Picture 1 of 1
Gallery
Picture 1 of 1
Have one to sell?
Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas by Elaine Pagels
by Elaine Pagels | HC | Good
US $5.60
ApproximatelyS$ 7.32
Condition:
“Former library book; Missing dust jacket; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of ”... Read moreabout condition
Oops! Looks like we're having trouble connecting to our server.
Refresh your browser window to try again.
Shipping:
Free USPS Media MailTM.
Located in: Aurora, Illinois, United States
Delivery:
Estimated between Mon, 24 Nov and Mon, 1 Dec
Returns:
30 days return. Seller pays for return shipping.
Coverage:
Read item description or contact seller for details. See all detailsSee all details on coverage
(Not eligible for eBay purchase protection programmes)
About this item
Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
eBay item number:197844492022
Item specifics
- Condition
- Good
- Seller Notes
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Weight
- 0 lbs
- Product Group
- Book
- IsTextBook
- No
- ISBN
- 9780375501562
About this product
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Random House Publishing Group
ISBN-10
0375501568
ISBN-13
9780375501562
eBay Product ID (ePID)
2314720
Product Key Features
Book Title
Beyond Belief : the Secret Gospel of Thomas
Number of Pages
272 Pages
Language
English
Topic
Christianity / General, Biblical Criticism & Interpretation / New Testament, Christianity / Literature & the Arts
Publication Year
2003
Genre
Religion
Format
Hardcover
Dimensions
Item Height
0.9 in
Item Weight
14.9 Oz
Item Length
8.5 in
Item Width
5.8 in
Additional Product Features
Intended Audience
Trade
LCCN
2002-036840
Dewey Edition
21
Reviews
Praise forBeyond Belief "This packed, lucid little book belongs to that admirable kind of scholarship in which . . . the exhausting study of ancient fragments of text against the background of an intimate knowledge of religious history can be represented as a spiritual as well as an intellectual exercise." The New York Times Book Review "With the winning combination of sound scholarship, deep insight and crystal-clear prose style that distinguishes all her work, Pagels portrays the great variety of beliefs, teachings and practices that were found among the earliest Christians." Los Angeles Times "[An] explosive and, some say, heretical look at the evolution of Christianity." The Atlanta Journal-Constitution "Elaine Pagels has a gift for bringing ancient Christian texts alive, and for displaying their profound, sometimes startling import for contemporary experience." The Christian Science Monitor "This luminous and accessible history of early Christian thought offers profound and crucial insights on the nature of God, revelation, and what we mean by religious truth. . . . A source of inspiration and hope." Karen Armstrong, author ofA History of God "A book many readers will treasure for its healing, its good sense, and its permission to think, imagine, and yet believe." Karen King, author ofWhat Is Gnosticism? "It is as generous as it is rare that a first-rate scholar invites the reader to see and sense how her scholarship and her religious quest became intertwined. Elaine Pagels calls for a generosity of mind as she takes us into the world of those early Christian texts that were left behind but now are with us. Her very tone breathes intellectual and spiritual generosity too rare in academe."-Krister Stendahl "A thoughtful and rewarding essay, as we've come to expect from Pagels."-Kirkus Reviews From the Hardcover edition.
Dewey Decimal
229/.8
Synopsis
The author lends stunning new interpretations to the virgin birth, the creation of Eve, and the nature of our relationship with God., Elaine Pagels, one of the world's most important writers and thinkers on religion and history, and winner of the National Book Award for her groundbreaking workThe Gnostic Gospels, now reflects on what matters most about spiritual and religious exploration in the twenty-first century. This bold new 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 doctrineand 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 finds 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 hierarchyand, in the process, suppressed many of its spiritual resources. Drawing on new scholarshipher own, and that of an international group of scholarsthat has come to light since the publication in 1979 of The Gnostic Gospels, 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. Provocative, beautifully written, and moving,Beyond Belief, the most personal of Pagels's books to date, shows how "the impulse to seek God overflows the narrow banks of a single tradition." Pagels writes, "What I have come to love in the wealth and diversity of our religious traditionsand the communities that sustain themis that they offer the testimony of innumerable people to spiritual discovery, encouraging us, in Jesus' words, to 'seek, and you shall find.'"
LC Classification Number
BS2860.T52P34 2003
Item description from the seller
Seller feedback (5,986,742)
- e***a (272)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseOrdered from USA and arrived to me in UK about 10 days later. Book appropriately packaged and mostly as described. Was missing the cd as listed but communication with the seller was friendly and polite if not a little confusing - partial refunds are only offered after you start the formal eBay return request process, they aren't capable of giving refunds after simple messaging to customer service. All in all though, great value and a positive transaction. Would interact again 👍
- e***- (123)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseUnfortunately I received a damaged book, the item and the package both were damaged and it was clearly evident its appearance that it happened during transit. The seller was very understanding and gave me a full refund for the damaged book, though it was no fault of their own. Other than the damage, the book was as described, the quality and condition aside from the damaged spot was like new. The cost of the book was reasonable. I would definitely purchase from the seller again.
- 7***j (874)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseI recently purchased an item from this eBay seller, and I couldn't be happier with the experience. From the prompt communication to the fast shipping, everything was handled with utmost professionalism. The item arrived exactly as described and was well packaged to ensure its safety during transit. The seller was courteous and responsive, making the entire transaction smooth and hassle-free. I highly recommend this seller to anyone looking for quality products and excellent service.
Seller feedback (5,986,742)
- e***a (272)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseOrdered from USA and arrived to me in UK about 10 days later. Book appropriately packaged and mostly as described. Was missing the cd as listed but communication with the seller was friendly and polite if not a little confusing - partial refunds are only offered after you start the formal eBay return request process, they aren't capable of giving refunds after simple messaging to customer service. All in all though, great value and a positive transaction. Would interact again 👍
- e***- (123)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseUnfortunately I received a damaged book, the item and the package both were damaged and it was clearly evident its appearance that it happened during transit. The seller was very understanding and gave me a full refund for the damaged book, though it was no fault of their own. Other than the damage, the book was as described, the quality and condition aside from the damaged spot was like new. The cost of the book was reasonable. I would definitely purchase from the seller again.
- 7***j (874)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseI recently purchased an item from this eBay seller, and I couldn't be happier with the experience. From the prompt communication to the fast shipping, everything was handled with utmost professionalism. The item arrived exactly as described and was well packaged to ensure its safety during transit. The seller was courteous and responsive, making the entire transaction smooth and hassle-free. I highly recommend this seller to anyone looking for quality products and excellent service.