The Gnostic Gospels

By: Elaine Pagels

Narrated by: Lorna Raver

Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

The Gnostic Gospels provides engaging listening for those seeking a broader perspective on the early development of Christianity. Author and noted scholar Elaine Pagels suggests that Christianity could have developed quite differently if Gnostic texts had become part of the Christian canon.

Without a doubt: Gnosticism celebrates God as both Mother and Father, shows a very human Jesus's relationship to Mary Magdalene, suggests the Resurrection is better understood symbolically, and speaks to self-knowledge as the route to union with God. Pagels argues that Christian orthodoxy grew out of the political considerations of the day, serving to legitimize and consolidate early church leadership. Her contrast of that developing orthodoxy with Gnostic teachings presents an intriguing trajectory on a world faith as it "might have become."

©1979 Elaine Pagels (P)2006 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The first major and eminently readable book on gnosticism benefiting from the discovery in 1945 of a collection of Gnostic Christian texts at Nag Hammadi in Egypt." --The New York Times Book Review

Amazing!

I love learning about Gnosticism. Each book from Elaine Pagels teaches something new. It is very enjoyable. Lorna Raver'd voice makes it even more enjoyable

Good basis knowledge of the Gnostic Gospels.

Narrator was awesome. this was my first exposure to the Gnostic. very good for foundational knowledge.

New history of the early Christian church

Made me wonder about the early church more than ever before. I used to think the early church was sad and boring. now I find it even sadder but very interesting. this also helped me understand the church's sexism, which I greatly appreciate. great book.

Amazing book

If you’re interested in learning more about gnostic Christianity, this book is essential. It is very well written, and clearly explains complex and esoteric concepts.

A must-read

There is so much to know about Christ, the origins of the Christian faith, and how it turned out the way it has.
Unfortunately for a great many reasons the contents of these and probably many other texts have been hidden from the world for hundreds of years and its great to have these particular ones set out so well in their greater context.

This book introduces and suggests things that most Christians (or anyone for that matter) would never consider a possibility, enhances many pieces of understanding and severely challenges others.
There's no new religion here, but the one you had is supplied with some interesting additions!

Dr Pagels' extensive subject knowledge of the texts of the Nag Hammadi library as well as other historical, political and religious sources, brings up some key questions and facts, attempts to answer them in light of a far wider body of evidence and leaves the reader wanting to continue the study...
Which is possibly the best thing a book like this can do

If you're done with Christianity but want the trut

Book touches on the teachings of Thomas the contender a man who would've single handedly flipped the church upside down

Informative and Presents The Information

the author presents the information to you in a matter-of-fact way without overburdening or trying to influence her belief system on to the reader. very informative and useful for those that are into the Gnostic ways.

More exciting than I expected, honestly!

I somehow expected that this would be a kind of dated and superficial treatment of the subject. To my surprise it was a very thorough, wide-ranging, well argued, and quite useful book for my studies.

I recommend this to a moderate student of religious history, having a general model of the entire Bible and having read some of the apocryphal gospels themselves.

Stimulating exploration of early Christian Thought

Where does The Gnostic Gospels rank among all the audiobooks you???ve listened to so far?

The Gnostoc Gospe;s deals with a special and somewhat arcane subject. It is not comparable to toehr books

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Gnostic Gospels?

the desription of the diference between gnostic and orthodox think on the nature of Jesus

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The author is the reader. She is clear in her atirulation and convincing in here scholarship

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

Any additional comments?

An essential book for anyone interested in the development of Christian faith

Very enlightening.

Has opened my eyes to a different prospective of the King James' Bible version. Intriguing.