this book reveals that the life of the Virgin Mary is an elabrate myth invented by the early church to further the interests of its male hierarchy and disguise the pagan origins of themother of Jesus. Based on fresh research into the origins and development of Mariolatry, especially an examination of ancient Near Easter, Jewish and early Christian texts written between the 3rd century BC and the 5 century AD, Mary: The Unauthorised Biography establishes beyond doubt the widespread existence of pagan traditioons and fertility rites at all levels of Jewish society at the time of Mary's birth. Michael Jordan then examines the mysteries and conundrums of Mary's life. Why was Mary handed over to temple priets as a child? Why did she give birth to Jesus in the sanctury of a pgan god? why is she hardly mentioned in the New Testament? why was she treated so coldly and distanly by Jesus himself? Why at her death did some Jewish factions try to seize her body and burn it, a sentence reserved for those found guilty of cultic prostitution? Michael Jordan traces the development and growth over the centuries of the cult of Mary - virgin bride, grieving mother, heavenly queen, compassionate intercessor, leader of armies- such that in some parts of the world she has become the main figure of adoration, even above Jesus himself. He argues that this extreme Maran cult has no historical foundation, it has perverted the founding principles of Christianity, and it has encouraged division and conflict between the Roman Catholic, Protestant and Orhtodox churches.
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