Millions of readers have turned to Elaine Pagels for her clear and insightful books about the Gnostic Gospels?the teachings of Jesus that have been lost for centuries. Sounds True is proud to present the first widely available audio recording of this extraordinary scholar as she explores the text that has changed the way many of us think about the message of Christ: The Gospel of Thomas. The stunning archaeological discovery of these lost scriptures of early Christianity in 1945 has revealed exciting new dimensions to the wisdom passed on from Jesus to his disciples. In her analysis of this revived gospel, Dr. Pagels reveals that Thomas was not a ?doubter? of Christ?rather, his thoughtful inquiries reflected and brought out the deepest truths that Jesus had to offer. Thomas? account depicts a Jesus who taught us that the ?Kingdom of Heaven? is not a separate realm, but a state of divinity that we all can reach. He is even called the ?twin? of Jesus?a metaphor for the possibility that all of us can achieve the same state of divine grace embodied by Jesus. Elaine Pagels has riveted readers and audiences everywhere with her clear and provocative explorations of the testaments of early Christianity. The Gospel of Thomas gives listeners a first opportunity to join her in charting ?a wider horizon? of Christian spirituality.
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About the Author
Elaine Pagels, Ph.D. is an acclaimed Christian scholar, lecturer, Professor of Religion at Princeton University in New Jersey, and author of The Gnostic Gospels (Vintage, 1989) and the Pulitzer-nominated Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas (Random House, 2003).
From AudioFile
The recently discovered GOSPEL OF THOMAS was edited out of the New Testament. The lecture recorded here is a fascinating primer on the uniqueness of Thomas's account, its revelations about Mary Magdalene and Christianity's place among religions of the time, and the ways Thomas's message of personal development threatened Christianity's early leaders. The highly respected author and college professor is passionate about her subject in these extemporaneous talks, but the thin and uneven recordings of the live lectures conspire to make her sound more fragile than urgent. Only the depth and breadth of her insights overcome this weakness to make this an essential audio lesson. T.W. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Divine Light,
This review is from: The Gospel of Thomas: New Perspectives on Jesus' Message (Audio CD)
Jesus said, "I am the light that is over all things. I am all: From me all has come forth, and to me all has reached. Split a piece of wood; I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find me there." (as recorded on page 14)Dr. Elaine Pagels presents an intriguing introduction for the Gospel of Thomas. She is the best-selling author of The Gnostic Gospels. Do these new teachings shed new light on the words of Christ from the Bible? An English translation is included in an 18-page supplement along with two CDs. In the first CD, Elaine Pagels introduces us to: The History of Early Christianity The Gospel of Thomas The Secret Words of Jesus The Good News: Knowing Who You Are Jesus as the Only Son of God Who Was Thomas? Question and Answer Session Elaine Pagel's Personal and Spiritual Journey On the second CD, she presents ideas about the possible Eastern influences of the Gospel of Thomas, the different levels of Jesus' teachings and how we date the Scriptures. Audience participation becomes intriguing when they answer some of the questions. This CD set sheds an especially interesting light on the topic of Jesus as the original light. Is the light in Genesis an ordinary light? This is explained as the divine light or source of divine energy. The irony of listening to this CD set is that you may come away with less doubts and more enlightenment. Dr. Elaine Pagels presents a topic that not only expands our knowledge about Jesus Christ, it also creates a greater curiosity and understanding about the Kingdom of Heaven. I now understand the Kingdom of Heaven as an invisible dimension, where we experience an enlightened state of kindness and peace when we follow the commandments of Christ. ~The Rebecca Review
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Dr. Pagels is great, as usual,
This review is from: The Gospel of Thomas: New Perspectives on Jesus' Message (Audio CD)
Dr. Pagels addresses an audience, discussing her view of the Gospel of Thomas, one of the earliest non-canonical gospels. Thomas is not a story of Jesus, rather it is a collection of sayings atttributed to him. Several are familiar and/or similar to sayings in the canonical gospels, while others are not. Many are a bit puzzling, for even Dr. Pagels. However, they are truly powerful upon reading them, and accompanying the CD is a compilation of Thomas, which really needs to be read prior to listening to the CD. Mark the ones that are puzzling to you and you will find them probably addressed on the CD! She also makes some interesting contrasts between the Gospel of John and Thomas, indicating perhaps an early rivalry in spiritual points of view. There is a concern I have regarding the quality of a portion of the second CD. It is very hard to hear the questions from the audience, and it sounds extremely "tinny" when someone in the audience is speaking. It is rather distracting and not of the quality that other Sounds True recordings are. The previous reviewer must not have listened to all the second CD, so just be aware of this should you purchase. You will love Dr. Pagels' voice and the way she interacts with her audience. Enjoy!
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An informative perspective with respect to the attributes and teachings of Jesus Christ,
By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Gospel of Thomas: New Perspectives on Jesus' Message (Audio CD)
The audio-book edition of The Gospel Of Thomas: New Perspectives On Jesus' Message as written and read by Elaine Pagels (Professor of Religion, Princeton University, New Jersey) offers an informed and informative perspective with respect to the attributes and teachings of Jesus Christ as presented through the interpretive ideals of Apostle Thomas as revealed in his apocryphal gospel. Deftly covering a vast array of theological inquiries and historical scholarship relevant to the its original rejection from the approved canon of scriptures that were to become the New Testament, The Gospel Of Thomas offers readers an insightful grasp of Thomas' writings including his concept of "the light within us all", the influence of Eastern thought in the teachings of Jesus, who Mary Magdalene was in the Gospel attributed to the apostle Thomas, the gnostic scriptures interpretation, and perspectives into some of the most puzzling Christian koans from both the canonical and gnostic texts. This flawlessly recorded 2 CD audiobook edition of The Gospel Of Thomas includes an 18-page study guide, has a running time of 1 2/4 hours, and is very strongly recommended for anyone with an interest in gnostic literature in general, and the Gospel of Thomas in particular.
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