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Most people think that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. Others say she was Jesus' closest disciple (and the Gospels have covered it up). Yet others go even further to suggest they had an intimate relationship -- or even were married! Is any of that possible? If possible, is it true? In this episode we look at what we can actually know about Mary Magdalene and her relationship with Jesus.

In this episode, Megan and Bart discuss:

-Why it’s important to talk about Mary Magdalene

-Where does Mary Magdalene appear in the gospels, and what role does she play?

-What we know about her prior to her decision to follow Jesus

-Mary appears in the apocryphal gospels of Mary and Philip - how do these sources add to our understanding of the historical Mary?

-The Gospel of Philip describes an encounter where the disciples ask Jesus why he loves Mary more than them - is it reasonable to see this as a reference to romantic attachment?

-Mary is not named in any of the canonical gospels as being either a prostitute, or the wife of Jesus. Are these ideas from apocryphal sources, or somewhere else?

-One of the arguments that has been cited for Jesus’ and Mary’s marriage is that it was practically unheard of for people to not marry during this time. Is that accurate?

-If we know so little about Mary Magdalene, and she features so minorly in the gospels, why has she’s been latched onto by various storytellers through the centuries?