Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Beyond Belief : The Secret Gospel of Thomas by Elaine Pagels ISBN: 0-375-50156-8 Publisher: Random House Pub. Date: 06 May, 2003 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.66 (97 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Scholarly and beautifully written...
Comment: This provocative and informative little book explores the historical beginnings of Christianity. As has been pointed out by other critics, the text is, for the most part, a personal though scholarly exploration into what the Christian religion offers, in terms of its doctrines, orthodox and heretical, and that our faith or belief in what has been handed down to us from the original church fathers, can be questioned, though in the end, what we find to be true is a personal affair between us and the Divine.
Personally, gaining knowledge about the history of Christianity, its early writings, and the profound political influences that shaped 'orthodoxy', in the first centuries of the first millennia, reveals aspects about Christianity that not only informs belief, but also provides deeper meaning and understanding.
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. Scholars believe these two texts to be written at the same time, around the first century. The central difference between the two Gospels is the interpretation of what actually constitutes Christ's nature, i.e., who he was and what he was, in terms of either being a prophet, a 'man' endowed with the Divine spark, to then begin his ministry, spreading his word of love, or actually the Son of God, come down from heaven in human form to save us from our sins. In the Gospel of John, there is no question that Jesus is represented as the Divine, who has been born by Immaculate Conception, sacrificing himself on the cross to save us from our sins, and who rose from the dead three days later. In the Gospel of Thomas, however, Christ can be interpreted as human, who asks us to look within ourselves in order to understand God. He tells us to seek, and to not stop seeking, until we find the truth. This point of interpretation, as to Christ's true nature, was argued by the church fathers in the third century which set Christian doctrine in stone ever since. Certain gospels were deemed heretical based on certain interpretations, and thrown out of the canon. The Secret Gospel of Thomas was one of them.
The reasons for throwing out some scripture over others is examined in some detail in this book, however, the main reason was to ensure the church had a unifying doctrine that would bring the many Christian sects at the time under one authority, creating the Catholic or Universal church. As history has shown, they were successful. The reasons for their success, though, are not limited to 'correct' interpretation of scripture, but extend to political, historical and cultural influences at the time.
I found this book to be beautifully written and informative, but it mostly inspired me to investigate the history of Christianity and how that history has shaped what it has become today.
Rating: 5
Summary: God of my understanding.....
Comment: Elaine Pagels has written a book I can understand and identify with spiritually. It's been a while since I found anything written about Christianity that did not send me into spasms. I was raised Christian (I even taught church school for a number of years) but over time I became alienated from Christian theology. I simply could not and can not accept some of the "core" traditional teachings. I want to accept these "givens" - mind you it would have made my life easier - but I cannot. I am driven or compelled by some inner voice that challenges me continuously. It is heartening to know that others, particularly those who buried the "gnostic" gospels near Nag Hammadi Egypt 1700 years ago felt similarly.
In BEYOND BELIEF - THE SECRET GOSPEL OF THOMAS Pagels examines the conflicting gospels of John and Thomas. The gospel of John has been used to support the notion that Jesus was exclusively divine and that the only way to god is via his representative on earth. John is the source of the 'I and a Thou' relationship with God. Thomas, on the other hand, suggested that Jesus was divine, but this divinity was a divinity accessible to all, i.e. could be found in every human. Like the eastern guru, Thomas suggests that Jesus message is that the kingdom of God is within. Seek and you shall find.
A particularly revealing section Pagels translates from the 'Secret Book' suggests God sent Adam " 'a 'helper' - luminous epinoia ['creative' or 'inventive' consciousness] which comes out of him, who is called Life [Eve]; and she 'helps' the whole creation, by working with him and by restoring him to his full being, and by teaching him about the descent of his kind, and by showing the way to ascend, the way he came down.' Thus Eve symbolizes the gift of spiritual understanding, which enables us to reflect-however imperfectly-upon divine reality."
I like that very much. Sounds like the God(ess) of My Understanding.
Rating: 5
Summary: Brilliant Details
Comment: Elaine H. Pagels writes a brilliant detailed book regarding the belief of the Bible and it's teachings. The passages that she writes and the historical research that she has produced has made for an extrememly impressive piece of work that I can understand and believe. I am very impressed with this author's dedication. I recommend this highly.
 |
Title: The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels ISBN: 0679724532 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 19 September, 1989 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
 |
Title: The Gospel of Mary Magdalene by Jean-Yves Leloup, Joseph Rowe, Jacob Needleman ISBN: 0892819111 Publisher: Inner Traditions Intl Ltd Pub. Date: 30 March, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
 |
Title: The Origin of Satan by Elaine Pagels ISBN: 0679731180 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 30 April, 1996 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
 |
Title: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown ISBN: 0385504209 Publisher: Doubleday Pub. Date: 18 March, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
 |
Title: Adam, Eve, and the Serpent by Elaine Pagels ISBN: 0679722327 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 19 September, 1989 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
