The Gnostic Gospels

For anyone interested in the history of the Christian church this is a "must read" book. This book shows that Christians were not of one mind on what Jesus taught. To that end, it compares and contrasts Orthodox Christianity and Gnostic Christianity. It goes on to provide a plausible explanation as to why Orthodox Christianity...eventually the Catholic Church prevailed and the Gnostic...more

For anyone interested in the history of the Christian church this is a "must read" book. This book shows that Christians were not of one mind on what Jesus taught. To that end, it compares and contrasts Orthodox Christianity and Gnostic Christianity. It goes on to provide a plausible explanation as to why Orthodox Christianity...eventually the Catholic Church prevailed and the Gnostic Christians were labeled heretics.   hide

Interesting, but I wish there would have been more detail in certain areas.

After this book I was able to name my own believes and Have to say....I love Gnostic's point of view.

I managed to listen to this book via audio, 3 times . Challenging and fascinating. What a good source of info about Orthodox church and the Gnosis. Definately a must read for people who are willing and able to search for the truth. Definatly not recommended for people who believe in organized religion, a rigid intrastructure. I have listened to this book via audio. Challenging and fascinating....more

I managed to listen to this book via audio, 3 times . Challenging and fascinating. What a good source of info about Orthodox church and the Gnosis. Definately a must read for people who are willing and able to search for the truth. Definatly not recommended for people who believe in organized religion, a rigid intrastructure. I have listened to this book via audio. Challenging and fascinating. I plowed through it 3 times so I could understand the relation with the Orthodox and Gnosis. Challenging and fascinatiing, very helpful to understand the Nag Hammadi Library.   hide

Early Christian texts and sects.

Pagels is a gifted writer. She tells this story in a manner that is both scholarly and engaging, which in my book, is quite a feat!

Broad, insightful survey. I appreciated her open and honest speculation.

This was an interesting read. I've read about the Gospel of Thomas, but this had more in-depth analysis with the founders of Gnosticism, as well as the gospels found in Noj Hommadi. It was also cool because it did what it set out to do, which was act as a supplement, not as a be all/end all book about the gospels. The gnostics were just as strange, but they did have some insight to the...more

This was an interesting read. I've read about the Gospel of Thomas, but this had more in-depth analysis with the founders of Gnosticism, as well as the gospels found in Noj Hommadi. It was also cool because it did what it set out to do, which was act as a supplement, not as a be all/end all book about the gospels. The gnostics were just as strange, but they did have some insight to the matter.   hide

I love Pagels accessible style. She is an esteemed intellectual, but is an easy read for the layperson. For someone who has always accepted Christianity as presented by mainline churches, to me this book was a real eye-opener to the sordid, highly political establishment of the orthodox church. I can't help but wonder how different the church would be with the inclusion of the...more

I love Pagels accessible style. She is an esteemed intellectual, but is an easy read for the layperson. For someone who has always accepted Christianity as presented by mainline churches, to me this book was a real eye-opener to the sordid, highly political establishment of the orthodox church. I can't help but wonder how different the church would be with the inclusion of the eastern-flavored Gnostic gospels.   hide