She is the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university. 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. This bold new book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the. 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. In beyond belief, renowned religion scholar elaine pagels continues her groundbreaking examination of the earliest christian texts, arguing. Elaine pagels is the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university. Pagels bestknown earlier book is the gnostic gospels, an influential examination of early christian texts that were ultimately rejected as heretical by church leaders as they built their upstart movement into a major religion. 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. A uniquely experienced observer of china gives us a sweeping historical novel that takes us on a journey from the rise of mao zedong in 1949 to the tiananmen square uprising in 1989, as a father and his son are swept away by a relentless series of devastating events. Elaine pagels, professor of religion at princeton university, has made. 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. This is unfortunate because otherwise there are many things to admire about the book, including the scholarship it represents and the questions it raises.
Apr 20, 2009 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. In the gnostic gospelselaine pagels says that she does not present gnosticism and its gospels as better or preferable to traditional christianity. Sep 14, 2016 princeton university faculty member elaine pagels, an authority on the religions of late antiquity and the author of the gnostic gospels and beyond belief. This bold new book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the secret gospel of thomas. What do they reveal about pagels s own struggles with some aspects of traditional christian beliefs. 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 emphasizes the revelation that. Beyond belief by elaine pagels discussion guide penguin. The secret gospel of thomas audiobook written by elaine pagels. The secret gospel of thomas, has been named a recipient of the 2015 national humanities medal. 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. Nov 07, 2018 distinguished scholar of christianity elaine pagels sets out to explain why religion is still around today, through the lens of her lived tragedies the deaths of her son and husband 30 years ago. All that changed after she heard the reverend billy graham speak when she was a teenager.
Elaine pagels, the secret gospel of thomas fresh air. May, 2003 in stark contrast to this christ is that of john, whose gospel, pagels religion princeton univ the origin of satan, 1995, etc. Beyond belief, published in by random house, is a sort of sequel to the secret gospels, in that it incorporates the new. Elaine pagels, a highly renowned religion scholar and a professor of religion at princeton, explores her investigation into the secret gospel of thomas. 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 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. The secret gospel of thomas vintage reprint by pagels, elaine isbn. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. This book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the gospel of thomas, rediscovered in egypt in 1945. 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. Pagels traverses grief, healing and the nature of belief in. Special edition including the complete text of the gospel of thomaselaine pagels, one of the worlds most important writers and thinkers on religion and history, and winner of the national book award. Beyond belief by elaine pagels used world of books. Pagels bestknown earlier book is the gnostic gospels, an influential examination of early christian.
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 international group of researchers, pagels returns to her investigation of the secret gospel of thomas, and breathes new. Beyond belief offers a profound framework with which to examine christian history and contemporary christian faith, and pagels renders her scholarship in a highly readable narrative. I had a hard time deciding which section it should go into. Beyond belief by elaine pagels penguin random house audio. In her latest book she concentrates mainly on why the. In elaine pagels beyond belief, richard holloway discovers that a lost gospel. This seems disingenuous, and her preference for gnosticism, discernable in the early book, is obvious in her recent beyond belief, the secret gospel of thomas. Pagels has conducted extensive research into early christianity and gnosticism. 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. The secret gospel of thomas kindle edition by pagels, elaine.
Beyond belief, elainepagels shop online for books in australia. Conversations with authors orville schell with elaine. Pagels traverses grief, healing and the nature of belief. 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. 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 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. Elaine pagels, professor of religion at princeton university, has made the.
Mar 12, 2004 elaine pagels, professor of religion at princeton university, has made the translation and interpretation of these texts her lifes work. Spurred on by personal tragedy and new scholarship from an inter. In beyond belief, renowned religion scholar elaine pagels continues her groundbreaking examination of the earliest christian texts, arguing for an ongoing. Monday, april 29, at labyrinth books, 122 nassau st. Apr 16, 2019 pagels looks at her own life to address questions of the persistence and nature of belief and why religion is still around in the 21st century. 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. Elaine pagels, nee hiesey born february, 1943, is an american religious historian. The recipient of a macarthur fellowship, she is one of the worlds leading scholars of the gnostic gospels, on which she has written several acclaimed books, including beyond belief, published by pan. Pagels begins each chapter with a personal reflection. Jan 01, 2003 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. As a child, religion scholar elaine pagels had very little exposure to religion. The one deficiency in pagels examination of thomas, if there is one, is that she never fully returns in the end to her own struggles with religion that so poignantly open the book. For what is she searching, as both a scholar and a. Beyond belief, elainepagels shop online for books in.
In beyond belief, renowned religion scholar, elaine pagels not an evangelical continues her ground breaking examination of the earliest christian texts, arguing for an ongoing assessment of faith and a questioning of religious orthodoxy. Historian of religion pagels awarded national humanities medal. Why has elaine pagels chosen beyond belief as her title. 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 and a questioning of religious orthodoxy. The secret gospel of thomas, pagels brings readers both her personal and intellectual perspectives as she explores the. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels about the book 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. Translations from the gospel of thomas are by marvin meyer and elaine pagels, published as an appendix in 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. 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 9780330431972 by pagels, elaine and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices.
This bold new book explores how christianity began by. Her father, a biologist, brought her up to think that religion was obsolete and the gospels were just crazy old folk tales. Other translations from the nag hammadi library follow the format in the nag hammadi library, edited by james m. Spurred on by personal tragedy and new scholarship from an international group of researchers, pagels returns to her investigation of the secret gospel of. Dec 05, 2020 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. Pagels, a writer and thinker on religion and history, winner of the. Pagels will hold a conversation about the book with wallace best, professor of religion and african american studies, at 6 p. 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.
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