Had i known the gospel of thomas, a buddhist monk once told author elaine pagels, i wouldnt have had to become a buddhist. Jan 01, 2003 this is the second time ive read beyond belief. 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. Exhilarating reading, pagels book offers a model of careful and thoughtful. 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. The secret gospel of thomas paperback may 4, 2004 by elaine pagels author. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. 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 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. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Spurred on by personal tragedy and new scholarship from an inter. The combination of such an erudite mind and such engaging prose makes her. Pagels aims to show that there is more to christianity than rigorously upholding one set of beliefs. The words, beyond belief, have significance in more than one way. Pagels, a writer and thinker on religion and history, winner of the. Elaine pagelss gnostic gospels, which won the national book critics circle award and the. But after reading palmers confessions of an insider regarding the earliest days. The gospel of thomas also known as the coptic gospel of thomas is a noncanonical sayings gospel. It was discovered near nag hammadi, egypt, in december 1945 among a group of books known as the nag hammadi library. 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 pagelss gnostic gospels, which won the national book.
Beyond unbelief a critical response to elaine pagels. She is the author of several books, including reading judas. Scholars speculate that the works were buried in response to a letter from bishop athanasius declaring a strict canon of christian scripture. Reading it with a group this time deepened my understanding. This book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the gospel of thomas, rediscovered in egypt in 1945. The book is mostly concerned with explaining why early christians like irenaeus suppressed gospels such as the gospel of thomas.
The secret gospel of thomas has 8 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Controversial and thoughtprovoking, this international bestseller investigates the politics of christianity and how the. Scholars believe these two texts to be written at the same time, around the first century. Jul 30, 2019 thomass 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. 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.
Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of the book and why its important. I read passages that i felt i already knew in my heart. Spurred on by personal tragedy and new scholarship from an international group of researchers, pagels returns to her investigation of the secret gospel of. 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. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels 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, 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 secret gospel of thomas, is just out in paperback. When her infant son was diagnosed with fatal pulmonary hypertension, awardwinning author elaine pagels was moved to explore her faith. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The secret gospel of thomas random house, 2003, is more of the same. 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. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
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 development of the christian religion. The secret gospel of thomas kindle edition by pagels, elaine. If beyond belief is at odds with conservative theological certainties, it nonetheless speaks to jesus humanity, and to our own. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels, first published in 2004 beyond belief. A very popular book with both christian and academic readers, pagels is an awardwinning, bestselling writer of both religious and historical books. 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. Elaine pagels, the gnostic gospels vintage books, 1979, 1989, and beyond belief, the secret gospel of thomas random house, 2003. In beyond belief, renowned religion scholar elaine pagels continues her.
Beyond belief by elaine pagels, 9780375703164, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. 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. The secret gospel of thomas hardcover 2003 by elaine pagels author. In this book, pagels outlines her notion in five stages. Islamic excursions among the converted peoples, a 1998 book by v. Beyond belief the secret gospel of thomas elaine pagels published by random house, 2003 hardcover, pp. This book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the secret gospel of thomas, rediscovered in egypt in 1945. The question isnt often asked today in a neutral tone. Thomass 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. The secret gospel of thomas vintage reprint by elaine pagels isbn. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading beyond belief. Pagels believes that thomas words lead to a more open, welcoming, and equitable kind of christianity.
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. She has written several other books as well on the history of christianity. My secret life inside scientology and my harrowing escape 20 by jenna miscavige hill. 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. A lot of space is taken up discussing the gospel of john, supposedly as a comparison, but when the gnostic gospels are discussed pagels discusses just about every gnostic gospel except thomas. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels 241pp, macmillan. In her exploration, she uncovers the richness and diversity of christian philosophy that has only become available since the discovery of the. Nov 01, 2004 beyond belief the secret gospel of thomas elaine pagels published by random house, 2003 hardcover, pp. Rubbish from the second century that is still rubbish 1 is an apt description of the gnostic views advanced in elaine pagelss beyond belief. 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.
Pagels goes on to demonstrate that the early christian writer irenaeus promoted john as the true gospel while he excluded thomas, and a host of other early gospels, from the list of those texts. The secret gospel of thomas random house, 2003, pagels describes how early church leaders supressed another interpretation of jesus messageone found in the ancient documents pagels first popularized in her 1979 book, the gnostic gospels, winner of the national book award and the national book critics. 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. 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. If you mutter a vague yes, there is always a supplementary. Such texts as the gospel of thomas, the gospel of philip, the gospel of mary magdalene, the secret book of john, and others, point toward a more inward. 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.
Its about a religious text that is little known the secret gospel of thomas, rediscovered in egypt in 1945. Another interesting parallel pagels singles out is johns reference to doubting thomas a reputation poor thomas still holds to this day. The church fathers did not like thomas ideas, and attempted to suppress his gospel as heretical. The secret gospel of thomas includes a complete plot overview spoilers included. The author explores historical and archeological sources to investigate what jesus and his teachings meant to his.
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