Beyond belief the secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels explains some of the reasons why it is difficult for many christians to embrace pluralism or to accept the diversity of belief in the early church. Visa, mastercard, american express paypal, diners club and discover. Elaine pagels, one of the worlds most important writers and thinkers on religion and history, and winner of the national book award for her groundbreaking workthe gnostic gospels, now reflects on what matters most about spiritual and religious exploration in the twentyfirst century. The secret gospel of thomas, noted religious historian elaine pagels reflects on the significance of the rich collection of noncanonical gospels and. What do they reveal about pagelss own struggles with some aspects of traditional christian beliefs. This accessible, engaging book has princeton religion professor pagels the gnostic gospels. Publishers weekly feb 26, 2007 this accessible, engaging book has princeton religion professor pagels the gnostic gospels. The american press and the coming of the holocaust, 19331945 1993 by deborah lipstadt. The book also refers back to the authors prior book on gnosticism. The secret gospel of thomas, and the gnostic gospels, winner of the national book critics circle award and the national book. What are the best christian criticisms of elaine pagels. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation 2012. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading beyond belief. Shortly after elaine pagels twoandhalf yearold son. In beyond belief, renowned religion scholar elaine pagels continues her groundbreaking examination of the earliest christian texts, arguing for an ongoing assessment of faith and a questioning of religious orthodoxy. Her bestselling book the gnostic gospels 1979 examines the divisions in.
After completing her doctorate at harvard university she participated with an international team of scholars to edit, translate, and publish several of these. The gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity, the new york times bestseller beyond belief. Her book, the origin of satan, published in 1995, is dedicated to her two children, david and sarah, and in 1995 pagels married kent greenawalt, a law professor at columbia university. The harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university, pagels was awarded the rockefeller, guggenheim, and macarthur fellowships in three consecutive years. Apr 20, 2009 rubbish from the second century that is still rubbish 1 is an apt description of the gnostic views advanced in elaine pagelss beyond belief. Beyond belief in a dream team pairing with king the. Beyond belief in a dream team pairing with king the gospel of mary of magdala, who. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels in paperback format at koorong 9780375703164. This is a powerful book about the most powerful of forces. Pagels begins each chapter with a personal reflection. Reading judas on apple books apple books apple apple. Perhaps best known as the author of the gnostic gospels, the origin of satan, and adam, eve and the serpent, she has published widely on gnosticism and early christianity, and continues to pursue research interests in late antiquity.
After this publication, pagels decided to write a popular account of the scrolls to make the gnostic beliefsoften expressed in obscure, mystical language. Controversial and thoughtprovoking, this international bestseller investigates the politics of christianity and how the church crafted a bible and a faith far more stringent than previously thought. When her infant son was diagnosed with fatal pulmonary hypertension, awardwinning author elaine pagels was moved to explore her faith. Reviewed by richard woods, dominican university, river forest, il 60305. Gnosticism gave a higher place in theology to knowledge, and held that it should at least share the same pew with belief. Why has elaine pagels chosen beyond belief as her title. Elaine pagels is a distinguished professor of religion at princeton and says yes. The secret gospel of thomas, has been on the new york times bestseller list for 19 weeks and has been nominated for a pulitzer prize. May 04, 2004 in beyond belief, renowned religion scholar elaine pagels continues her groundbreaking examination of the earliest christian texts, arguing for an ongoing assessment of faith and a questioning of religious orthodoxy. Pagels book is a jewel, not merely of exemplary historical scholarship, but as the personal faith journey of a seeker, restless with christian orthodoxy, but open to internal religious experience. Beyond belief the secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels. For what is she searching, as both a scholar and a. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels, first published.
