Modernist theologian: Marian devotion can put women under pressure. The Virgin Birth should not be "misunderstood biologically". Ideas of Virgin birth and Immaculate conception are "toxic"

Mary as a figure of comfort – and a problem case: Religious images can empower, but also restrict, warns theologian Annette Jantzen. What role does the Bible play in this?

Modernists cannot wait to take leave of Our Lady

According to theologian Annette Jantzen, Marian devotion also has problematic aspects. When the Mother of God is stylized as an unattainable ideal, "simultaneously virginal, sinless, and mother," this can lead to a devaluation of real women, she said on Wednesday in an interview with "Kirche und Leben" (Church and Life). "Such constructs are theologically charged and set as a standard – sometimes with toxic consequences because they ignore lived realities," she added.

... The biblical imagery was originally much more open and ambiguous. Overall, it becomes problematic when symbolic language is interpreted literally. For example, the Virgin Birth should not be "misunderstood biologically": "Such narrative motifs were common in antiquity to express the special significance of a person."

Biblical texts are not intended to provide scientific explanations, but rather to explain the role this woman plays in God's story with humanity. Jantzen warns: "If, instead, the question is asked whether everything 'happened exactly like that,' the perspective shifts." This often leads to misunderstandings and pressure on believers, who are expected to reconcile such ideas with their own lives.

Mary as a comforting figure

Marian devotion also has positive aspects when Mary appears to people as a comforting figure who conveys closeness, intimacy, and security. "Religious images have an effect not only intellectually, but also emotionally and existentially. What is crucial is how they are interpreted, whether they empower or restrict," the theologian explained.

She recommends orienting our perception of Mary's "courage, wisdom, and independence" more closely to biblical texts. After all, according to the Gospel of Luke, Mary clearly recognizes "that God's actions signify societal upheavals leading to greater justice." This is how Mary becomes a multifaceted, contradictory, and vibrant personality.

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