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. A startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the bible, by the bestselling author of beyond belief. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. The secret gospel of thomas ebook written by elaine pagels. 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, american educator and scholar of the origins of christianity. The secret gospel of thomas, is just out in paperback. This bold new book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the secret gospel. 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. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required.
Had i known the gospel of thomas, a buddhist monk once told author elaine pagels, i wouldnt have had to become a buddhist. 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 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. 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. Spurred by personal tragedy, elaine pagels turns to a consideration of the gnostic gospels, in particular, the gospel of thomas. In the spring of the year 367, the bishop of alexandria in egypt wrote a. See all books authored by elaine pagels, including the gnostic gospels, and beyond belief. 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. She has written several other books as well on the history of. The secret gospel of thomas and millions of other books are available for instant access. Pagels s writing style, i was somewhat disappointed in the lack of analysis of the gospel of thomas. She is the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university. 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.
Her bestselling book the gnostic gospels 1979 examines the divisions in the early christian. 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. 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. 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. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation,adam, eve, and the serpent. The secret gospel of thomas 9780375703164 by elaine pagels. The secret gospel of thomas, pagels brings readers both her personal and intellectual perspectives as she explores the development of the christian religion. Pagels, a writer and thinker on religion and history, winner of the. 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 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.
The secret gospel of thomas has 8 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. In beyond belief, renowned religion scholar elaine pagels continues her. 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. Beyond belief on apple books apple books apple apple. The secret gospel of thomas random house, 2003, is more of the same. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Elaine pagels is the harrington spear paine foundation professor of religion at princeton university. Its about a religious text that is little known the secret. If you mutter a vague yes, there is always a supplementary. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
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 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, focuses on religious claims to ultimate truth. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, viking penguin, new york, 2012 reading judas. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Elaine pagels born 1943 is professor of religion at princeton university. Pagels 1979 book the gnostic gospels was one of the. Pagels has conducted extensive research into early christianity and gnosticism. The secret gospel of thomas kindle edition by pagels, elaine.
Pagels suggests that both were written about the same time, about sixty years after jesuss death. She believed that the rogue voices of christianity encouraged the. 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. 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. Pagels returns to her investigation of the secret gospel of thomas, and breathes new. The introduction, discussion questions, suggestions for further reading, and author biography that follow are designed to enhance your groups discussion of beyond belief. In the spring of the year 367, the bishop of alexandria in egypt wrote a famous letter to his flock. The secret gospel of thomas 2003, and why religion a personal story 2018. The secret gospel of thomas vintage reprint by pagels, elaine isbn. 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.
Thomas found among a cache of texts near nag hammadi in upper 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. Pagels aims to show that there is more to christianity than rigorously upholding one set of beliefs. Spurred on by personal tragedy and new scholarship from an international group of researchers, pagels returns to her investigation of the secret gospel of.
As pagels continues her argument in the second chapter of her book, gospels in conflict. Her notable books included the gnostic gospels 1979, the origin of satan 1995, beyond belief. 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. She is the author of several books, including reading judas.
Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, viking penguin, new york, 2012. 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. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels may 4 2004. Elaine pagels s gnostic gospels, which won the national book critics circle award and the. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels online at alibris. Scholars believe these two texts to be written at the same time, around the first century. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation.
Beyond unbelief a critical response to elaine pagels. Elaine pagels, nee hiesey born february, 1943, is an american religious historian. 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. 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. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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, and the more about elaine pagels. The gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity, co authored with karen king, viking penguin, new york, 2007. The gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity, the new york times bestseller beyond belief. 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. Spurred on by personal tragedy and new scholarship from an inter. She contends that, as christianity became increasingly institutionalized, it became. When her infant son was diagnosed with fatal pulmonary hypertension, awardwinning author elaine pagels was moved to explore her faith. Elaine pagels, the secret gospel of thomas her latest book, beyond belief.
The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels 241pp, macmillan. The secret gospel of thomas, elaine pagelss fascinating exploration of how and why the new testament acquired its present form. 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. 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 is unfortunate because otherwise there are many things to admire about the book, including the scholarship it represents and the questions it raises. 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. 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 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. Jul 09, 2004 elaine pagels, the secret gospel of thomas her latest book, 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. 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. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read beyond belief.
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. Beyond belief compares the gospel of john with the gospel of st. Pagels reveals the various diversity of many interpretations. 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.
In this book, pagels outlines her notion in five stages. In beyond belief, her spiritual journey becomes a springboard for an intellectual and professional reexamination of early christian faith. The combination of such an erudite mind and such engaging prose makes her. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading beyond belief. 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. 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 books list of books by author elaine pagels. Jan 01, 2003 while i enjoyed beyond belief, both the content and dr. 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.
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