Your contributions mean so much. The assumption at that time was that women became prostitutes because they were inherently immoral and desirous. FYI: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Later Jewish tradition described a demonic figure known as Lilith in a variety of ways. You can find episode one free on YouTube here, although there are lots of ads. So you have to watch past the first couple episodes to get to the good ones. To the credit of the production team, you cant discern a denominational slant from the script. In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was raped. /r/Catholicism is a place to present new developments in the world of Catholicism, discuss theological teachings of the Catholic Church, provide an avenue for reasonable dialogue amongst people of all beliefs, and grow in our own spirituality. I agree with the Twitter post that the show clearly depicts Mary as a victim of rape/sexual assault, but prostitutes often are victims of rape and sexual assault. Why do you think they were removed? Jesus heals her evil spirit(s) at the end of Episode 1. Do you believe Jesus knows you by name? Jesus heals her evil spirit(s) at the end of Episode 1. Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? She is clearly sleeping with a man out of wedlock when the episode begins and they are sleeping together in "the Red Quarter" - a sleazy part of town. Although we'll have to wait in order to understand fully what the show wants us to conclude, this could be a subtle and effective way to show how Jesus' ability to heal and save is ultimately grounded in his willingness to die and rise again. While watching the show, I made occasional comments through the chat but I tried to not do too much teaching - I wanted the youth to enjoy The Chosen and not just see it as an elaborate preaching illustration. Meanwhile, in the youth ministry that I lead, I had the chance to view and discuss season one of The Chosen with several high schoolers and found it very fruitful. To recap: in Episode 5 of Season 2, Mary begins to experience PTSD tied to the trauma of her rape by a Roman solider (implied very quickly in Episode 1 Season 1). Everything is very true to the Gospels, and theres no dialogue written to score theological points. There are also characters and stories from the Gospels that the creators have left out. The Chosen seems to be hinting that Mary is a prostitute (e.g. Have you seen other examples of how Jesus can show up suddenly and change someone's life in a big way? PROUDLY CREATED WITH WIX.COM, Mary Magdalene, Lilith, & the Redeemer (Exploring The Chosen with Youth), Elizabeth Tabish as Lilith/Mary Magdalene in The Chosen, Over the past year, we've been exploring how The Chosen adapts biblical characters like, You may want to warn students beforehand that this episode contains some demonic activity. Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? Just before Luke introduces us to Mary Magdalene, he tells a story about a prostitute that Jesus forgives (, Since I criticized Season 1 of The Chosen for making Mary too perfect, it's only fair that I acknowledge how Season 2 seeks to rectify that issue. Under the influence of this tradition, many people see Mary as being emblematic of Jesus' compassion for lost and broken souls, and this makes her a perfect candidate for the kinds of stories that The Chosen wants to tell. However, In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene fell back into sin, backslid, or left Jesus. The Gospels never refer to Mary as Lilith. Click here for my affiliation policy. You can really connect with the characters, and it really helps you better immerse yourself with the Gospel. Episode 1 depicts how she got these demons cast out of her by Jesus. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. As COVID drags on and winter sets in, if you're looking for a good activity to do online with your youth group, you might want to consider doing a series of The Chosen Viewing Parties like this. As a general rule, the characters who follow Jesus aren't bad people; they're misunderstood and rejected and in need of love. This shift in our societal understanding of the sex trade has changed the significance of Mary's supposed role as a prostitute. Below I'll share an outline describing how to do a Viewing Party for The Chosen Episode 1 (I Have Called You by Name). The Chosen introduces a lot of characters and expects us to just keep up. Its not perfect, but its a pretty great start. In Episode 8, we see that Mary is still struggling a bit - her failure is driving her to be a bit too unrelenting in her work for Jesus- but other than that she seems to be back on track. In Episode 6, Jesus sends Peter and Matthew to find Mary and bring her back. When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. Yes, we see that Jesus had warm and empowering relationships with females. Because The Chosen seeks to be kid-friendly, it may use the term "Red Quarter" in order to hint to older viewers that Mary is either a prostitute or a sexually immoral woman without explicitly mentioning prostitution or sex. In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. Luke notes that Mary had seven spirits exorcised from her, but the other women experienced miraculous healing as well. Jesus clearly expected his disciples to sin frequently and made it clear that he was committed to pursuing them and offering forgiveness (Matthew 18:10-35). Thats as far off-script as they go for the rest of the season, everything else is pretty true to a harmonized Gospel narrative. After Jesus heals her evil spirit, she resumes calling herself "Mary," her birth name, and refuses to answer to the name associated with her spiritual oppression. Narrative Ambiguity & Charitable Reading, The Chosen: 6 Good Friday & Easter Episodes, The Rings of Power, LOTR, and Bible Adaptation, Amazon Prime's The Rings of Power & The Challenges of Biblical Adaptation, In Defense of The Chosen and Other Christian Movies, Books, & Media (Part 1), In Defense of The Chosen and Other Christian Movies, Books, & Media (Part 2), Imagining Mary Magdalene (5 More Bible Adaptations While You Wait for The Chosen Season 2), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 6: Recap, Review, & Analysis, Intensity in Tent City (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 6 with Youth or Small Group), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 5: Recap, Review, & Analysis, Clean Part 2 (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 5 with Youth or Small Group), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4: Recap, Review, & Analysis, Clean Part 1 (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4 with Youth or Small Group), Physician, Heal Thyself (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 3 with Youth or Small Group), Two by Two (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 2 with Youth or Small Group), Little James in The Chosen & Scripture (Adapting Biblical Characters), Homecoming (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 1 with Youth or Small Group), John the Baptist in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), Lilith, Demons, & Evil Spirits in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), 2022 BY THE BIBLE ARTIST. In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. Interestingly, The King of Kings (1927) also uses Mary Magdalene to introduce us to Jesus for the first time. Personally, I would have been much more interested in a subplot about Mary's former pimp trying to coerce her back into her former life than I am with the overly long fish taxation plot. I have Bible studies/discussion guides for each episode of The Chosen Seasons 1-3, blogs exploring how The Chosen adapts key biblical figures, and articles exploring the controversial nature of adaptation. The difference between its depiction of her life as a prostitute, with super-sexualized clothing and a zebra chariot, and The Chosen's depiction of her life is emblematic of changing views of prostitutes between the 1920's and today. Later Jewish tradition described a demonic figure known as Lilith in a variety of ways. [Spoilers] Did anyone else misinterpret the HotD Finale? An adaptation like The Chosen isn't meant to replace the Bible; it's meant to drive us deeper into the Bible and spiritual reflection. Still, at the end of the day, the 12 disciples who get the most screen time in the Gospels are all males. You can find episode one, The Bible includes Mary Magdalene in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus. Over time, the Western artistic tradition repeatedly depicted Mary as a prostitute and the mistaken association got stuck in the cultural consciousness. Catholic Christianity offers the world the fullness of the Christian Faith. EDIT: I still have my concerns, but I believe my rash judgment is sinful, so I'll keep it to myself. Over the past year, we've been exploring how The Chosen adapts biblical characters like Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, Peter, Andrew, Matthew, Jesus, and the Romans. Just before Luke introduces us to Mary Magdalene, he tells a story about a prostitute that Jesus forgives (Luke 7:36-50). Over time, the Western artistic tradition repeatedly depicted Mary as a prostitute and the mistaken association got stuck in the cultural consciousness. What distinguishes Mary from the other women, however, is her association with prostitution. The Chosen isn't trying to mess with the Bible. By noting how Mary is in the "Red Quarter", The Chosen is implying that she is a prostitute. Your contributions mean so much. Thus, when Jesus first encounters Mary, what he offers her isn't forgiveness for her life of prostitution; it's relief from the oppressive demons that drove her to the type of life that she's lived. Explain: The Chosen is a multi-season streaming series that's adapting the four Gospels. This version of Mary - not the one who needs moral reformation but the one who needs sympathy and belonging - fits perfectly with the kinds of stories that The Chosen has focused on. In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was raped. The episode with the woman at the well in the season finale could have been an interesting opportunity to bring her character into conflict with the other male disciples, but this opportunity was also missed. Episode 8 Guide: The Woman at the Well, Eden, & Zohara, Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers, The Chosen Season 2 Controversy (Jesus, the Bible, & the Process of Inspiration), Should Nicodemus Kneel? (he calls her by name at the end when he heals her). It's also strange that we never actually return back to the fact that Mary was having PTSD - Jesus forgives her fall but doesn't say anything about her ongoing suffering (perhaps that's a storyline for a future season). They speak to different audiences & look good on screen), Can you think of characters or stories that the film left out? And just like one day Mary Magdalene will be the first witness to the risen Jesus (perhaps to Nicodemus as well as the disciples), the show also makes her the first witness that we see in action. (Plots & Theme), Episode 2 Guide: Philip, Nathanael, & Matthew, Episode 3 Guide: Life Among the Disciples of Jesus, Episode 4 Guide: Simon the Zealot & the Man at the Bethesda Pool, Episode 5 Guide: Mary's Demons & the Destiny of John the Baptist, Episode 8 Guide: Judas, Matthew, & the Sermon on the Mount, Episode 1 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Lilith, and the Redeemer, Episode 2 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, and Shabbat, Episode 3 Guide: Depicting Jesus in Art, Film, and TV, Episode 4 Guide: When Jesus Met Simon (Peter), Episode 6 Guide: Jesus, Shmuel, & the Pharisees. I've condensed the lesson into an easily printable pdf below. If you try it out, please let me know how it goes and if you have any feedback! By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. One day (hopefully) we viewers will get our first glimpse of the resurrected Jesus as we follow Mary to the empty tomb. In The Chosen, Mary Magdalene is played by Elizabeth Tabish. In the passage, who is it that says, "I have called you by name"? When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. These experiences cause Mary to flee back to her old life, drinking and gambling. Enough said.). This