Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas Audiobook

" This book explores how Christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the secret Gospel of Thomas, rediscovered in Egypt in 1945. When her infant son was diagnosed with fatal pulmonary hypertension, Elaine Pagels's spiritual and intellectual quest took on a new urgency, leading her to explore historical and archeological sources and to investigate what Jesus and his teachings meant to his followers before the invention of doctrine -- and before the invention of Christianity as we know it. The astonishing discovery of the Gospel of Thomas, along with more than fifty other early Christian texts unknown since antiquity, offers startling clues. Pagels compares such sources as Thomas's gospel (which claims to give Jesus' secret teaching, and find its closest affinities with kabbalah) with the canonic texts to show how Christian leaders chose to include some gospels and exclude others from the collection we have come to know as the New Testament. To stabilize the emerging Christian church in times of devastating persecution, the church fathers constructed the canon, creed, and hierarchy -— and, in the process, suppressed many of its spiritual resources." Drawing on new scholarship -— her own, and that of an international group of scholars —- Pagels shows that what matters about Christianity involves much more than any one set of beliefs. Traditions embodied in Judaism and Christianity can powerfully affect us in heart, mind, and spirit, inspire visions of a new society based on practicing justice and love, even heal and transform us. (Publisher's blurb) ~~~~ An exploration of gnosticism, among other things, that I read too quickly to actually absorb anything. Set aside for a re-read at some future date. "

" Fascinating insights on gnosis and the development and ridigification [my own word?]of the "creed" in the early Christian church. Includes the formation of the confusing doctrine of the Trinity that does not echo earlier Christian teachings of three distinct personages with a unified mission. I was not entranced with the chosen translation of Thomas that was included by Pagels but as I haven't bothered to learn to read Greek I am at the mercy of the translator :( "

" interesting read but a little tedious at times .... for me. i found myself scimming through a lot of it. "

" Despite the thrilling possibility of the discussion of the "lost gospels", this book fell short of my expectations. Deals with how tthe 4 gospels forming the Christian cannon were chosen, eliminating all other doctrine from the Bible and from Christian thought for nearly 2000 years. "

" This book is a bit more subdued, in my opinion, from her other works. But it goes into more detail as to the early Christian discussion and debate on what is orthodox, what would eventually be considered canon, and what would ultimately be included in the New Testament. Which I guess the subject matter lends itself to a more subdued book. "

" Once I got over the Osama Bin Laden look-alike on the cover, I was able to get into this book. The title of the book is "Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas" and that is my biggest beef with the book. Hardly any of it was about Thomas. She did explain the difference between gnostic and traditional study. Of course, like the gospels, the book of Thomas wasn't written by Thomas, but by his students decades later. In reading this book, I saw for the first time how things weren't so black and white. There were a lot of folks claiming to be Christian and profiting from the title - so there came a need to find some "universal" or catholic principles that all Christians could agree on. The dispute was primarily one of belief vs. knowledge and I found myself agreeing and disagreeing with aspects of both. It was intersting to read how the Jesus-is-God idea crept into thought, and how spiritual inspiration was discredited and eventually banned as herectical. It's easy to understand how so many seminary students find themselves loosing their faith when discover the history of how the Bible was put together.For me,when Love speaks to your heart, the history matters litte. "

" Misleading title and repetitive subject matter, though not without some salvageable information. "

" I have always found religious/Christian scholarship fascinating, and Pagel's discussion of the secret gospel of Thomas is groundbreaking to how Christianity shaped itself over the centuries, and how "subjective" the creation of modern-day faith has become. "

" Full of interesting thoughts, I dont agree with them all, but they are thought provoking and I enjoyed them. "

" Great idea, but very poor scholarship. Bart Ehrman's early work on Gnosticism makes a similar argument but with a solid exegetical backbone. "

" Another studious read...I personally think it is important to be aware of all the texts that are available and not just the ones "they" want you to read... "

" An excellent update to her earlier works about the Gnostic Gospels and other early-Christian beliefs and documents, Beyond Belief is well worth reading for anyone who wants a good understanding of how Christianity came to be the way it is. Highly recommended. "

" Ms. Pagels is a very serious and thorough writer. To the Christian believers, please read with an open mind. And always keep your bible handy, listen to the Holy Spirit for He alone can guide us into all truths. Thanks! "

" Don't be fooled - Pagles, A Harvard Professor, a bestselling author and a cool feminist writes for a completely clueless audience and doesn't shed much light AT ALL on the Gnostic situation. I find her simply a panderer. Oh well. Guess that screws my chances of getting into Harvard. "

" Interesting perspectives on the very early Christian church...believers have been disagreeing on the "nature of Christ" and how "Christians" should think, believe and behave since the VERY beginning...Pagels decribes those disagreements in a very accessible manner. "

" How Bishop Iraneus shaped the Christain canon "

" Not as great as "The Gnostic Gospels", not a lot of new information, just a slightly deeper examination of the role Thomas plays in the Bible and apocrypha. I listened to the audiobook which also included a lecture and Q&A from somewhere, and it was like whatever. "

" Excellent book... very accessible overview and summary of the Gospel of Thomas and how it became a "secret" gospel, how the existing Old and New Testaments became the canon they are today. Pagels is very good at synthesizing and making good arguments. "

" A better book than 3 stars suggests...more like 3 1/2 stars. Its point of view is very insightful. "

" I am a huge fan of Elaine Pagels. Whole this work did not offer as much analysis of the GOT as I wanted, it did offer a closer look at the Early Church. "

" I COULDN'T RATE IT ANY HIGHER. EVERYTHING ELAINE WRITES IS FIVE STARS. "

" This book was interesting in parts, but mostly tedious. I wasn't impressed with her writing style. "

" Pagels' take on the Gnostic gospel of Thomas. Interesting look at early Christian beliefs. "

" Too short - intriguing and lyrical book, very personal, but dumbed down and truncated for the mass market. Needed to be at least double the length. "

" Pagels is very good at giving the history and the conflicts in the emergent canon by investigating a work that was cut out. She is clearly sympathetic to the gnostic material, without being dismissive of the canon. As a result you get a deeper appreciation of both. "

" absolutely stunning, emotionally moving and mind blowing! "

" ...some insights. (read sometime prior to date indicated) "

" An excellent update to her earlier works about the Gnostic Gospels and other early-Christian beliefs and documents, Beyond Belief is well worth reading for anyone who wants a good understanding of how Christianity came to be the way it is. Highly recommended. "

" An excellent examination of the earliest Christian texts that questions religious orthodoxy. "