New perspectives on jesus message as written and read by elaine pagels professor of religion, princeton university, new jersey offers an informed and informative perspective with respect to the attributes and teachings of jesus christ as presented through the interpretive ideals of apostle thomas as revealed in his apocryphal gospel. Elaine pagels new book reveals the power of religious. Books by elaine pagels author of the gnostic gospels. Raised in an intellectually atheist household, she came to christ at a billy. In june, elaine pagels will publish a new book, the origin of satan.
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. In this spellbinding book, renowned religious scholar elaine pagels elucidates the mysteries and meanings of these sacred. Even stranger, it was only one of many now forgotten. She is the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university. The secret gospel of thomas 2003, and why religion a personal story 2018. 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. Indeed, elaine pagels s previous books, which are concise to a fault, are not always well served by being so aggressively summarized in this new book. The gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity, co authored with karen king, viking penguin, new york, 2007. As one of the worlds foremost religion scholars, she has been a pioneer in interpreting. She is now the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university. Author elaine pagels explores the concept of religious belief, and shares her own experience with finding faith in the face of tragedy, in her new book. Visions, prophecy and politics princeton religious scholar elaine pagels puts the new testaments last book in historical context.
Elaine pagels has 17 books on goodreads with 83553 ratings. 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. In new book, religion scholar elaine pagels tells her own. Pagels latest book details the impossible pain after losing her young son to disease and her beloved husband to an alpine fall.
In the wake of great personal tragedy, national book award winner and new york times bestselling author elaine pagels reflects on the persistence and nature of belief and why religion matters. Elaine pagels looks to her own life to help address these questions. An interview with elaine pagels on her new book why. This is a powerful book about the most powerful of forces. Elaine pagels joined the princeton faculty in 1982, shortly after receiving a macarthur fellowship. A startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the bible, by the bestselling author of beyond belief. A new account of the origins of christianity, that brilliantly summarized the ancient and rambling nag hammadi texts, which describe the teachings of jesus as captured by early christian writers. The secret gospel of thomas, and the more about elaine pagels.
She is currently the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university. The book of revelation is not prized as being among the bestwritten sections of that literary anthology known as the new testament, but ms. 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. In the wake of great personal tragedy, national book award winner and new york times bestselling author elaine pagels reflects on the persistence and nature. Visions, prophecy and politics in the book of revelation, by elaine pagels. Elaine pagels s most popular book is the gnostic gospels.
Elaine pagels has a persuasive answer, spectacularly illustrated. Here she interweaves a personal story with the work that she loves. New perspectives on jesus message w18page supplement by elaine pagels. Elaine pagels on what the book of revelation reveals wsj. New perspectives on jesus message by elaine pagels goodreads want to read rate this book 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars the gospel of thomas.
Israels multiple others and the birth of the gentile. The secret gospel of thomas 1st edition 1st printing hardcover new york random house 2005 near fine in a near fine dust jacket. 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. 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 gnostic gospels modern library 100 best nonfiction books series by elaine pagels. 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. The scholars tale of loving, grieving, enduring, and searching will grab readers at the outset and never let them go. Madeleine albright elaine pagels study of new gospels and revelations challenged our understanding of ancient christianity. Pagels in this introduction are all in the gnostic society library we have added links to the specific documents where they are first mentioned in the text. Huffpost religion editor paul brandeis raushenbush spoke with princeton university religion professor elaine pagels about her new book revelations what drove her to write it, why the book is considered so controversial and what we can learn from the book of revelation today.
Providing books and gifts for faith exploration and spiritual growth. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, discusses how the book of revelation is a multipurpose story. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation, viking penguin, new york, 2012 reading judas. When pagels, author of groundbreaking studies of the gnostic gospels, was. Who is satan in the new testament, and what is the evil that he represents. The secret gospel of thomas, and the gnostic gospels, winner of the national book critics circle award and the national book award. After receiving her doctorate from harvard university in 1970, elaine pagels taught at barnard college, columbia university, where she chaired the department of religion. Visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of revelation. Elaine pagels audio books, best sellers, author bio. Elaine pagels, nee hiesey born february, 1943, is an american religious historian. If god didnt write it through the sainted instrument of someone named john, then who did, and why. Elaine pagels is the harrington spear paine foundation professor of religion at princeton university. In new book, religion scholar elaine pagels tells her own story a scholar controversial for her work on christian tradition discusses how she overcame tragedy in her own family.
Characteristically brief and lucid, it is an attempt to describe the evolving shape of the devil in the sacred judeo. Elaine pagels discusses her new book in this interview. Probably the most consequential vision of the future ever written is the bibles book of revelation. The gnostic gospels by elaine pagels, paperback barnes. Elaine pagels new book offers revelations on the book. Rns elaine pagels is known to readers as the author of the classic study the gnostic gospels 1979, which won both the national book award and the national book critics circle award, as. Why does religion still exist in the twentyfirst century. Elaine pagels is the author of the bestselling the gnostic gospels, which won the national book critics circle award and the national book award. 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.
Elaine pagels opens her new book with the question, why is religion still around in the twentyfirst century. After her son and husband died, elaine pagels wondered why religion. With characteristic intelligence and wisdom, elaine pagels. Author elaine pagels explores why humans rely on religious. In this compelling, honest, and learned memoir, elaine pagels, takes us inside her own life in a stirring and illuminating effort to explain religions enduring appeal. These questions took on a new urgency for pagels when dealing with unimaginable lossthe death of her young son, followed a year later by the shocking loss of her husband.
When pagels, author of groundbreaking studies of the. Religion scholar elaine pagels lost her young son to terminal illness and her husband a year later in an accident. Elaine pagels, american educator and scholar of the origins of christianity. Professor pagels is the author of several books on religious subjects and was awarded a macarthur fellowship in 1981. The gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity, the new york times bestseller beyond belief. Her notable books included the gnostic gospels 1979, the origin of satan 1995, beyond belief.
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