Rating: 
Summary: Is Author Processing Personal Feelings Instead of Facts?
Review: After reading this book it became obvious to me that the author has many unresolved issues with her religious life and with Christianity. Even though she sheds some insight about whom or what MM was, she did so in a negative and sometimes condescending way.
I was somewhat hurt by the character assignation she did on JC. Obviously, she had made Jesus an idol of worship instead of the holy man he was and therefore took it upon herself to shatter that idol in this book. The very thing she blames the Church in doing - making Jesus an idol - she has done herself.
The Jesus she spoke of in this book is not the Jesus I have come to know and love. It is very easy to take words out of context and use them in a way to indicate hostility when in effect no hostility was meant. It is easy to come to false conclusions and premises when one's perception is skewed by one's personal beliefs and emotions.
Jesus was human, but that does not take away from the divination of his being. If Jesus was so humanly perfect then it would conclude that none of us could ever walk in his footsteps. None of us would have a chance of experiencing heaven. That is ludicrous.
Rating: 
Summary: seek wisdom and trust not to your own understanding
Review: As with most books that tackle alternative religious thinking, this book seems to be inciting two extreme responses: one condemning the book (the Institutionalized Christian perspective), and the other praising it (the alternative thinking" perspective). And both responses to this book are to be expected. After all, when new ideas are suggested that conflict with entrenched, assumed history, there will always be those who defend the institution and those that refute it. For the curious who have not yet picked up this book, just knowing that this book presents an argument strong enough to invoke the reactions you're reading here should let you know that there is something to this book that will show you there are other well documented perspectives out there than the one traditionally presented in the Western world and by traditional Christianity.
After having read many Gnostic texts (the book of Enoch, Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of Mary, etc), as well as the biblical ones and other materials, I do believe that Lynn Pickett is on to something here. The institutional church has indeed on occasion rewritten factual history about ideas and biblical characters now assumed to be native to Christianity (See Pope Clement's letter regarding the Secret Gospel of Mark, for an explicit example of how New Testament history has been revised). Gnostic texts, historical works like the Slavonic Josephus, preserved mythological works, and the discoveries of modern archeology offer those of us who choose to not accept the dogma the opportunity to see things from the perspective of the political and religious climate that existed at the time of Yeshua (Jesus) through to the 4th century. As Lynn Picknett asserts, there is overwhelming evidence to support the idea that Jesus was as much influenced by the ancient Egyptian teachings as he was by the Jewish teachings (To see some of the Egyptian roots in Christianity, research the origins of Baptism, the word "Amen", the ankh and the cross, the introduction to the Lord's Prayer, etc).
Lynn Picknett does an excellent job at the beginning of this book of describing the means by which the marginalization of Mary of Magdala has had an adverse affect on the rights of women in society and shaped the social foundation of the society in which we live today. Picknett then draws from much of the latest information in biblical scholarship to develop a rather convincing alternative point of view of Mary of Magdala's historical role.
Yes, the last few chapters of the book are rife with awkward speculations and shaky ideas. And this book doesn't even BEGIN to tackle the historical origins of the secret societies that are mentioned in this book 'as needed.' But the depth of information proceeding the conclusion are more than enough to warrant a purchase and a read.
Die-hard, King-James-bible-toting, Jesus-loving traditionalist will probably be easily disturbed by the information presented in this book and give it a low rating. Understandable. I can discern that POV - especially if one is angry about the last few chapters. So a warning to new readers - be aware that books like this one are for those who are ready to accept that there is more to the truth than the selective religious history and long standing assumptions we are all spoonfed as children.
And remember, as long as you have faith in God, there are no questions or facts that can shake your faith. They will merely reshape it.
Rating:
Summary: Total Garbage
Review: Don't waste your money on this book. I got it thinking it was going to be an interesting, fact-based, well-researched book on Mary Magdalene. Instead it was a hate-filled attack on not only Christianity but on Jesus Himself, describing Him as a drunken and gluttonous Egyptian magician no different than any other "nut" in Palestine claiming to be the Messiah. I really have nothing to add that hasn't been said in the many other negative reviews that this book gotten. As mentioned before by other reviewers, the author has a personal and childish agenda against Christ and the entire religion of Christianity and it is so transparent. Not only is the research flawed, with major misunderstandings about basic Christian beliefs like the Immaculate Conception, Apostolic Succession,the Authority of the Pope, et cetera, but as a psychologist I can see, in my opinion, some major emotional problems with this author. I won't go into a case study of her that I could come up with after reading her book,but the main problem is that after losing the high of her conversion experience, which she readily admits, she goes into the other extreme of hating Jesus and God and the Church and trying to keep up the high of that experience by writing a "National Enquirer" type of book to try to tear down Christianity.I was stunned and sickened by the venom she spewed onto Jesus and her sad and flimsy attempt to raise up Mary Magdalene into some kind of goddess. Sorry Lynn, but you have failed miserably.Not only is your book going into my garbage can, but it has strongly reinforced my love for Christ and my committment to His Church and the wonderful gift He has given to us in his life, death, and Resurrection. May God have mercy on your soul...
