The secret gospel of thomas, the origin of satan, adam, eve and the serpent, and. The heresy that saved a skeptic the new york times. Pagels, a writer and thinker on religion and history, winner of the. When her infant son was diagnosed with fatal pulmonary hypertension, awardwinning author elaine pagels was moved to explore her faith.
Spurred on by personal tragedy and new scholarship from an inter. In this book, pagels outlines her notion in five stages. In beyond belief, renowned religion scholar elaine pagels continues her. 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 award and the new york times bestseller beyond belief. When john accuses evildoers of leading gullible people into sin, what troubles him is what troubled the essenes.
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 work the gnostic gospels, now reflects on what matters most about spiritual and religious exploration in the twentyfirst century. Adam, eve, and the serpent, random house, new york, 1988. She is the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university. Elaine pagels joined the princeton faculty in 1982, shortly after receiving a macarthur fellowship. Elaine pagels is the author of numerous articles and five books and is well known for her work in translating the nag hammadi library, translations which contradicted the image of the early. I resisted beyond belief for months, because i thought i was done with that topic, and was very familiar with the topic of its. What are the best christian criticisms of elaine pagels. 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. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation,adam, eve, and the serpent. Research for this book has made me aware of aspects of christianity i find disturbing. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation. Through the bestselling books of elaine pagels, thousands of readers have come to know and treasure the suppressed biblical texts known as the gnostic gospels. Read books for free from anywhere and from any device.
The secret gospel of thomas 2003, and why religion a personal story 2018. Elaine pagels is a professor of religion at princeton university. The secret gospel of thomas 1 by elaine pagels isbn. 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. In the book beyond belief jenna miscavage hill describes in detail how the scientology church worked.
Biblical scholar and author elaine pagels talked with bill moyers about her new book, beyond belief. She is the author of several books, including reading judas. Lets first note that elaine pagels is a distinguished academic who has specialized in the nag hammadi library finds. For what is she searching, as both a scholar and a. One of the most well known authors in this area is elaine pagels. Also by elaine pagels the origin of satan adam, eve, and the serpent the gnostic gospels the gnostic paul. 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. The gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity, the new york times bestseller beyond belief. A startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the bible, by the bestselling author of beyond belief.
Elaine pagels is the harrington spear paine foundation professor of religion at princeton university. Elaine pagels is the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university and the author of reading judas, the gnostic gospels winner of the national book critics circle award and the national book awardand the new york times bestseller beyond belief. Her subsequent bestselling books include beyond belief. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, viking penguin, new york, 2012. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels paperback book at and save. Author of the book gnostic gospels, pagels revists the secret gospel of thomas as a method to describe the historical background into the formation of the bible as we see today. In conversation with pico iyer, renowned religious scholar elaine pagels looks at. As an introductory undergraduate or adult education text, beyond belief could be immensely useful. Beyond belief is supposedly focused on the gospel of thomas.
Her bestselling book the gnostic gospels 1979 examines the divisions in the early christian. May 18, 2017 author of the gnostic gospels, beyond belief, reading judas, the origin of satan, adam, eve, and the serpent, the gnostic gospels, the origin of satan, the gnostic paul elaine pagels open library donate. 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. Also by elaine pagels beyond belief the origin of satan adam, eve, and the serpent the gnostic gospels the gnostic paul. Received the national book critics circle a ward 1979 and the american book award 1980. Controversial and thoughtprovoking, this international bestseller investigates the politics of christianity and how the. Elaine pagels, the gnostic gospels vintage books, 1979, 1989, and beyond belief, the secret gospel of thomas random house, 2003. Gnostic exegesis of the pauline letters the ohannine gospel in gnostic exegesis elaine pagels beyond belief the secret gospel of thomas for kent with love. 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.
