The secret gospel of thomas, and the gnostic gospels, winner of the national book critics circle award and the national. Elaine pagels audio books, best sellers, author bio. 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. She is now the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university. Elaine pagels, professor of religion at princeton university, has made. She reveals in the first chapter of this 2003 book how. This book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the gospel of thomas, rediscovered in egypt in 1945. The harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university, pagels was awarded the rockefeller, guggenheim and macarthur fellowships in three consecutive years. 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. 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. When her infant son was diagnosed with fatal pulmonary hypertension, awardwinning author elaine pagels was moved to explore her faith. She is the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university. Known for her work in translating the nag hammadi library, she joined the princeton faculty in 1982. The secret gospel of thomas, is about a littleknown religious text that was rediscovered in egypt in 1945.
A new memoir by elaine pagels plumbs some of the deepest. Also by elaine pagels the origin of satan adam, eve, and the serpent the gnostic gospels the gnostic paul. In this groundbreaking book, elaine pagels, princeton s 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. Her bestselling book the gnostic gospels 1979 examines the divisions in.
Elaine pagels on what it means to be human america. So pagels has watched with astonishment as the book, beyond belief. Sex and politics in early christianity,the gnostic paul. Elaine pagels is the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton. 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. Known for her work in translating the nag hammadi library, she joined the princeton. She is the author of the new york times bestselling beyond belief. In this groundbreaking book, elaine pagels, princeton s 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 gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity, co authored with karen king, viking penguin, new york, 2007. 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. Pagels is the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university. 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. In elaine pagels beyond belief, richard holloway discovers that a lost.
Beyond unbelief a critical response to elaine pagels. Jun 29, 2004 a startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the bible, by the bestselling author of beyond belief 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. In beyond belief, renowned religion scholar elaine pagels continues her. 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. 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. Mar 15, 2012 elaine pagels burst the myth of the early christian church as a unified movement in her 1979 book the gnostic gospels, which 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. Pagels has conducted extensive research into early christianity and gnosticism her bestselling book the gnostic gospels 1979 examines the divisions in the early christian church, and the way that women have been viewed. Beyond belief elaine pagels explores an outlawed gospel. Elaine pagels s gnostic gospels, which won the national book critics circle award and the. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. This tension between authority and revelation is at the heart of beyond belief.
The heresy that saved a skeptic the new york times. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation,adam, eve, and the serpent. Elaine pagels department of religion princeton university. 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 is a professor of religion at princeton university. 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. Harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university. 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 workthe gnostic gospels, now reflects on what matters most about spiritual and religious exploration in the twentyfirst century. In the gnostic gospels, author elaine pagels suggests that christianity could have developed quite differently if gnostic texts had become part of the christian canon. 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. Elaine pagels is the harrington spear paine foundation professor of religion at princeton university, and a leading scholar of. 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 was on the new york times bestseller list and revelations. 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. Religious scholar elaine pagels her latest book, beyond belief. In beyond belief, her spiritual journey becomes a springboard for an intellectual and professional reexamination of early christian faith. Dec 21, 2018 elaine pagels discusses her book, why religion. Apr 16, 2019 pagels will hold a conversation about the book with wallace best, professor of religion and african american studies, at 6 p.
A new memoir by elaine pagels plumbs some of the deepest questions about what it means to be human and how ritual and faith can help make sense of the unfathomable. The secret gospel of thomas 1 by elaine pagels isbn. The gnostic gospels won the national book critics circle award and the national book award in 1980. 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. A personal story, elaine pagels, the harrington spear paine foundation professor of religion. Gnostic exegesis of the pauline letters, adam, eve and the serpent, the origin of satan, and beyond belief. Elaine pagels is the harrington spear paine foundation professor of religion at princeton university. Pagels, a writer and thinker on religion and history, winner of the. The secret gospel of thomas, the origin of satan, adam, eve and the serpent, and reading judas. She is the author of several books, including reading judas.
Pagels is the harrington spear paine foundation professor of religion at princeton. She has written several other books as well on the history of. Princeton weekly bulletin 020904 book on religious. Elaine pagels princeton university faculty member elaine pagels, an authority on the religions of late antiquity and the author of the gnostic gospels and beyond belief. Pagels traverses grief, healing and the nature of belief in. Her other books include the origin of satan 1995, beyond belief. Politics in the book of revelation as well as the gnostic gospels. The secret gospel of thomas was a new york times bestseller. Pagels traverses grief, healing and the nature of belief in princeton. She is harrington spear paine foundation professor of religion at princeton university. In this book, pagels outlines her notion in five stages. Elaine pagels, the secret gospel of thomas her latest book, beyond belief. A startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the bible, by the bestselling author of beyond belief 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. As a religion prof a princeton, pagels has studied the debate of those years through.
