Mary, Founder of Christianity

‘Heroically measured and utterly meticulous… Mary is a signpost both to the past and to the future. She is important. All credit to Chris Maunder for fighting so heroically, inch by passionate inch, to try and allow some extra room for her.’

'Refreshing… it is good to see Chris Maunder’s work as a potential for a meeting of minds between those starting from very different perspectives… There is a valuable discussion here on the role of symbolism and metaphor in the use of Scripture… Maunder’s penultimate chapter is headed “Mary and the Incarnation”, and for that section alone there would be justification for buying his book.'

‘Chris Maunder builds on his previous research to construct an historical, feminist image of Mary rooted in the New Testament and early Christian history that depicts Mary as a key figure in early Christianity… Mary, Founder of Christianity manages to be both complex and approachable. Maunder moves from broader themes to more specific ones as he concludes. Additionally, the book is well structured as historical context leads to scriptural analysis leads to character-specific analysis… I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a feminist, historical depiction of Mary. Maunder’s structure, evidence, and writing style will appeal to scholars and lay readers alike.’

'Mother Mary’s contributions to the establishment of Christianity are brought to the fore in this provocative treatise by Maunder... Even those who disagree with Maunder’s unorthodox biblical readings will acknowledge the boldness and originality of what’s on offer.'

‘Maunder answers the burning questions around Mary’s role in the Christian faith, using a scholar’s approach that gives the nonacademic reader an understanding of why the historical mother of Jesus is so important to the foundation of Christianity… Maunder offers plenty of resources in his footnotes, adding further interest for readers interested in studying Christian history.’

‘A welcome addition to the recent resurgence of research on the Marys, and on the leadership of women in early Christianity. In particular, Maunder’s focus on Mary of Nazareth’s status within the family of Jesus is a plausible and culturally relevant approach to an important issue, presented in an accessible and intriguing way.’

‘An excellent examination of the portrait of Mary, Jesus’ mother, according to the canonical gospel accounts.’

‘The book offers the reader much… especially its outline of biblical criticism, which will be particularly useful to those called on to describe modern scholarship… [Maunder’s] case is well argued… His other theme – to explain, challenge and re-contextualise the patriarchy of the Christian tradition – is also handled with care… He writes that this is a book for “free thinkers in the Christian tradition” and its approach will resonate with many PCN members.’

‘Chris Maunder undertakes an important but complicated task in this book. He wants to recover Mary for a world in which women have equal voice and in which a virgin bearing a child seems unbelievable. Like the search for the historical Jesus, Maunder’s search for the historical Mary begins with a framework for interpretation that distinguishes between an historical event and its metaphoric presentation in the gospels. In this reading framework, he finds Mary present before, throughout, and at the end of Jesus’ ministry. He argues for her significant presence in the early church in Jerusalem. In this way, Mary is imagined as a co-founder of Christianity. This is indeed a book for “free thinkers in the Christian tradition” who might find in a reconsideration of Mary an escape from the “delusion of male and hierarchical supremacy”.’

‘The reader is given an attractive and rich theology of Mary in the New Testament… There is… some interesting and careful speculation towards the end of the book on the plethora of Maries at the cross and resurrection, in view of the later traditions of the leadership of the Jerusalem Christian community.’

‘Chris Maunder sets out to place Mary, mother of Jesus, front and centre in the founding story of Christianity… [Maunder] argues his case with fluency and energy. His research and references are thorough and densely presented.’

'Maunder opens up a new and wider window into a new perspective… Challenges to perceived modern theology are what makes this book full of interest. Maunder knows his stuff and presents a strong basis for many a full-bodied discussion.'