Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas by Elaine Pagels
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Book Reviews of Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas
Book Review: From Confusion To Clarity
Summary: 4 Stars
I found Elaine's style incredibly passionate and personable which was no doubt in part a result of the personal tragedy she experienced with her son. An incredible tapestry of information, history, and real insight into the struggle to understand the meaning and word of God. Astonishing scholarship and research.However, I found the title a little misleading as there is no in depth treatment of Thomas's secret gospel. There are several comparative references vs. John and others. However, most of the book focuses on Irenaeus and the consistently vague and frequent references to the discoveries at Nag Hammadi.
My experience was that this work raised many more questions that could be very confusing at a time when most, especially the Vatican, religious institutions are under siege and increasingly alienating vs. leading their followers.
What was clear, was what most of us know. That there has been an incredible diversity of opinion over the centuries on what was said and/or took place during the life of Jesus. And, as some have said "beware of false prophets who claim they know the true meaning" of the scriptures.
As Jean Paul Sartre once said in his treatise, "The Yoke of Freedom", freedom is an extraordinary burden as it requires that one must chose. And, it seems that Elaine placed a great deal of emphasis on each individual needing to chose on how to find and relate to God vs. an institution.
At a low point in my life, and after just having read the bible for the first time, I met with a parish priest who recently passed away (one of the leaders in calling for Cardinal Law's resignation). I asked him about the translations, inconsistencies, etc. He smiled and asked me what I thought the scriptures were. I could not answer. He did - very important "stories" where fact, content and inconsistencies really did not matter. What mattered was understanding the critical messages and values on how to love each other and God.
I believe Elaine Pagel's work supports this reality.
Thanks Elaine.
Book Review: A uniquely introspective achievement
Summary: 4 Stars
As others have been quick to point out, "Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas" is NOT a scholarly exegesis on the Gospel of Thomas. It is, on the other hand, a worthwhile book that offers an insightful glimpse into one scholar's struggle to reconcile her Christian spirituality with her research as a Biblical historian. Elaine Pagels, a distinguished scholar of early Christianity who has done much to popularize Biblical history, begins "Beyond Belief" by describing her struggle to come to grips with the death of her son. Almost by accident, on the day after her son was first diagnosed with lung disease, she stumbled into a church and "rediscovered" her Christian roots.
"Beyond Belief" is not at all sentimental. Pagels does not ask for sympathy; at no point does the description of her son's illness exploitative or voyeuristic. But Pagels uses her personal tragedy to explore the ways in which her understanding of Christianity has changed in light of her historical scholarship, and how exposure to early Christian theology has influenced her spirituality.
"Beyond Belief" is a memoir as much as a book on the history of Christian thought. It is a description of "heretical" scripture with an emphasis on those passages the author finds worthwhile; an overview of early Church history that offers insight into the individuals and events that ultimately limited the diversity of Christian thought.
I wouldn't recommend this book to somebody looking for a comprehensive history of the early Christians. But on its own terms, it is sweet, sincere, accessible, and worthwhile.
Book Review: Seeking understanding
Summary: 4 Stars
Elaine Pagels wrote the Secret Gospel of Thomas when she was seeking understanding of her son's illness, her life in the scope of the world, and her own christianity. From this perspective of a search for understanding, I found the book to be wonderful, although I didn't entirely agree with all of its premises.
In this book, Pagels examines the conflicting gospels of John and Thomas. In the gospel of John, Jesus is portrayed as exclusively divine and that the only way to god is via his representative on earth. John is where the 'I and a Thou' relationship with God comes from. In the gospel of Thomas, Jesus is portrayed as divine, but this divinity is a divinity accessible to all - a divinity that could be found in every human. The gospel of Thomas suggests that Jesus's message is that the kingdom of God is within. If you seek, you shall find.
Pagels translates from the 'Secret Book'. Parts of the translations suggest that God sent Adam, a helper, a creative, inventive consciousness which comes out of him, who is called Life, Eve, and she 'helps' the whole creation. She does this by working with him, by restoring him to his full being, by teaching him about the descent of his kind, and by showing him the way to ascend, the way he came down. In this way, Eve symbolizes the gift of spiritual understanding, which enables us to reflect upon divine reality.
Something to think about. I like the thought on the surface, and I will certainly continue my reading in search of understanding.
Book Review: Paints a picture of what it was like in the 2nd century
Summary: 4 Stars
There are many good points to this book that other reviewers have already discussed. She appears to be unbiased, meaning she isn't swayed by material in either texts. She doesn't stress the dogma to me as much as look, here are differences, and this is why the book of Thomas may have been left out.
It is well known that there was some disagreement in how the initial church should be ran. Peter and Paul had different ideas on the functions of the initial churches, and would go on to agree. If we imagined ourselves back in the 2nd century with a new fledgling belief in Christ, we may be able to see how some texts were judged to be "Cannon" and others failed these tests.
The Gospel of Thomas may be one of the more credible texts that were not included in the modern day Christian Bible. Elaine Pagels does a well researched of job of explaining the differences between the way John writes about spitiuality and the way Thomas did. Different does not mean opposite.
This book is not for those who are seeking a radical religious experience. This book is for those who enjoy books of a historical nature. This book treats highly sensitive material with respect and objectivity. After reading my first novel of Pagels, I know I will be reaching for more of her books in the future.
Book Review: Good Book, but NOT Exactly as Advertized
Summary: 4 Stars
Beyond Belief by Elaine Pagels is subtitled, The Secret Gospel of Thomas. There is a translation of this gospel given at the end of the book, but there is little in the way of explaining it anywhere. The book focuses much more on the gospel of John and how Irenaeus helped to shape what was to become orthodox Christianity.
That being said, and it is a little troubling (was her editor asleep?), I am still giving the book 4 stars, because it is a good read. Along its way, it explains the other way(s) Christianity could have gone (and might still go perhaps now that Gnostic writings are becoming widely available) quite well I think. I am not sure that I would have included all the personal details that Pagels stuck in here and there, but then it is her book, and they did sort of fit in.
Maybe she will write a second edition and actually write more about Thomas. She does write very well - something I seem to see less and less of these days. Hope she does, as Thomas is an interesting subject, and she would probably do a good job with it - assuming her editor keeps her on track.