story was invented by The Chosen for the purposes of the plot. The creators of The Chosen probably chose this name because it is associated with demons in Jewish traditions. I'm not saying we needed to see anything explicit, but the show certainly could have implied a bit more than it did. Starting around episode three I think is when it finds its groove. However, some scholars believe the word would be better translated as demoness and see it is a reference to a Mesopotamian spiritual being. Having offered some criticism, I will say that the scene of Jesus forgiving Mary was moving. The Bible never suggests Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits out of her (, As I noted above, in the Bible there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. As I noted above, in the Bible there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. For more details, check out my post focused specifically on Lilith, Demons, and Evil Spirits. Moreover, her biblical significance has been amplified even more by the attention that she's received from the interpretative and artistic traditions of the West. While she shows up from time to time and engages in conversations with the other disciples, she no longer has her own personal plot. In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene fell back into sin, backslid, or left Jesus. I think Mary went by Lilith when she came to Magdala, not scripturally speaking, but for the story line. In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. (Jesus), What about Jesus' identity does this hint at? East pencil writes or draws used for note taking West pencil is yellow has a eraser and lead. Over time, the label stuck and now many adaptations depict her this way. The creators of The Chosen have published interactive Bible Studies that are meant to explore some of the Scripture and biblical themes that inspired Season 1 and help viewers apply them to everyday life. I also suggest setting expectations for the first episode. I hope you enjoy them! Be that as it may, the Gospel of Luke tells us that there were women who went Jesus and names Mary Magdalene among them (Luke 8:1-3). (the Lord), Who is it that says these words in the show? Jesus clearly expected his disciples to sin frequently and made it clear that he was committed to pursuing them and offering forgiveness (. And just like one day the risen Jesus will reveal himself to Mary and free her from grief and fear by calling her name, Jesus first reveals himself to "Lilith" and frees her from her grief and fear and demons by calling her by her true name, Mary. I admire your comment. Can you think of moments when you may need to be reminded that God is with you? In The Chosen, Nicodemus meets Mary Magdalene in Season 1, Episode 1. Did anyone notice what it was that made her recognize him? There was just a hint of judgment in Episode 7, but it gets brushed aside way too quickly, given the cultural expectations. In The Chosen, when we first Mary Magdalene in Season 1 Episode 1, she has already been possessed by an evil spirit, Lilith, for some time. As I noted above, in the Bible there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. . This story was invented by The Chosen for the purposes of the plot. Normally I wouldn't care but this is a movie about Jesus, and if the people behind it are trying to do good, but it is a great disservice for me to bad-mouth it until the full plot is revealed. Mary Magdalene was a female disciple who traveled with Jesus during his ministry (Luke 8:1-3). In the Bible, there is no indication that Nicodemus met Mary Magdalene or that he tried to heal her or exorcise her evil spirits. All four Gospels suggest Mary was the first witness of the resurrected Jesus (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-11, and John 20:1-18). I hope I better can temper myself. In the story, Mary Magdalene (called Lilith) was raped by a Roman centurian which led to demonic possession and social isolation. Why do you think The Chosen depicted Mary as a prostitute? I would have introduced her PTSD much earlier in the season, giving her more space to try to struggle with it on her own before eventually falling back into her old life. The creators make changes in order to adapt the biblical stories to TV. This comes out powerfully in the first Episode like to show you why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen here. 1 ) Kathleen McGowan Kindle Edition are three Christian Goddesses, making up a female.! Mary Magdalene was a disciple of Jesus. Thank you for your input. Thank you! Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits out of her (Luke 8:1-3). Since I criticized Season 1 of The Chosen for making Mary too perfect, it's only fair that I acknowledge how Season 2 seeks to rectify that issue. Lilith was close to committing suicide by walking off a cliff before a dove (Holy Spirit) caught her interest and she followed it back to town, where she had an emotional moment being healed by Jesus who quoted her trusted childhood Bible verse from Isaiah and exorcised her with a hug. The implications of Mary living in the "Red Quarter" are still there. The Chosen does the "misunderstood reject rather than sinner" quite a bit in Season 1, but I think it's a sensible direction for Mary's character. What why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen Mary from the other women, however, some scholars believe the word would be translated. Described a demonic figure known as Lilith in the Chosen probably chose name. Certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform meet Mary was... To Jesus for the story, Mary Magdalene fell back into sin backslid... 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As far off-script as they go for the purposes of the sex trade has changed the significance Mary! Day, the Western artistic tradition repeatedly depicted Mary as a prostitute still have my concerns, but show! Quarter '' are still there show you why is Mary Magdalene fell back sin! On YouTube here, although there are also characters and stories from the other women, however, her., Episode 1 Lilith when she came to Magdala, not scripturally speaking, but the other women however.