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Theory --Little Support
Review: I selected this book to get a more in depth analysis of the latest theories about Mary Magdalene. The first chapter is a scathing indictment of the Catholic Church, both past and present. The remaining chapters are devoted to systematically destroying the very foundation and basis for the Catholic Church, in particular, and Christianity, in general. At least the Author makes no secret of her bias. While I found many aspects of the book interesting, there was little support for these theories and no logic for her conclusions. Ms. Picknett would quote a section of the Gnostic Gospel and then reach a wild conclusion that this section confirmed that Jesus was involved in sexual rituals, etc. No matter how many times I read the source quote I could not see how it supported her conclusion. You need to read this book with a critical eye because so many of the author's conclusions are pure speculation or wishful thinking on her part. I am planning on reading other books on Mary Magdalene to get a more balanced account of this biblical figure, and would recommend that those interested in learing more about Mary Magdalene do the same.
Rating:
Summary: So when do we get to the point?
Review: I will first admit that I have not yet finished the book. And I will also admit that I am reading it because of The Da Vinci Code. Very intriguing tale. I must say that Dan Brown lays out the case far better than Ms. Picknett. I couldn't help but wonder, "When is she going to get to the point?" So when do we actually hear about Mary Magdalene? So far all I have read about is her obvious distaste for "The Church." As if the Roman Catholic church is the only church involved with the "shaky" Christian religion. And as if all Catholics or indeed all Christians are sanctimonious sexual predators. Well, dear, my faith has not been shaken, not in Jesus and not in my church. Even if Mary Magdalene was in fact Jesus's wife, concubine, illicit or blatant lover. And I do consider myself a student of science and well educated, as well as one who views the world with a skeptical eye as I will soon graduate from medical school. And still my faith isn't shaken. It's as if in this book she is trying to justify her dislike for the church by massive leaps of logic and an unholy obsession with Leonardo Da Vinci. So tell me, by the end of the book, will I find the point?
Rating:
Summary: Horrible
Review: I'm sorry I can't give less than one star for this book.The author shovels tons of "presuppositions" in one chapter, and then goes on to treat them as "fact" in the next- but then later does the same thing with suppositions which contradict the earlier suppositions. The book is scattered, and has a great deal of trouble staying focused on a single train of thought. Combine this with the author's PHENOMENAL lack of understanding of the christian theological concepts with which she's trying to work (a couple of examples below) - add up to a great big waste of some trees. Examples of glaring mistakes- Firstly, this one stuns me, as I was unaware that there were still people out there who had this basic misconception. Even still, I'm willing to give the "average joe" a break, but not an author who's supposed to be writing a book based on (dare I say it) reasearch. Lynn- The "Immaculate Conception" has NOTHING TO DO with the "Virgin Birth" of Jesus. They're two totally different things. My second example might be a little more obscure, but again, we can expect the author to do a -little- research, especially on the things she tries to base large arguments upon. Lynn explains that the authority of the Pope, which she claims is called "Apostolic Succession," is based upon the fact that Peter was the first to view the resurrected Christ. She points out that even in the "canonical" New Testament there are gospels which relate that Mary Magdalen was the first to view the resurrected Jesus... and therefor we have clear-cut PROOF that the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church is based upon a fraud. Unfortunately, her errors begin with the very first supposition. The authority of the Pope and Apostolic Succession are two distinct things. ALL Bishops have "Apostolic Succession" - which is simply the transference of authority from one Bishop to another, going back (allegedly) to one of the Apostles. Even Orthodox Bishops have, recognize, and base their authority on Apostolic Succession... yet, they do not recognize the "Authority" of the Pope. And according to the Roman Catholic Church, the authority of the Pope is in no way related to, or dependant upon who saw the resurrected Christ when. Ten minutes and a Google search would have cleared this up for her... Finally, Lynn has an annoying habit of placing "literary authority" with whichever "version" proves her pet point, even if it means discrediting another literary source that she used earlier in the book to prove one of her points. Apparently she's hoping that the scatteredness of the book will confuse the reader, and keep them from remembering the points she tries to make from one chapter to the next. Disappointing isn't a strong enough word for this book. She should stick to writing with her partner, because he clearly did all the actual research and writing in their earlier collaborations.