In the wake of great personal tragedy, national book award winner and new york times bestselling author elaine pagels reflects on the persistence and nature of belief and why religion matters. Sex and politics in early christianity,the gnostic paul. And why do so many peopleeven, and especially, those who challenge religioncontinue to argue about the. Thomass book was full of jesuss sayings whereas the other four books contains jesuss sayings as well, but in a story format that starts from the beginning of when jesus was born to the day he resurrects from the dead. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels 5,772 ratings, 3. Elaine pagels, american educator and scholar of the origins of christianity. Pagels has conducted extensive research into early christianity and gnosticism. Elaine pagels is the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university and the author of reading judas, the gnostic gospelswinner of the national book critics circle award and the national book awardand the new york times bestseller beyond belief. Elaine pagels is currently the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university. Rubbish from the second century that is still rubbish 1 is an apt description of the gnostic views advanced in elaine pagelss beyond belief. Islamic excursions among the converted peoples, a 1998 book by v. Elaine pagels, nee hiesey born february, 1943, is an american religious historian who writes on the gnostic gospels. In the spring of the year 367, the bishop of alexandria in egypt wrote a.
Characteristically brief and lucid, it is an attempt to describe the evolving shape of the devil in the sacred judeo. The secret gospel of thomas, and the gnostic gospels, winner of the national book critics circle award and the national. Beyond belief by elaine pagels penguin random house audio. Her notable books included the gnostic gospels 1979, the origin of satan 1995, beyond belief. Beyond belief by elaine pagels, written in 2003, is a small book consisting of only five chapters that seeks to show that what is today considered christian orthodox belief is not validly derived from the teachings of early christianity. An international team of scholars, including elaine hiesey pagels, was established to study and translate the writings, which were published in 1978 as the nag hammadi library in english. The secret gospel of thomas 2003, and why religion a personal.
Pagels, a writer and thinker on religion and history, winner of the national book award for the gnostic gospels, reflects on what matters most about spiritual and religious exploration in the 21st century. Beyond unbelief a critical response to elaine pagels. In this book, pagels outlines her notion in five stages. In june, elaine pagels will publish a new book, the origin of satan. Elaine pagels born 1943 is professor of religion at princeton university. I not only recommend beyond belief, i recommend all of elaine pagels books. He announced his approval of the 27 books that were to become known as. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, adam, eve, and the serpent. A fine thematic introduction to gnosticism, concentrating on the texts discovered at nag hammadi upper egypt in 1945. Elaine pagels, one of the worlds most important writers and thinkers on religion and history, and winner of the national book award for her groundbreaking work.
Lets first note that elaine pagels is a distinguished academic who has specialized in the nag hammadi library finds. The secret gospel of thomas, and the gnostic gospels, winner of the national book critics circle award and the national book award. Apr 02, 2007 the gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity viking, march 2007 by elaine pagels, a religion professor at princeton university and author of the gnostic gospels 2004, and translator. She received the macarthur prize fellowship for creative work, and is best known for her books on the early history of christianity, especially the gnostic gospels, which won the national book critics circle award and the american book award. Beyond belief portrays the rich and beautiful heritage that was lost when champions of religious orthodoxy turned on many of their fellow christians and declared them heretics. Well known in scriptural circles for her work on the team who translated the nag hammadi library into english, pagels has published four other books on the. She is the author of several books, including reading judas. About elaine pagels elaine pagels is best known for research and publication involving a cache of over fifty ancient greek texts discovered translated into coptic in upper egypt in 1945. The gospel according to elaine pagels by gary anderson in the weekly standard, august 11, 2003 books by elaine pagels. Finding my religion religious scholar elaine pagels on how. In elaine pagels beyond belief, richard holloway discovers that a lost.
