-went-there-because-I-like-pushing-the-boundaries" nonsense you pick up on in Zackman's reading (not to mention the fact that Zackman mispronounces the terminology at times).

This critique holds true of Zackman's reading of "The Heart of Centering Prayer" as well, which I read and a friend of mine listened too. Our experiences of that book were completely different as a result.

7 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Words insufficient to express my gratitude to the author...

...for bringing Mary Magdalene back to us in this 21st century and showing us the beauty and power of her silent reach into our times.

6 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Very interesting, indeed

This book has opened my eyes a little more than they were before. It has peaked my interest too. I wish to learn more. I will learn more unless my heart breaks or something before I do.

5 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Another Audible Book Ruined by the Narrator

Where does Audible find their narrators? This one starts out by mispronouncing the word apostolic for the first two chapters. She finally gets it right. Audible, of course, doesn’t bother to re-record the beginning. But that’s pretty minor compared with the narrator’s supremely annoying and distracting melodramatic reading style. She seems to be trying to make a serious work of theology into a trash bodice-ripper. Ugh! Audible, please fire whoever hired this narrator.

4 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Not informative nor entertaining

I got this hoping to learn something new
Instead it was 7 hours of an op-Ed piece. I felt like I was listening to a term paper. I appreciate the author’s admiration and spirit but it was boring and I didn’t learn anything

3 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Both Scholarly and Heart-filled

Very well researched and resoned explanation of Mary's vital role at the heart of Christianity. An aspect we've been missing for far too long.

3 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Thought Provoking

I'm just venturing into the Wisdom Jesus theology, and this book had been so helpful.
Coming out of the Fundamentalist Christian movement left me feeling like I'd been bamboozled. This author presents the historical Mary Magdalene in a completely legitimate way. There's nothing about believing in this account that takes away from who Christ claimed to be. In fact, the addition of this information about Mary allows Christ to be more beautiful to me.

3 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Modern day feminist agenda

did not finish. disappointed by the portal of a modern day feminist agenda. not theologically based.

2 personnes ont trouvé cela utile