Pagels, a writer and thinker on religion and history, winner of the. Truth and fiction in the da vinci code by professor bart d. In this book, pagels outlines her notion in five stages. In 1981 she was awarded a macarthur prize fellowship. In beyond belief, renowned religion scholar elaine pagels continues her. Elaine pagels is the harrington spear paine foundation 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 groundbreaking workthe gnostic gospels, now reflects on what matters most about spiritual and religious exploration in the twentyfirst century. In the late 100s, as pagels tells it, the two main. Elaine pagels, american educator and scholar of the origins of christianity. As one of the worlds foremost religion scholars, she has been a pioneer in interpreting. Also by elaine pagels the origin of satan adam, eve, and the serpent the gnostic gospels the gnostic paul.
She is the author of several books, including reading judas. The secret gospel of thomas vintage reprint by pagels, elaine isbn. Beyond belief 2003 by elaine pagels tells of the rise and fall of the gospel of thomas, one of the dozens of gospels that did not make it into the bible. The gnostic gospels won the national book critics circle award and the national book award in 1980.
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. Elaine pagels books list of books by author elaine pagels. Her other books include the origin of satan 1995, beyond belief. The secret gospel of thomas, the origin of satan, adam, eve and the serpent, and. Elaine pagels s gnostic gospels, which won the national book. Beyond belief is supposedly focused on the gospel of thomas. 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. 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. This book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the gospel of thomas, rediscovered in egypt in 1945. Christian scriptures and the battles over authentication by professor bart d. 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.
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. This bold new book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the secret gospel of thomas. 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. The 16page gospel of thomas itself is at the back of the book. Interview with elaine pagels, professor of religion at princeton university and renowned biblical scholar whose book, beyond belief. In beyond belief, her spiritual journey becomes a springboard. 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. When john accuses evildoers of leading gullible people into sin, what troubles him is what troubled the essenes. Her notable books included the gnostic gospels 1979, the origin of satan 1995, beyond belief. 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 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. Elaine pagelss gnostic gospels, which won the national book. The secret gospel of thomas 2003, and why religion a personal story 2018.
Spurred on by personal tragedy and new scholarship from an international group of researchers. Shes also a mother who lost a 6yearold son to a rare lung disease a wrenching tragedy that. The gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity, co authored with karen king, viking penguin, new york, 2007. Also by elaine pagels beyond belief the origin of satan adam, eve, and the serpent the gnostic gospels the gnostic paul. The heresy that saved a skeptic the new york times. Although pagels does deal with thomas, it is far from a study just in that text. She is the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university. The secret gospel of thomas, and the more about elaine pagels. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels online at alibris. Elaine pagels, nee hiesey born february, 1943, is an american religious historian.
Biblical scholar and author elaine pagels talked with bill moyers about her new book, beyond belief. See all books authored by elaine pagels, including the gnostic gospels, and beyond belief. Pagels has written provocatively titled books for example, beyond belief. What are the best christian criticisms of elaine pagels. Elaine pagels, the gnostic gospels vintage books, 1979, 1989, and beyond belief, the secret gospel of thomas random house, 2003. This bold new book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the secret gospel of thomas, rediscovered in egypt in 1945. 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. She has written several other books as well on the history of christianity, establishing her as the foremost popular scholar in the field. In elaine pagels beyond belief, richard holloway discovers that a lost. 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. For discussion and references on how johns gospel, as well as the others, portrays the jews, see elaine pagels, the origin of satan new york, 1995, especially 89111, and the references cited there. At a time when books about angels make the bestseller lists, it is refreshing to have one about the devilif only to remind us that religion is not all sweetness and light. The secret gospel of thomas, the origin of satan, adam, eve and the serpent, and reading judas.
Elaine pagels joined the princeton university faculty in 1982, shortly after receiving a macarthur fellowship. This luminous and accessible history of early christian thought offers profound. In this majestic new book, pagels the gnostic gospels ranges panoramically over the history of early christianity, demonstrating the religions initial. A startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the bible, by the bestselling author of beyond belief. In revelations, pagels examines the historical origin of the new testament book of revelation and the roots of dissent and violence in the worlds religions. Beyond unbelief a critical response to elaine pagels.
People are drawn to these mysterious books that never made it into the new testament. In beyond belief, renowned religion scholar elaine pagels continues her groundbreaking examination of the earliest christian texts, arguing for an ongoing assessment of faith. The secret gospel of thomas, which explores the discussion and debate between followers of. When her infant son was diagnosed with fatal pulmonary hypertension, awardwinning author elaine pagels was moved to explore her faith. Her subsequent bestselling books include beyond belief. After completing her doctorate at harvard university she participated with an international team of scholars to edit, translate, and publish several of these. Lets first note that elaine pagels is a distinguished academic who has specialized in the nag hammadi library finds. June 1, 1995 an nbcc and national book awardwinning scholar of gnosticism and early christianity argues that the concept of satan was central to the way apocalyptic jews and the christian church sawand treatedtheir enemies. The gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity, the new york times bestseller beyond belief. 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. 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. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, viking penguin, new york, 2012 reading judas. New books on christianity and spirituality by pagels.
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. 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. 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. Elaine pagels argues that this need to define belief is not the. 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. One of the most well known authors in this area is elaine pagels. Pagels has conducted extensive research into early christianity and gnosticism. This luminous and accessible history of early christian thought offers profound and. Visions, prophecy and politics princeton religious scholar elaine pagels puts the new testaments last book in historical context. In beyond belief, renowned religion scholar elaine pagels continues her groundbreaking examination of the. 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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