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 twenty. This book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the gospel of thomas, rediscovered in egypt in 1945. For the technical discussion of the research summarized in this chapter, see elaine pagels, irenaeus, the canon of truth and the gospel of john. Her bestselling book the gnostic gospels 1979 examines the divisions in the early christian. The gnostic gospels won the national book critics circle award and the national book award in 1980. Controversial and thoughtprovoking, this international bestseller investigates the politics of christianity and how the. Controversial and thoughtprovoking, this international bestseller. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels 241pp, macmillan. Elaine pagels, the gnostic gospels vintage books, 1979, 1989, and beyond belief, the secret gospel of thomas random house, 2003. Elaine pagels is a scholar of religious history who holds advanced degrees from top universities and has a wide reputation for. She is the author of several books, including reading judas. Beyond belief elaine pagels read online free books archive. 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. 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.
Making a difference through hermeneutics and ritual. For what is she searching, as both a scholar and a. A startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the bible, by the bestselling author of beyond belief. Sex and politics in early christianity,the gnostic paul. Her notable books included the gnostic gospels 1979, the origin of satan 1995, beyond belief.
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 21st century. 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 1979. This chapter condenses and summarizes research that is presented in a fuller and more technical form as elaine pagels, exegesis of genesis 1 in the gospels of thomas and john, journal of biblical. This book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the gospel. This bold new book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts. In 1981 she was awarded a macarthur prize fellowship. 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. In this groundbreaking book, elaine pagels, princetons distinguished historian of religion, traces the evolution of satan from its origins in the hebrew bible, where satan is at first merely obstructive, to the. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels 20030506. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, viking penguin, new york, 2012 reading judas. Beyond belief by elaine pagels, first edition abebooks. While these gospels have many superficial similarities, pagels. 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. Elaine pagels looks to her own life to help address these questions.
The gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity, co authored with karen king, viking penguin, new york, 2007. Why has elaine pagels chosen beyond belief as her title. Also by elaine pagels the origin of satan adam, eve, and the serpent the gnostic gospels the gnostic paul. I not only recommend beyond belief, i recommend all of elaine pagels books. In elaine pagels beyond belief, richard holloway discovers that a lost.
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. Spurred on by personal tragedy and new scholarship from an international group of researchers, pagels. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation,adam, eve, and the serpent. Through the bestselling books of elaine pagels, thousands of. The secret gospel of thomas 2003, and why religion a personal story 2018. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. In the spring of the year 367, the bishop of alexandria in egypt wrote a famous letter to his flock. Elaine pagels has 17 books on goodreads with 84265 ratings. Book overview in beyond belief, renowned religion scholar elaine pagels continues her groundbreaking examination of the earliest christian texts, arguing for an ongoing assessment of faith.
In this groundbreaking book, elaine pagels, princetons distinguished historian of religion, traces the evolution of satan from its origins in the hebrew bible, where satan is at first merely obstructive, to the new testament, where satan becomes the prince of darkness, the bitter enemy of god and man, evil incarnate. The secret gospel of thomas vintage reprint by pagels, elaine isbn. Books by elaine pagels author of the gnostic gospels. 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.
She reveals in the first chapter of this 2003 book how. Elaine pagels s most popular book is the gnostic gospels. In beyond belief, renowned religion scholar elaine pagels continues her groundbreaking. After listing the twentytwo books that he says are believed to be the old testament, athanasius proceeds to offer the earliest known list of the twentyseven books he calls the books. 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. At the center of beyond belief is what pagels identifies as a textual battle between the gospel of thomas rediscovered in egypt in 1945 and the gospel of john. Elaine pagelss gnostic gospels, which won the national book critics circle award and the. The secret gospel of thomas 1 by pagels, elaine isbn.
In beyond belief, her spiritual journey becomes a springboard. She is the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university. Spurred on by personal tragedy and new scholarship from an international group of researchers, pagels returns to her investigation of the secret gospel of. Pagels, a writer and thinker on religion and history, winner of the. 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 pagelss most popular book is the gnostic gospels. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, adam, eve, and the serpent. 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. When her infant son was diagnosed with fatal pulmonary hypertension, awardwinning author elaine pagels was moved to explore her faith. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Elaine pagels books list of books by author elaine pagels. The book also refers back to the authors prior book on gnosticism. Sign me up to get more news about nonfiction books. The secret gospel of thomas pagels, best know for her national book awardwinning the gnostic gospels, wrestles with her own faith as she struggles to understand whenand whychristianity became associated almost exclusively with the ideas codified in the fourthcentury nicene creed and in the canonical texts of the new. Through the bestselling books of elaine pagels, thousands of readers have come to. Beyond belief by elaine pagels discussion guide books on tape. These questions took on a new urgency for pagels when dealing with unimaginable lossthe death of her young son, followed a year later by the shocking loss of her husband.
Pagels begins each chapter with a personal reflection. 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. In beyond belief, renowned religion scholar elaine pagels continues her. Spurred on by personal tragedy and new scholarship from an inter. Elaine pagels, american educator and scholar of the origins of christianity. In beyond belief, her spiritual journey becomes a springboard for an intellectual and professional reexamination of early christian faith. Elaine pagels s gnostic gospels, which won the national book critics. Elaine pagels, one of the worlds most important writers and thinkers on religion and. She is currently the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university, and she. What do they reveal about pagelss own struggles with some aspects of traditional christian beliefs. Gnosticism gave a higher place in theology to knowledge, and held that it should at least share the same pew with belief.
Pagels has conducted extensive research into early christianity and gnosticism. 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. See all books authored by elaine pagels, including the gnostic gospels, and beyond belief. Elaine pagels argues that this need to define belief is not the. Elaine pagels, nee hiesey born february, 1943, is an american religious historian. 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. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation. 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. Elaine pagels born 1943 is professor of religion at princeton university. Elaine pagels, one of the worlds most important writers and thinkers on religion and history, and winner of the national book award for her.
A startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the bible, by the bestselling author of beyond belief 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. May 04, 2004 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. This bold new book explores how christianity began by tracing its. In this majestic new book, pagels the gnostic gospels ranges. Mar 06, 2012 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. 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.
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