Mary Magdalene is one of the most talked-about women in the Bible. Over the past 2,000 years, people have called her many things — a sinner, a saint, a witness, and even a prostitute.
In 591, Pope Gregory I wrongly labeled her a sinful woman, and that idea stuck for centuries. Others, like in The Da Vinci Code, have suggested she was Jesus' wife.
But the Bible says she was a follower of Jesus from a town called Magdala and the first person to see him after his resurrection.
The 2018 movie Mary Magdalene tries to show her real story — a spiritual woman who truly understood Jesus' message. The film shows how close she was to Jesus, not because of love, but because of her faith.
This threatens traditional Church views because it shows a woman in a leading role. Some scholars say the Church downplayed her role to keep men in power.
Although the Church no longer calls her a prostitute, many still debate her true place in history. Mary Magdalene's story raises important questions about faith and the role of women in religion.
