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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading beyond belief. The gospel of thomas also known as the coptic gospel of thomas is a noncanonical sayings gospel. Elaine pagelss gnostic gospels, which won the national book. 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.
I read passages that i felt i already knew in my heart. In beyond belief, her spiritual journey becomes a springboard for an intellectual and professional reexamination of early christian faith. Pagels, a writer and thinker on religion and history, winner of the. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels online at alibris. 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.
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 introduction, discussion questions, suggestions for further reading, and author biography that follow are designed to enhance your groups discussion of beyond belief. Nov 01, 2004 beyond belief the secret gospel of thomas elaine pagels published by random house, 2003 hardcover, pp. The church fathers did not like thomas ideas, and attempted to suppress his gospel as heretical. 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. When her infant son was diagnosed with fatal pulmonary hypertension, awardwinning author elaine pagels was moved to explore her faith. 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. Rubbish from the second century that is still rubbish 1 is an apt description of the gnostic views advanced in elaine pagelss beyond belief. The secret gospel of thomas hardcover 2003 by elaine pagels author. The combination of such an erudite mind and such engaging prose makes her. 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. Pagels believes that thomas words lead to a more open, welcoming, and equitable kind of christianity. 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. Another interesting parallel pagels singles out is johns reference to doubting thomas a reputation poor thomas still holds to this day. 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. Pagels aims to show that there is more to christianity than rigorously upholding one set of beliefs.
Elaine pagelss gnostic gospels, which won the national book critics circle award and the. If you mutter a vague yes, there is always a supplementary. 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 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 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.
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. In this book, pagels outlines her notion in five stages. Islamic excursions among the converted peoples, a 1998 book by v. The secret gospel of thomas, elaine pagelss fascinating exploration of how and why the new testament acquired its present form. 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. Spurred on by personal tragedy and new scholarship from an international group of researchers, pagels returns to her investigation of the secret gospel of. 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. 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, 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 national book award for the gnostic gospels, reflects on what matters most about spiritual and religious exploration in the 21st century. If beyond belief is at odds with conservative theological certainties, it nonetheless speaks to jesus humanity, and to our own. 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 her exploration, she uncovers the richness and diversity of christian philosophy that has only become available since the discovery of the. The secret gospel of thomas vintage reprint by elaine pagels isbn. The secret gospel of thomas, is just out in paperback.
She is the author of several books, including reading judas. 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. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels 241pp, macmillan. The secret gospel of thomas ebook 9781400079087 by elaine pagels. This book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the secret gospel of thomas, rediscovered in egypt in 1945. Scholars believe these two texts to be written at the same time, around the first 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 book is mostly concerned with explaining why early christians like irenaeus suppressed gospels such as the gospel of thomas. It was discovered near nag hammadi, egypt, in december 1945 among a group of books known as the nag hammadi library. Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of the book and why its important. Elaine h pagels this book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the secret gospel of thomas, rediscovered in egypt in 1945. 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 book explores how christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the gospel of thomas, rediscovered in egypt in 1945. 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 words, beyond belief, have significance in more than one way. 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. The secret gospel of thomas by elaine pagels, first published in 2004 beyond belief. The author explores historical and archeological sources to investigate what jesus and his teachings meant to his followers before the invention of christianity as we know it. 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. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The secret gospel of thomas includes a complete plot overview spoilers included.
Spurred on by personal tragedy and new scholarship from an inter. Exhilarating reading, pagels book offers a model of careful and thoughtful. Elaine pagels, the gnostic gospels vintage books, 1979, 1989, and beyond belief, the secret gospel of thomas random house, 2003. 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. Its about a religious text that is little known the secret gospel of thomas, rediscovered in egypt in 1945. 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. In beyond belief, renowned religion scholar elaine pagels continues her.
Jan 01, 2003 this is the second time ive read beyond belief. Reading it with a group this time deepened my understanding. 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. 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.
The secret gospel of thomas paperback may 4, 2004 by elaine pagels author. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Beyond belief the secret gospel of thomas elaine pagels published by random house, 2003 hardcover, pp. Beyond belief by elaine pagels, 9780375703164, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. 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. 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. She has written several other books as well on the history of christianity. Beyond unbelief a critical response to elaine pagels. A very popular book with both christian and academic readers, pagels is an awardwinning, bestselling writer of both religious and historical books.
Scholars speculate that the works were buried in response to a letter from bishop athanasius declaring a strict canon of christian scripture. 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. This is unfortunate because otherwise there are many things to admire about the book, including the scholarship it represents and the questions it raises. 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. The question isnt often asked today in a neutral tone. The secret gospel of thomas kindle edition by pagels, elaine.
But after reading palmers confessions of an insider regarding the earliest days. The author explores historical and archeological sources to investigate what jesus and his teachings meant to his. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. 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 worlds most important writers and thinkers on religion and history. 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. Had i known the gospel of thomas, a buddhist monk once told author elaine pagels, i wouldnt have had to become a buddhist.
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