Mary wasn't a "virgin?"
What if I told you the word virgin didn't originally mean someone who had never had sex? It was used to describe a woman who was unmarried and financially independent. Yup—financial feminist vibes. It wasn't until 1200 years after Jesus' death that (male) scholars redefined virgin to mean “sexually inexperienced.” So when the Bible calls Mary a virgin, it's really saying she was unmarried and had her own resources. Let that simmer for a second. Does that change how you see her—or the whole situation?
Because I, for one, am here for it.
It's no secret that Biblical culture treated women as second-class citizens. The Bible was written through a male lens, and most of its characters are, predictably, men. (Sigh.) Even though I don't go to church much anymore, I'm still fascinated by how the Bible portrays women—especially the ones who defied those cultural norms. The ones who feel, dare I say, a little like me.
Here's a fun fact: Jesus had female disciples. In Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, Kenneth Bailey identifies four texts highlighting women as disciples. One of the most compelling is Luke 8:1–3:
“Soon afterward, he went through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women... who provided for them out of their means.”
Wait. Women were funding the disciples? Out of their own money? How did nobody ever mention this in Sunday School?
Let's break this down: these women were likely unmarried—cultural norms wouldn't have allowed married women to travel so freely. They were financially savvy, skilled, and probably older. And they provided for the disciples. They weren't tagging along; they were footing the bill. Unmarried, independent women, traveling with a group of men, outside the bounds of societal norms. Maybe they were even having sex with them. (Gasp.)
These women weren't meek or submissive. They were trailblazers. They supported a man who respected them—who saw them for who they were, not who society told them to be.
They were badass. They were mature, confident, and free. They were disciples. They were women redefining pleasure, purpose, and faith on their own terms.
They were virgins.
With love,
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Spotlight:
Here is a great read about the historical depictions of Black Madonna.