The Women the Bible Forgot & Why Their Stories Matter Now

Pre-blog note: I know I said that I would talk about the topic of engaging the Divine Masculine during midlife this week, but I have been ruminating about when I mentioned the women that were misrepresented in the bible. And I couldn't let it go. So, here's my musings on the missing stories of the women in the world's best-selling book.

SUMMARY

In this week’s blog, we explore the women of the Bible who may have been misunderstood, diminished, or written out of positions of spiritual leadership—and why that still matters for women today. Through the lens of the divine feminine, Mary Magdalene, and modern feminist theology, this piece invites women to reconnect with their intuition, wisdom, and spiritual authority.

This isn’t about blaming men or rejecting masculine leadership. It’s about restoring balance, love, and equality in leadership and community. Because perhaps the greatest awakening for women in midlife…is remembering they were never powerless to begin with.

Listen to this podcast episode HERE.

What if the women we were taught to see as secondary in spiritual history…were actually some of the most powerful teachers of all?

What if the problem was never that women lacked power…but that generations were taught to forget it?

For generations, women were largely represented in spiritual teachings through limited archetypes:

• the mother

• the temptress

• the obedient woman

• the supportive background figure

But many scholars, mystics, and theologians—including Meggan Watterson, Cynthia Bourgeault, Karen L. King, Sue Monk Kidd and Riane Eisler —have explored the possibility that women like Mary Magdalene were far more than history allowed us to believe. They were ...

Teachers.

Leaders.

Spiritual initiates.

Wisdom keepers.

And over time, many of those stories were diminished, rewritten, excluded, or softened to fit patriarchal structures of leadership.

Not because women lacked power—but because powerful women have often challenged existing systems.

It’s really important that I mention at this point … This isn’t about rejecting men.

It’s about restoring balance.

This isn’t about replacing masculine leadership with feminine leadership. Like the Barbie Movie.

It’s about remembering that love, wisdom, intuition, compassion, and power were always meant to exist together.

Can you feel the shift there?

There are quite a few women in biblical history whose stories many scholars, theologians, and feminist writers believe were simplified, softened, merged with other figures, or interpreted through patriarchal lenses over time. If you’re curiosity is peaked, these are some powerful examples to look into thoughtfully and with nuance:

Mary Magdalene

The most famous example—

For centuries, Mary Magdalene was widely portrayed as a repentant prostitute or “fallen woman,” despite there being no direct biblical text explicitly identifying her as one. Many scholars point to a sermon by Pope Gregory I in 591 CE that merged her with other unnamed women in the Bible, deeply shaping Western perception of her.

Modern scholarship and writers like Meggan Watterson and Cynthia Bourgeault instead explore her as:

• a spiritual initiate

• teacher

• apostle

• close companion of Jesus

• leader within early Christianity

In some early Christian texts, like the Gospel of Mary, she is portrayed as possessing profound spiritual insight.

Eve

Eve is often framed as:

• the temptress

• the one who caused “the fall”

• the origin of sin and suffering

But many feminist theologians argue this interpretation shaped centuries of suspicion around female curiosity, wisdom, desire, and autonomy.

Alternative readings see Eve not as weak or sinful—but as:

• courageous

• curious

• consciousness-seeking

• the initiator of human awakening and knowledge

For many women, reclaiming Eve means reclaiming the right to question, seek, know, and evolve.

Lilith (more mystical/traditional lore than canonical Bible)

Lilith is not part of the standard biblical canon in the way Eve is, but she appears in Jewish folklore and mystical traditions.

In some stories, Lilith was said to be Adam’s first wife who refused to submit or become subordinate—and was later demonised and erased.

Whether taken literally or symbolically, Lilith has become a powerful archetype for:

• feminine independence

• refusal to shrink

• untamed feminine energy

• women reclaiming autonomy

She appears often in modern divine feminine discussions.

The Samaritan Woman

Traditionally, she’s often presented as immoral because she had multiple husbands.

