Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation,adam, eve, and the serpent. 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. She is the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university. Sex and politics in early christianity,the gnostic paul. This book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the gospel of thomas, rediscovered in egypt in 1945. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Her notable books included the gnostic gospels 1979, the origin of satan 1995, beyond belief. The secret gospel of thomas ebook written by elaine pagels.
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. 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. In this book, pagels outlines her notion in five stages. Although the title is a bit deceptive, beyond belief is a readable history of how church orthodoxy evolved from jesus earliest followers in the first century through the 4th century when constantine endorsed christianity as romes official religion. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Her bestselling book the gnostic gospels 1979 examines the divisions in the early christian. 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 breathes new life into writings once thought heretical. The secret gospel of thomas 2003, contrasts the gospel of thomas with the gospel of john, and argues that a close reading of the works shows that while the gospel of thomas taught its adherents that there is a light within each person, and it lights up the whole universe if it does not shine, there is darkness, the gospel of john.
The secret gospel of thomas random house, 2003, is more of the same. Scholars believe these two texts to be written at the same time, around the first century. The introduction, discussion questions, suggestions for further reading, and author biography that follow are designed to enhance your groups discussion of beyond belief. 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, the secret gospel of thomas her latest book, beyond belief. Had i known the gospel of thomas, a buddhist monk once told author elaine pagels, i wouldnt have had to become a buddhist. Beyond unbelief a critical response to elaine pagels. 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. 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. The secret gospel of thomas kindle edition by pagels, elaine. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required.
Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. The secret gospel of thomas, and the more about elaine pagels. 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. The secret gospel of thomas, focuses on religious claims to ultimate truth. The secret gospel of thomas and millions of other books are available for instant access. Elaine pagels s gnostic gospels, which won the national book critics circle award and the. 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. She is the author of several books, including reading judas.
The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels may 4 2004. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation. In the spring of the year 367, the bishop of alexandria in egypt wrote a famous letter to his flock. Spurred by personal tragedy, elaine pagels turns to a consideration of the gnostic gospels, in particular, the gospel of thomas. The secret gospel of thomas pagels, best know for her national book award winner 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 testament. Pagels presents decent analysis of the gnostic movement, and places the gospel of john within the gnostic context, yet fails to deliver much on the gospel of thomas. Pagels s writing style, i was somewhat disappointed in the lack of analysis 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. She has written several other books as well on the history of. Jul 09, 2004 elaine pagels, the secret gospel of thomas her latest book, 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. The gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity, co authored with karen king, viking penguin, new york, 2007. Pagels says, thomas s gospel encourages the hearer not so much to believe in jesus, as john requires, as to seek to know god through ones own, divinely given capacity, since all are created in the image of god p.
Rubbish from the second century that is still rubbish 1 is an apt description of the gnostic views advanced in elaine pagels s 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. Pagels 1979 book the gnostic gospels was one of the. Pagels aims to show that there is more to christianity than rigorously upholding one set of beliefs. In beyond belief, her spiritual journey becomes a springboard for an intellectual and professional reexamination of early christian faith. 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 breathes. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels 241pp, macmillan. Beyond belief on apple books apple books apple apple. The secret gospel of thomas has 8 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. The secret gospel of thomas vintage reprint by pagels, elaine isbn. A startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the bible, by the bestselling author of 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 twenty. Pagels has conducted extensive research into early christianity and gnosticism. Elaine pagels born 1943 is professor of religion at princeton university.
The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels online at alibris. 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. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Presumably he was at least half joking, but the fact that he could say the words suggests the degree to which the subject of beyond belief veers away from what would become the christian tradition. 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.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read beyond belief. She contends that, as christianity became increasingly institutionalized, it became. Elaine pagels is the harrington spear paine foundation professor of religion at princeton university. When her infant son was diagnosed with fatal pulmonary hypertension, awardwinning author elaine pagels was moved to explore her faith. Beyond belief compares the gospel of john with the gospel of st. 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 the twentyfirst century. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, viking penguin, new york, 2012. 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. 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, nee hiesey born february, 1943, is an american religious historian. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, viking penguin, new york, 2012 reading judas. Its about a religious text that is little known the secret.
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. The gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity, the new york times bestseller beyond belief. As she arrives at an everdeeper conviction in her own faith, pagels reveals how faith allows for a diversity of interpretations, and that the rogue voices of christianity encourage and sustain the recognition of the light within us all. 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. Pagels returns to her investigation of the secret gospel of thomas, and breathes new. Pagels suggests that both were written about the same time, about sixty years after jesuss death. This bold new book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the secret gospel of. 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. In beyond belief, renowned religion scholar elaine pagels continues her. The secret gospel of thomas, is just out in paperback. The secret gospel of thomas 2003, a work of christian nonfiction by elaine pagels, explores the earliest christian texts to uncover how christianity took shape. Elaine pagels books list of books by author elaine pagels.
Jan 01, 2003 while i enjoyed beyond belief, both the content and dr. Spurred on by personal tragedy and new scholarship from an inter. In the spring of the year 367, the bishop of alexandria in egypt wrote a. 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. The secret gospel of thomas 9780375703164 by elaine pagels. John and thomas, she seeks to show that john was aware of the teachings of the gospel of thomas a lesser claim than that john was aware of thomas and that john sought to directly refute those teachings. 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.
Pagels reveals the various diversity of many interpretations. 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 testament. The secret gospel of thomas, pagels brings readers both her personal and intellectual perspectives as she explores the development of the christian religion. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Elaine pagels, american educator and scholar of the origins of christianity. May 04, 2004 pagels examines the differences between the gospel of john in the new testament and the secret gospel of thomas, found in nag hammadi in 1947. She believed that the rogue voices of christianity encouraged the. Elaine pagels, the gnostic gospels vintage books, 1979, 1989, and beyond belief, the secret gospel of thomas random house, 2003. Elaine pagels is an intense investigative scholar who minutely examines early christian texts, searching for an ongoing assessment of faith, while able to question religious orthodoxy. If you mutter a vague yes, there is always a supplementary.
She reveals in the first chapter of this 2003 book how. This is unfortunate because otherwise there are many things to admire about the book, including the scholarship it represents and the questions it raises. See all books authored by elaine pagels, including the gnostic gospels, and beyond belief. The combination of such an erudite mind and such engaging prose makes her. The secret gospel of thomas, elaine pagelss fascinating exploration of how and why the new testament acquired its present form. This bold new book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the secret gospel. Thomas found among a cache of texts near nag hammadi in upper egypt in 1945.
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