After completing her doctorate at harvard university she participated with an international team of scholars to edit, translate, and publish several of these. Elaine pagels, the gnostic gospels vintage books, 1979, 1989, and beyond belief, the secret gospel of thomas random house, 2003. Her bestselling book the gnostic gospels 1979 examines the divisions in the early christian. The secret gospel of thomas 2003, and why religion a personal story 2018. She reveals in the first chapter of this 2003 book how. 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 vintage reprint by pagels, elaine isbn. Elaine pagels s gnostic gospels, which won the national book. 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. What do they reveal about pagelss own struggles with some aspects of traditional christian beliefs. Shortly after elaine pagels twoandhalf yearold son. 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. Elaine pagels is the harrington spear paine foundation.
Elaine pagels, nee hiesey born february, 1943, is an american religious historian. 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. Pagels has conducted extensive research into early christianity and gnosticism. Biblical scholar and author elaine pagels talked with bill moyers about her new book, beyond belief. In beyond belief, renowned religion scholar elaine pagels continues her groundbreaking examination of. Also by elaine pagels the origin of satan adam, eve, and the serpent the gnostic gospels the gnostic paul. 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. The secret gospel of thomas, the origin of satan, adam, eve and the serpent, and reading judas.
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. What are the best christian criticisms of elaine pagels. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation 2012. Elaine pagels is the harrington spear paine foundation professor of religion at princeton university. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, viking penguin, new york, 2012 reading judas. I resisted beyond belief for months, because i thought i was done with that topic, and was very familiar with the topic of its. Elaine pagels is currently considered a single author. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation,adam, eve, and the serpent. Pagels begins each chapter with a personal reflection. In conversation with pico iyer, renowned religious scholar elaine pagels looks at. Sex and politics in early christianity,the gnostic paul.
Elaine pagels joined the princeton university faculty in 1982, shortly after receiving a macarthur fellowship. The gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity 2007, and revelations. Beyond belief is supposedly focused on the gospel of thomas. In 1981 she was awarded a macarthur prize fellowship. Beyond belief by elaine pagels discussion guide books on tape. As one of the worlds foremost religion scholars, she.
Adam, eve, and the serpent, and the origin of satan and now, beyond belief. Lets first note that elaine pagels is a distinguished academic who has specialized in the nag hammadi library finds. Elaine pagels born 1943 is professor of religion at princeton university. A startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the bible, by the bestselling author of beyond belief. In the spring of the year 367, the bishop of alexandria in egypt wrote a famous letter to his flock.
Adam, eve, and the serpent by elaine pagels, paperback. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading beyond belief. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
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. The secret gospel of thomas 1 by elaine pagels isbn. 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. 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. People are drawn to these mysterious books that never made it into the new testament. Controversial and thoughtprovoking, this international bestseller investigates the politics of christianity and how the. Her notable books included the gnostic gospels 1979, the origin of satan 1995, beyond belief. The secret gospel of thomas kindle edition by pagels, elaine.
In beyond belief, her spiritual journey becomes a springboard. In beyond belief, renowned religion scholar elaine pagels continues her. The heresy that saved a skeptic the new york times. When john accuses evildoers of leading gullible people into sin, what troubles him is what troubled the essenes. Elaine pagels books list of books by author elaine pagels. The gnostic gospels won the national book critics circle award and the national book award in 1980. The gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity, the new york times bestseller beyond belief. 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 opposed to the gospel of john, which asserted that jesus was an eternally existing aspect of god who came to earth to save. The secret gospel of thomas, the origin of satan, adam, eve and the serpent, and. She is the author of the new york times bestselling beyond belief. One of the most well known authors in this area is elaine pagels.
Her other books include the origin of satan 1995, beyond belief. Pagels, a writer and thinker on religion and history, winner of the. Adam, eve, and the serpent, random house, new york, 1988. In this book, pagels outlines her notion in five stages. Why has elaine pagels chosen beyond belief as her title. She is the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university. Beyond unbelief a critical response to elaine pagels. Although pagels does deal with thomas, it is far from a study just in that text. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels paperback book at and save. 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. Spurred on by personal tragedy and new scholarship from an inter.
She is currently the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university, and she. Her subsequent bestselling books include beyond belief. Read books for free from anywhere and from any device. 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. 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. 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. Elaine pagels joined the princeton university faculty in 1982, shortly after.
The gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity, co authored with karen king, viking penguin, new york, 2007. In beyond belief, her spiritual journey becomes a springboard for an intellectual and professional reexamination of early christian faith. She is the author of several books, including reading judas. Elaine pagels joined the princeton faculty in 1982, shortly after receiving a macarthur fellowship. 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, noted religious historian elaine pagels reflects on the significance of the rich collection of noncanonical gospels and manuscripts discovered by a. Above all, pagels reminds us vividly that early christianity was a diverse even contentious conglomerate of sometimes rival communities out of which emerged a wide range of memories, traditions, and eventual scriptures. Elaine pagels, american educator and scholar of the origins of christianity.
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. Elaine pagels on what we can learn from adam and eve part. Received the national book critics circle a ward 1979 and the american book award 1980. 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. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation. Pagels is also the author of adam, eve and the serpent 1988, the origin of satan 1995, beyond belief. Gnostic exegesis of the pauline letters, fortress press, philadelphia, 1976. 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. Interview with elaine pagels, professor of religion at princeton university and renowned biblical scholar whose book, beyond belief. 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 241pp, macmillan. For what is she searching, as both a scholar and a.
As an introductory undergraduate or adult education text, beyond belief could be immensely useful. In the book beyond belief jenna miscavage hill describes in detail how the scientology church worked. 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. Research for this book has made me aware of aspects of christianity i find disturbing. 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 a professor of religion at princeton university. Shes also a mother who lost a 6yearold son to a rare lung disease a wrenching tragedy that. 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. 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.
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