The Virgin Mary has been a common reference in many texts, research projects and pop culture items dating back to ancient manuscripts from the first century A.D.. Her earliest depiction was discovered in the Roman Priscilla Catacombs, dating back to the second century. In the painting, she holds baby Jesus in her lap while wearing a loose veil.
The work’s intricacies have faded away through the years, yet the meaning is as clear as day: a woman blessed with divinity for the immaculate conception of a godly being. She’s been the backbone of western gender philosophy and social conditioning. And in terms of white Christian nationalism, her perceived purity is the cornerstone of their ideology —a way to push back against out-group forces.
She’s the untouched, holy woman with pale skin, and in complete servitude to higher powers — making for a strict representation of what a woman should be, and what her role should be in the world. Framed within contemporary society, and against the backdrop of feminist movements, that image can have dangerous implications.
The story surrounding this central biblical figure has been expanded on multiple times throughout history. Plenty of writers and theologians have made comments about the legacy of the Virgin Mary, in and outside of religious domains. And while Mary is tied to many peoples’ deep-rooted values, some don’t even know what makes her such a prominent focal point.
In a 2020 article, Bri Cambell of Tekton Ministries wrote: “At this time, I had no specific devotion to Mary or really understood the beauty of having a relationship with our Heavenly Mother. But I was set on decorating my walls with her.” Nowadays, she’s in the background of Christian institutions of all sects, quietly watching on the walls and stained glass facades of churches and cathedrals.
For a figure who represents pureness — the most important value of a woman in Christianity’s eyes — she is not spoken about much. Between the layers of contemporary media however, she lives on.
There are countless pieces of commentary on Christianity in the arts, whether they be in support of or in dissent. Depictions of Mary are powerful allegories that connect the person to art, no matter what writers say they believe.
For example, the 2009 series, “The Vampire Diaries,” took the gothic horror of vampirism, werewolves and witches, and put them into a spiraling romance plot, with Elena Gilbert — a human — being the girl in the middle of it all.
The Virgin Mary herself doesn’t have a literal connection with the show, though the concept of purity does. It penetrates through the story itself and creates a product that upholds the collective definition of what it means to be “worthy” of protection — to be innocent.
Elena is kind of like the Virgin Mary of Mystic Falls — the pinnacle of innocence — and her purity is enticing to the demonic creatures that lurk in the night. Elena has a doppelgänger named Katherine Pierce, who existed as a vampire two hundred years before Elena was born. She was promiscuous and led vampire brothers Stefan and Damon to their doom by manipulation and compulsion.
Kathrine represents impurity. Two people with the same face, but two very different personalities, who bring out the best and worst in the brothers.
Even when Elena reaches rock bottom, turning into a vampire after losing her brother, she still retains her innocence. The innocence of the truth — humanitas in the wake of barbarism.
As a viewer, you’re not actively thinking about this symbolism, because why would you? It’s a fun show with high sex appeal — what more could our human brains want?
But when you draw back the curtain to think about the choices these characters make, and the people behind these stories, you begin to see how these values are ingrained in us, influencing every interaction and thought we have.
These values aren’t harmful in the context of a vampire fantasy, but when such ideas transform into agendas pushed by powerful people, they absolutely are. Christian nationalists pitting the “pure” white master race over “impure” non-white inferior races and turning everyday people into an allegory connected back to the Virgin Mary should not and never will be an appropriate way to govern a population.
If you enjoy Elena Gilbert having a harem with the salvatories, don’t feel guilty — that’s a human thing to enjoy. But what you shouldn’t enjoy are false prophets of mega churches funding a Christian nationalist movement claiming to save the “pureness” of the country.
Kenneth Copeland is the richest pastor in America, and it’s not because of the wholesome reasons you’d think. Avoiding taxes, funding Israeli war campaigns, and being a member of the evangelical executive board of Donald Trump isn’t holy — it’s agenda disguised as praise for “our lord and savior.” Where’s the pureness in that?
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source dailyfreepress.com ’
