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Author Biography
Originally from Tranås, Sweden, Marianne Widmalm came to Ann Arbor, Michigan in the mid-1980s to study. Although she grew up in a secular household, she had a personal experience at age seven where she knew in an instant that God was real. This was the start of her journey of faith. Having never gone to church services, save a handful of times, she started attending a church in Detroit and eventually converted to Roman Catholicism.
Her academic background started with studies in art history in Sweden and then theater at the University of Michigan. She switched her focus to International Politics and Religion with plans to go into politics but found her true passion in Biblical studies. Marianne received her B.A. in International Politics and Religion from the University of Michigan in 1996. Later she obtained a Master’s degree in 1998 Near Eastern Studies, with a concentration in Ancient Israel and the Hebrew Bible. While pursing her master's degree, Marianne proposed a new interpretation of an important Hebraic word while writing a paper on Psalms 29. This led to a new understanding of the creation story in Genesis, the thesis which was published by the late Professor Noel Freedman in the first issue of his journal, The Biblical Historian. This research laid the groundwork for Marianne's first book about the Holy Spirit's scriptural feminine attributes. The theological consequences of returning to the true Jewish understanding of the Holy Spirit challenges many currently held traditions of men within today's church. Marianne's newest book is derived from her original book but deals solely with the Holy Spirit's feminine gender aspects mentioned throughout the Old Testament and early Church historical writings and their effects on today's Believers and doctrinal teachings.
Her academic background started with studies in art history in Sweden and then theater at the University of Michigan. She switched her focus to International Politics and Religion with plans to go into politics but found her true passion in Biblical studies. Marianne received her B.A. in International Politics and Religion from the University of Michigan in 1996. Later she obtained a Master’s degree in 1998 Near Eastern Studies, with a concentration in Ancient Israel and the Hebrew Bible. While pursing her master's degree, Marianne proposed a new interpretation of an important Hebraic word while writing a paper on Psalms 29. This led to a new understanding of the creation story in Genesis, the thesis which was published by the late Professor Noel Freedman in the first issue of his journal, The Biblical Historian. This research laid the groundwork for Marianne's first book about the Holy Spirit's scriptural feminine attributes. The theological consequences of returning to the true Jewish understanding of the Holy Spirit challenges many currently held traditions of men within today's church. Marianne's newest book is derived from her original book but deals solely with the Holy Spirit's feminine gender aspects mentioned throughout the Old Testament and early Church historical writings and their effects on today's Believers and doctrinal teachings.