Rating:
Summary: Controversial, but much researched
Review: Like many another author these days, Lynn Picknett is interested in Mary Magdalene. Who was this Mary and why are there conflicting views of what she might have been? While some see her as the unacknowledged bride of Christ, Picknett suggests MM was an Egyptian priestess schooled in the mystery religions of the time which involved the pracice of 'hieros gamus' or ritual sex. Picknett says MM might have been Jewish as there were plenty of Jews living in Egypt at the time JC is supposed to have lived and preached. So MM could have been both Jewish and a practioner of the Egyptian mystery religion. The New Testament indicates that the `Holy Family' moved to Egypt when JC was quite young, so he too may have become involved in the foreign religion. Picknett uses a variety of sources to make the case that JC was an Egyptian magus, not unlike Simon Magus, and perhaps John the Baptist. The Egyptian religion was preoccupied with life and death unlike the Jewish religion of the time. According to Picknett, the Talmud suggests JC was an itinerant 'Egpytian' preacher leading people astray. In TEMPLAR REVELATIONS, Picknett and her co-author Clive Prince, demonstrated a keen interest in John the Baptist, who was thought to be the `patron' of the Knights Templar. In MM she revisits and expands this theme and re-examines the possible connections between the KT and the Mandaeans of Southern Iraq who practice a Johnnite religion centered on Baptism. At times while reading this book I thought Pickett stretched her material a bit thin to make a point. On the other hand, she raises some conflicting, disturbing and unresolved notions such as why does New Testament writing depict JC as both the advocate of the meek and mild (more feminine), and the hot tempered fellow who wrecked the Temple in Jerusalem and cursed the fig tree (more masculine)? Could it be that JC's followers combined the Johnnite message of LOVE with that of the militant JC after John died? Most disturbing of all, Picknett suggests the JC followers may have had a role in John's demise. Leonardo da Vinci apparently despised JC and revered John the Baptist. Pickett suggests Leonardo may have been aware of a rivalry between the two that cost John his life.
Rating:
Summary: Controversial, but much researched
Review: Like many another author these days, Lynn Picknett is interested in Mary Magdalene. Who was this Mary and why are there conflicting views of what she might have been? While some see her as the unacknowledged bride of Christ, Picknett suggests MM was an Egyptian priestess schooled in the mystery religions of the time which involved the pracice of 'hieros gamus' or ritual sex. Picknett says MM might have been Jewish as there were plenty of Jews living in Egypt at the time JC is supposed to have lived and preached. So MM could have been both Jewish and a practioner of the Egyptian mystery religion. The New Testament indicates that the 'Holy Family' moved to Egypt when JC was quite young, so he too may have become involved in the foreign religion. Picknett uses a variety of sources to make the case that JC was an Egyptian magus, not unlike Simon Magus, and perhaps John the Baptist. The Egyptian religion was preoccupied with life and death unlike the Jewish religion of the time. According to Picknett, the Talmud suggests JC was an itinerant 'Egpytian' preacher leading people astray. In TEMPLAR REVELATIONS, Picknett and her co-author Clive Prince, demonstrated a keen interest in John the Baptist, who was thought to be the 'patron' of the Knights Templar. In MM she revisits and expands this theme and re-examines the possible connections between the KT and the Mandaeans of Southern Iraq who practice a Johnnite religion centered on Baptism. At times while reading this book I thought Pickett stretched her material a bit thin to make a point. On the other hand, she raises some conflicting, disturbing and unresolved notions such as why does New Testament writing depict JC as both the advocate of the meek and mild (more feminine), and the hot tempered fellow who wrecked the Temple in Jerusalem and cursed the fig tree (more masculine)? Could it be that JC's followers combined the Johnnite message of LOVE with that of the militant JC after John died? Most disturbing of all, Picknett suggests the JC followers may have had a role in John's demise. Leonardo da Vinci apparently despised JC and revered John the Baptist. Pickett suggests Leonardo may have been aware of a rivalry between the two that cost John his life.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Start
Review: The author has obviously spent several years researching this subject alone and with her co-author of other books. I like her approach in putting forth theories and letting the reader decide. In the forward a bit of anger toward the Christian Church was revealed. This was a much needed work to tie up some loose ends from her and her co-authors other books as well as those written by Baigent, Leigh and Lincoln. I do find it fascinating that Picknett and Pagels seem to read the same research with far different conclusions.
I would suspect that the author will have more to say in a future book as this has just touched the surface. Certainly more needs to be revealed of the secrets held from the common layperson. Excellent bibliography!
Rating:
Summary: pseudo history and theology
Review: This book starts mildly, actually insidiously, with raising good questions about disturbing details in Leonardo's paintings. She gradually builds up a case about Mary Magdalene being the favorite apostle. (As the book winds up to a crescendo of vicious attacks on Jesus as a fraud, she proclaims that Mary Magdalene "is perhaps the most famous woman in history".) Her multiple conspiracy case builds slowly (more plausible in the earlier chapters) and makes John the more probable Messiah - like a sort of mix up of John and Jesus in the nursery, with the mothers adoring the wrong babies. This mix-up however reads like a malicious rewriting of Jesus's early life arranged by devious early catholic fathers who burnt and suppressed the truth. This and other arguments are built on the most tenuous circumstantial evidence mostly taken from some of the more obscure Nag Hammadi texts. As a conspiracy theory it makes Kennedy conspiracy theories, or "Elvis is still alive" theories, look tame. The writing is repetitive and given to drawn out flimsy inferences. In the last two chapters of the book, her hatred of catholicism and of Jesus comes out full force. She seems to feel (and hope) that her "evidence" will topple the Christian religion.
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