"The Power of Mercy" with author Meggan Watterson

MERCY PLEASE: POPULAR MARY MAGDALENE SCHOLAR MAKES ASHEVILLE DEBUT

When The Da Vinci Code became a global sensation in 2003 - quickly followed by a Hollywood movie starring Tom Hanks - it popularized a long-simmering debate about the true identity and influence of Mary Magdalene, often called "the apostle to the apostles." The Da Vinci Code supports the controversial idea that Mary Magdalene was only an essential figure in the life of Jesus, but central to a spiritual vision long suppressed by the church: a softer, more feminine version of Christianity.

Meggan Watterson, author of the influential book Mary Magdalene Revealed, will explore Mary's new popularity in her Asheville debut as she discusses "The Power of Mercy in the Gospel of Mary.” Watterson will explore what’s missing in today’s teachings on Christianity, and how it can be recovered.

A theologian and scholar trained at Harvard Divinity School, Watterson has gained widespread popularity with her highly personal exploration of Mary Magdalene that blends vulnerability, compassion, personal power and the divine feminine.

The free event sponsored by House of Mercy Asheville happens Tuesday, June 9 from 7-9 p.m. at The Mule, 131 Sweeten Creek Rd., Asheville.

Modern interest in Mary Magdalene catapulted in the 1960s and 1970s with America’s rising interest in civil rights and feminism.

The Gospel of Mary was first discovered in Egypt in 1896. It took nearly six decades before it was published in 1955.

For more information, contact Chad Smith at chad@houseofmercyavl.com.