Author, Professor, Scholar Elaine Pagels Will Deliver Weinstein-Rosenthal Lecture at University of Richmond
October 20, 2004
In her first book, "The Gnostic Gospels," Elaine Pagels challenged the notion that the early Christian Church was a unified movement. Her analysis of the 52 early Christian manuscripts unearthed in Egypt earned her the National Book Critic's Circle Award and the National Book Award.
Pagels will discuss that book and her latest book, the bestselling "Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas," Oct. 25, 8 p.m., in the Jepson Alumni Center at the University of Richmond. The lecture is free and open to the public.
In "The Gnostic Gospels," ranked by Modern Library as one of the 100 best books of the 20th century, Pagels examined the manuscripts, known as the Nag Hammadi Library. As a result of her studies of these gospels, which originally were suppressed and deemed heretical, she argued that as the church became increasingly institutionalized, it became more politicized and less pluralistic.
Not only were the Gnostic Gospels not heretical, Pagels said, they provided a way of understanding the religious diversity within and beyond Christianity.
One of those manuscripts, The Gospel of Thomas, is the subject of "Beyond Belief." Whereas John speaks of the divinity of Jesus, Pagels says, Thomas believes we all have a "divine light" and are made "in the image of God," even apart from Jesus. Thomas "challenges us to discover what lies hidden within ourselves," Pagels says.
Pagels also is author of "The Origin of Satan," which chronicles the evolution of Jewish and Christian concepts of evil, and "Adam, Eve and the Serpent," which examines the creation myth and its role in the development of sexual attitudes in the Christian West.
A reception and book signing will follow.