But many scholars now point out:

• the text never directly condemns her

• women in that era had little control over marriage/divorce

• she becomes one of the first people to publicly spread Jesus’ message

In some interpretations, she transforms from “shamed woman” into:

• courageous messenger

• theological conversationalist

• spiritual witness

Martha & Mary of Bethany

Martha is often reduced to:

• stressed

• domestic

• overly practical

while Mary becomes:

• quiet

• devotional

• passive

But deeper readings show both women as spiritually intelligent leaders within their community.

Martha, especially, speaks some of the strongest declarations of faith in the New Testament.

Why This Resonates So Deeply for Women

What makes these stories powerful isn’t simply “history got it wrong.”

It’s that many women still recognise these archetypes in themselves:

• the woman called “too much”

• the woman who questions

• the woman whose wisdom is minimised

• the woman made smaller, softer, quieter

• the woman feared for her power

That’s why these conversations feel emotional and awakening for so many women in midlife especially.

Because they’re not just revisiting biblical history.

They’re revisiting the stories women have inherited about themselves. 💫

The goal was never domination.

The goal was always balance.

Love in leadership.

Wisdom in community.

And women remembering they were never meant to stand at the edges of the story.

Honestly, once you start reading some of this history…a LOT of things suddenly make sense. 😏

Blessings Pip

p.s. If you are feeling the call to discuss these types of interesting topics more deeply, you might be interested in the Divine Alignment Code mentorship. www.pipcoleman.com/mentorship

p.p.s. If you’re loving this conversation, there are quite a few authors, theologians, mystics, and feminist scholars exploring similar themes around:

• Mary Magdalene

• the suppression of the divine feminine

• women’s spiritual leadership

• lost or excluded gospels

• feminine wisdom traditions

• reclaiming women’s spiritual authority

Here are some beautiful rabbit holes for you:

Feminist Theology / Mary Magdalene / Divine Feminine

Cynthia Bourgeault

Probably one of the strongest companions to Meggan Watterson’s work.

Her book:

• The Meaning of Mary Magdalene 

explores Mary Magdalene as:

• an apostle

• spiritual initiate

• wisdom teacher

• embodiment of sacred feminine consciousness

Very grounded, intelligent, mystical, and respected in contemplative Christian circles.

Karen L. King

A Harvard scholar who has done major academic work on:

• the Gospel of Mary

• early Christianity

• women’s roles in the early church

Her work is more scholarly/academic than mystical, but incredibly important if you want historical grounding behind some of these conversations.

Book:

• The Gospel of Mary of Magdala 

Elaine Pagels

A hugely influential scholar on:

• Gnostic gospels

• early Christianity

• excluded spiritual texts

Books:

• The Gnostic Gospels 

• Beyond Belief 

She explores how many early Christian traditions were more mystical and internally focused before institutional structures became dominant.

Jean Houston

Explores sacred feminine consciousness, archetypes, mysticism, and spiritual awakening.

Less Bible-specific, more transformational feminine spirituality.

Sue Monk Kidd

Her book:

• The Dance of the Dissident Daughter 

is iconic in feminine spiritual awakening spaces.

It explores:

• reclaiming feminine spirituality

• questioning patriarchal religion

• inner authority

• awakening the sacred feminine

Very readable and emotionally powerful.

Marianne Williamson

Especially around:

• spiritual leadership

• love-based power

• feminine wisdom

• rethinking traditional spiritual structures

Not specifically Magdalene-focused, but very aligned energetically with your themes.

Tricia McCannon

Very Magdalene-focused.

Books:

• Return of the Divine Sophia 

• writings on Mary Magdalene and feminine mystery traditions

More esoteric/mystical than academic.

Seren Bertrand

Book:

• Magdalene Mysteries 

Explores:

• Mary Magdalene as priestess

• feminine initiation

• womb wisdom

• sacred feminine rites

Very mystical/priestess lineage style.

Claire Sierra

Book:

• The Magdalene Path 

Focused on feminine awakening, embodiment, intuition, and living from feminine soul wisdom.

More Historically Curious / Feminine Reclamation

Mary Daly

One of the early radical feminist theologians challenging patriarchal religious systems.

Very intellectual and provocative.

Riane Eisler

Book:

• The Chalice and the Blade 

Explores how societies shifted from partnership-based cultures into domination-based systems, including impacts on women and spirituality.