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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: 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: 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: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book
Review: This truly is an amazing book. It takes the reader on a fascinating and enlightening journey, answering as many questions as it asks. A must for christians and sceptics alike. Anyone with an interest in alternative history will love this book. There's enough factual information, brutal honesty and shocking revelation to keep everyone hooked. I couldn't put it down and when i did, i picked it right back up again.
Outstanding.
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