In beyond belief, her spiritual journey becomes a springboard for an intellectual and professional reexamination of early christian faith. Beyond belief by elaine pagels discussion guide penguin. Elaine pagels is the harrington spear paine foundation. See all books authored by elaine pagels, including the gnostic gospels, and beyond belief. Spurred on by personal tragedy and new scholarship from an international group of researchers, pagels returns to her investigation of the secret gospel of thomas, and. The secret gospel of thomas, noted religious historian elaine pagels reflects on the significance of the rich collection of noncanonical gospels and manuscripts discovered by a. Shortly after elaine pagels twoandhalf yearold son. Sex and politics in early christianity,the gnostic paul. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading beyond belief. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, viking penguin, new york, 2012 reading judas. Elaine pagels on what we can learn from adam and eve part. Elaine pagels books list of books by author elaine pagels.
In 1981 she was awarded a macarthur prize fellowship. Elaine pagels is a scholar of religious history who holds advanced degrees from top universities and has a wide reputation for pioneering research on early christianity. The gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity 2007, and revelations. Why has elaine pagels chosen beyond belief as her title. The secret gospel of thomas pagels, best know for her national book award. Elaine pagels, american educator and scholar of the origins of christianity. The gnostic gospels won the national book critics circle award and the national book award in 1980. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author.
Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation 2012. Beyond belief by elaine pagels discussion guide books on tape. Pagels has conducted extensive research into early christianity and gnosticism. She reveals in the first chapter of this 2003 book how. Spurred by personal tragedy, elaine pagels turns to a consideration of the gnostic gospels, in particular, the gospel of thomas. Pagels attempts to trace the history of the formation of the bible in her well researched and meticulously notated book beyond beliefs, and does a fantastic job. As one of the worlds foremost religion scholars, she. Elaine pagels joined the princeton university faculty in 1982, shortly after. Pagels has written provocatively titled books for example, beyond belief. Elaine pagels joined the princeton university faculty in 1982, shortly after receiving a macarthur fellowship.
What do they reveal about pagelss own struggles with some aspects of traditional christian beliefs. People are drawn to these mysterious books that never made it into the new testament. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. After completing her doctorate at harvard university she participated with an international team of scholars to edit, translate, and publish several of these. In beyond belief, renowned religion scholar elaine pagels continues her groundbreaking examination of.
Elaine pagels born 1943 is professor of religion at princeton university. Elaine pagels, nee hiesey born february, 1943, is an american religious historian. The gnostic gospels won both the national book critics circle award and the national book award and was chosen by the modern library as one of the 100 best books of the 20th century. I have read two of her other books, adam, eve, and the serpent and the origin of satan, and found her to be a compelling narrator. And when we see jesus earliest followers, including peter, james, and paul, not as we usually see them, as early christians, but as they saw themselvesas jews who had found gods messiah. The secret gospel of thomas, the origin of satan, adam, eve and the serpent, and reading judas. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Pagels is also the author of adam, eve and the serpent 1988, the origin of satan 1995, beyond belief.
She is the author of the new york times bestselling beyond belief. Adam, eve, and the serpent by elaine pagels, paperback. Pagels begins each chapter with a personal reflection. As opposed to the gospel of john, which asserted that jesus was an eternally existing aspect of god who came to earth to save. Adam, eve, and the serpent, and the origin of satan and now, beyond belief. Elaine pagels s gnostic gospels, which won the national book.
Interview with elaine pagels, professor of religion at princeton university and renowned biblical scholar whose book, beyond belief. She is currently the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university, and she. Elaine pagels, one of the worlds foremost scholars of religion, speaks about her groundbreaking work on the jesus of the. The secret gospel of thomas vintage reprint by pagels, elaine isbn.
Her descriptions of the church actually fits every line of the list on how to run a mindcontrol cult, using the proven indoctrination methods of authoritarian regimes, prisons, religious cults. Elaine pagels, one of the worlds foremost scholars of religion, speaks about her groundbreaking work on the jesus of the canonical gospels and the jesus one meets in. 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. Elaine pagels is currently considered a single author. Her other books include the origin of satan 1995, beyond belief. Although pagels does deal with thomas, it is far from a study just in that text. The secret gospel of thomas kindle edition by pagels, elaine. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels 241pp, macmillan. In beyond belief, her spiritual journey becomes a springboard. Beyond unbelief a critical response to elaine pagels. The gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity, co authored with karen king, viking penguin, new york, 2007.
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