In beyond belief, renowned religion scholar elaine pagels continues her. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Pagels suggests that both were written about the same time, about sixty years after jesuss death. The secret gospel of thomas ebook written by elaine pagels. The secret gospel of thomas, elaine pagelss fascinating exploration of how and why the new testament acquired its present form. If you mutter a vague yes, there is always a supplementary. 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 is an intense investigative scholar who minutely examines early christian texts, searching for an ongoing assessment of faith, while able to question religious orthodoxy. The secret gospel of thomas, pagels brings readers both her personal and intellectual perspectives as she explores the development of the christian religion. The secret gospel of thomas, and the more about elaine pagels. Elaine pagels, the gnostic gospels vintage books, 1979, 1989, and beyond belief, the secret gospel of thomas random house, 2003. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation,adam, eve, and the serpent. When her infant son was diagnosed with fatal pulmonary hypertension, awardwinning author elaine pagels was moved to explore her faith.
Thomas found among a cache of texts near nag hammadi in upper egypt in 1945. Her bestselling book the gnostic gospels 1979 examines the divisions in the early christian. 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. 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. Elaine pagels, american educator and scholar of the origins of christianity. Jul 09, 2004 elaine pagels, the secret gospel of thomas her latest book, beyond belief. This is unfortunate because otherwise there are many things to admire about the book, including the scholarship it represents and the questions it raises. She believed that the rogue voices of christianity encouraged the. In the spring of the year 367, the bishop of alexandria in egypt wrote a. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app.
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. Had i known the gospel of thomas, a buddhist monk once told author elaine pagels, i wouldnt have had to become a buddhist. 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. Beyond belief on apple books apple books apple apple. 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.
Pagels s writing style, i was somewhat disappointed in the lack of analysis of the gospel of thomas. Elaine pagels s gnostic gospels, which won the national book critics circle award and the. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, viking penguin, new york, 2012. 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 compares the gospel of john with the gospel of st. The secret gospel of thomas vintage reprint by pagels, elaine isbn. Jan 01, 2003 while i enjoyed beyond belief, both the content and dr. Beyond unbelief a critical response to elaine pagels. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
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. 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. As pagels continues her argument in the second chapter of her book, gospels in conflict. She is the author of several books, including reading judas. In the spring of the year 367, the bishop of alexandria in egypt wrote a famous letter to his flock. Elaine pagels is the harrington spear paine foundation professor of religion at princeton university. Pagels reveals the various diversity of many interpretations. 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. 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. Its about a religious text that is little known the secret.
This bold new book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the secret gospel of. 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. 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. 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 introduction, discussion questions, suggestions for further reading, and author biography that follow are designed to enhance your groups discussion of beyond belief. She contends that, as christianity became increasingly institutionalized, it became. 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. 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. In this book, pagels outlines her notion in five stages. 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. Pagels, a writer and thinker on religion and history, winner of the. 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.
The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels 241pp, macmillan. She has written several other books as well on the history of. Pagels discusses several highly symbolic or metaphorical readings of the bible, such as the secret book of john, in which eve is interpreted as an embodiment of epinoia a creative or inventive consciousness, and the apple as a symbol of higher spiritual knowledge pp. 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. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation.
The secret gospel of thomas kindle edition by pagels, elaine. A startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the bible, by the bestselling author of beyond belief. Elaine pagels, nee hiesey born february, 1943, is an american religious historian. 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. 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.
See all books authored by elaine pagels, including the gnostic gospels, and beyond belief. The secret gospel of thomas has 8 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. 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. 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. This book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the gospel of thomas, rediscovered in egypt in 1945. Scholars believe these two texts to be written at the same time, around the first century. She reveals in the first chapter of this 2003 book how. The secret gospel of thomas 9780375703164 by elaine pagels. The secret gospel of thomas and millions of other books are available for instant access. 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. 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. 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 inter.
The secret gospel of thomas, is just out in paperback. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Pagels 1979 book the gnostic gospels was one of the. The secret gospel of thomas 2003, and why religion a personal story 2018. Sex and politics in early christianity,the gnostic paul.
The gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity, the new york times bestseller 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 breathes. Elaine pagels born 1943 is professor of religion at princeton university. This bold new book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the secret gospel. The secret gospel of thomas, focuses on religious claims to ultimate truth. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading beyond belief. 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. Spurred by personal tragedy, elaine pagels turns to a consideration of the gnostic gospels, in particular, the gospel of thomas. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. 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. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels online at alibris. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read beyond belief.
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. 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. Pagels has conducted extensive research into early christianity and gnosticism. 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. 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. The question isnt often asked today in a neutral tone. 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. Pagels aims to show that there is more to christianity than rigorously upholding one set of beliefs.
Elaine pagels, the secret gospel of thomas her latest book, beyond belief. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, viking penguin, new york, 2012 reading judas. In beyond belief, her spiritual journey becomes a springboard for an intellectual and professional reexamination of early christian faith. The gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity, co authored with karen king, viking penguin, new york, 2007. Pagels returns to her investigation of the secret gospel of thomas, and breathes new. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels may 4 2004. The combination of such an erudite mind and such engaging prose makes her. The secret gospel of thomas random house, 2003, is more of the same.
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