In Luke’s Gospel it is written that there were also a few women among Jesus’ followers, “… who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out…” (Luke 8,2). At least this is the official version of the church which has stubbornly survived as the ‘truth’ over all the centuries up to the present.

We need to know that the group of Essenes, which Jesus belonged to, used certain words as codes so that the Romans could not understand their messages and gospels.

For example the term ‘the blind’ was used for people who did not follow the right path.

The word ‘lepers’ described people who were not born into a higher social class, or were even excluded from it.

The ‘poor’ were not economically underprivileged members of society, but people who held higher ranks, but due to religious rules, had to give up all their earthly possessions.

Therefore, the term ‘demons’ is not to be taken literally. At the heyday of Qumram the name Mary (Mirjam) was not just a name, but a high title. Women with this name, held special offices in their spiritual society. For instance, they were trained in the art of healing or led liturgical ceremonies for women.

All the Marys were bound to celibacy and were subject to the authority of the supreme scribe. At the time of Mary Magdalene this was Judas Iscariot who was also called the ‘seventh daemon priest’.

Before Mary Magdalene married, she was released from celibacy by the daemon priest. And this is where the saying that ‘seven daemons came out of her’ comes from. Only afterwards she was allowed to have physical contact with her husband, according to very detailed rules. But this is something I will talk about another time.