I not only recommend beyond belief, i recommend all of elaine pagels books. Elaine pagels joined the princeton university faculty in 1982, shortly after receiving a macarthur fellowship. 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. 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.
Jun 14, 2003 interview with elaine pagels, professor of religion at princeton university and renowned biblical scholar whose book, beyond belief. The secret gospel of thomas, has become surprise bestseller. Elaine pagels, american educator and scholar of the origins of christianity. Gnosticism celebrates god as both mother and father, shows a very human jesuss relationship to mary magdalene, suggests the resurrection is better understood. Elaine pagels joined the princeton faculty in 1982, shortly after receiving a macarthur fellowship. Monday, april 29, at labyrinth books, 122 nassau st. Pagels will hold a conversation about the book with wallace best, professor of religion and african american studies, at 6 p. Ghaith beyond belief by elaine pagels the gnostic bible by willis barnstone the gospel of. 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.
An authority on the religions of late antiquity, pagels joined the princeton faculty in 1982, shortly after receiving a macarthur fellowship. Monograph series by elaine h pagels 19730503 jan 1, 1832. Her subsequent bestselling books include beyond belief. Elaine pagels is currently considered a single author. 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. 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. Author of the gnostic gospels, professor and scholar elaine pagels is a preeminent figure in the theological community whose impressive scholarship has earned her international respect. May 02, 2011 elaine pagels is author of the gnostic gospels, the gnostic paul. In her latest book she concentrates mainly on why the. Historian of religion pagels awarded national humanities medal. Pagels traverses grief, healing and the nature of belief.
She presents a groundbreaking diversity of interpretations in faith and shows how a rogue voice in christianity can enhance the recognition of the light within us all. Gnosticism gave a higher place in theology to knowledge, and held that it should at least share the same pew with belief. But after reading palmers confessions of an insider regarding the earliest days. The secret gospel of thomas, is just out in paperback. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, viking penguin, new york, 2012 reading judas. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. But religion professor elaine pagels s beyond belief. Elaine pagels, professor of religion at princeton university, has made the translation and interpretation of these texts her lifes work.
Paul declared that christians were struggling with the powers of darkness and not with common flesh and blood, he was expressing an essentially cosmic attitude. 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. Pagels has conducted extensive research into early christianity and gnosticism. Elaine pagels born 1943 is professor of religion at princeton university. The secret gospel of thomas, which, at press time, had been on the list for three months since its publication by. It might seem surprising that a book about the early christian movement would make the new york times bestseller list. The book also refers back to the authors prior book on gnosticism. Princeton nj when professor elaine pagels sat down to write a book exploring the historical roots of christianity, she certainly wasnt angling to write a bestseller. The secret gospel of thomas 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 she has written several other books as well on the history of christianity, establishing her as the foremost popular scholar in the field. Elaine pagels burst the myth of the early christian church as a unified movement in her 1979 book the gnostic gospels, which 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. The secret gospel of thomas, has been named a recipient of the 2015 national humanities medal. Pagels, professor of religion at princeton, has returned to territory. I resisted beyond belief for months, because i thought i was done with that topic, and was very familiar with the topic of its subtitle, the secret gospel of thomas.
The secret gospel of thomas, has spent more than three months on the new york times bestseller list. 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 announcement was made today by the white house. In 1981 she was awarded a macarthur prize fellowship. Elaine pagels, nee hiesey born february, 1943, is an american religious historian. When pagels, author of groundbreaking studies of the gnostic gospels, was asked, why religion. The secret gospel of thomas 2003, and why religion a personal story 2018. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, viking penguin, new york, 2012. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels 241pp, macmillan. The gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity, the new york times bestseller beyond belief. Elaine pagels, a highly renowned religion scholar and a professor of religion at princeton, explores her investigation into the secret gospel of thomas. She is the author of the gnostic gospels, which won the national book award and the national book critics circle award, the johannie gospel in gnostic exegesis, adam, eve, and the serpent, and the bestselling beyond belief. 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.
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