... women of the Christian and Islamic faith traditions. Cynthia Bourgeault's opus, "The Meaning of Mary Magdalene: Discovering the Woman at the Heart of Christianity," offers a provocative study of the life of Mary Magdalene and her relationship with the prophet Jesus of Nazareth. Similarly, in her biographical exploration, "Politics, Gender, and the Islamic Past: The Legacy of &apos ... the unguent to perfume her flesh in forbidden acts."4 This seemingly logical hypothesis would stand to divide Christians' image of Mary between "penitent whore" and "apostle to the apostles." The confusion ...

• Word Count: 3461
• Approx Pages: 14
• Grade Level: Undergraduate