For pagels, the search for god goes beyond the rigid formulations of christian creeds and orthodox dogmabeyond belief. The gnostic gospels by elaine pagels, paperback barnes. Elaine pagels has continued to research and write about the theological shifts and battles within earlier christianity. Reading judas plunges into the heart of christianity itself and will stand as the definitive look at the gospel for years to come. She was awarded the national book critics circle award and the national book award for the gnostic gospels. She brings her considerable competence to bear on the subject without. With characteristic intelligence and wisdom, elaine pagels. The secret gospel of thomas kindle edition by pagels, elaine. Elaine pagels, a historian of religion, is the harrington spear paine professor at princeton university. Oct 10, 2003 the gospel according to elaine pagels by gary anderson in the weekly standard, august 11, 2003 books by elaine pagels. Beyond belief in a dream team pairing with king the gospel of mary of magdala, who teaches ecclesiastica. A personal story is a remarkable summary of what so many of us have experienced. Elaine pagels is a preeminent academic whose impressive scholarship has earned her international respect. Elaine pagels is the harrington spear paine foundation professor of religion at princeton university.
The secret gospel of thomas e laine pagels, professor of religion at princeton university, became famous well, at least well known with the publication of her book, the gnostic gospels, in she has written several other books as well on the history of christianity, establishing her as the foremost popular scholar in the field. Her other books include the origin of satan 1995, beyond belief. Why does religion still exist in the twentyfirst century. She is the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university. She brings her considerable competence to bear on the subject without overwhelming the reader with. Internationally and deservedly famous for her 1979 survey of christian apocryphal literature the gnostic gospels, pagels introduced a new generation of. Spurred by personal tragedy, elaine pagels turns to a consideration of the gnostic gospels, in particular, the gospel of thomas. Pagels has written provocatively titled books for example, beyond belief. The secret gospel of thomas 2003, and why religion a personal story 2018. Are the gnostic gospels valuable resources that tell us secret things about jesus that were repressed by the church. A profound exploration of the bibles most controversial book from the author of beyond belief and the gnostic gospels the strangest book of the new testament. Special edition including the complete text of the gospel of thomas elaine pagels, one of the worlds most important writers and thinkers on religion and history, and winner of the national book award for her groundbreaking workthe gnostic gospels, now reflects on what matters most about spiritual and religious exploration in the twentyfirst century. As opposed to the gospel of john, which asserted that jesus was an eternally existing aspect of god who came to earth to save humankind, the secret gospel of thomas agrees that jesus was in some sense divine, but says that a streak of divinity can be found in all.
Elaine pagels, nee hiesey born february, 1943, is an american religious historian. As opposed to the gospel of john, which asserted that jesus was an eternally existing aspect of god who came to earth to save humankind, the secret gospel of thomas agrees that jesus was in some sense divine, but says that a streak of divinity can. Elaine pagels special edition including the complete text of the gospel of thomas elaine pagels, one of the world’s most important writers and thinkers on religion and history, and winner of the national book award for her groundbreaking work the gnostic gospels, now reflects on what matters most about spiritual and religious exploration. In beyond belief, renowned religion scholar elaine pagels continues her groundbreaking examination of the earliest christian texts, arguing for an ongoing. Although the apostle paul, about twenty years after jesus death, stated the gospel, which, he says, i too received that christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. This is unfortunate because otherwise there are many things to admire about the book, including the scholarship it represents and the questions it raises. With natural ease and insight, this historian of religion plunges us into the formative years of christianity in the second through the fourth centuries when various church. Spurred on by personal tragedy and new scholarship from an international group of researchers, pagels returns to her investigation of the secret gospel of. This book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the gospel of thomas, rediscovered in egypt in 1945. A chronicle of murder and its detection, a 1967 book by emlyn williams.
Pagels teaches the history of religion at barnard, and she has spent practically all of her young academic life working with the nag hammadi manuscripts in one way or another. In beyond belief, her spiritual journey becomes a springboard for an intellectual and professional reexamination of early christian faith. In this compelling, honest, and learned memoir, elaine pagels, takes us inside her own life in a stirring and illuminating effort to explain religions enduring appeal. Elaine pagels biblical scholar, expert in gnosticism. Spurred on by personal tragedy and new scholarship from an international group of researchers, pagels returns to her investigation of the secret. Elaine pagels s gnostic gospels, which won the national book critics circle award and the national book award in 1980, introduced the general public to the discovery in 1945 at nag hammadi in egypt of an extraordinary cache of ancient papyrus books.