Elaine Pagels just broke 'The Early Church' myth

Comments · 1.2K

• LO

  @LogosLeaper · 3 months ago · pinned

  Is this the Greatest Discovery in Biblical History?

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• SP

  @SpiritRisingCreativeStudio · 2 months ago

  When in grad school at Syracuse University back in the 80s. I studied early christianity and the gnostic writings. I was blown away by the difference between the 2. I wasn't pursuing this for any reason than my own curiosity, and it felt to me that there was a refusal (although the professors talked about it) to explore that deeper level. For me, the difference was between a transactional understanding of spirituality, and a deeper, more personal understanding of being in right relationship with Spirit, or as I would say today, the universal consciousness. I want to thank you for reminding me of this transcendent perspective that I had found as a student when reading the Nag Hammadi writings, as well as other writings from many religions, and that tended to take a background position as I went on to live life. I so enjoyed your talk, and would have enjoyed, back then, to have you as a teacher. Again, thank you for sharing your insights and exploring these topics so publicly on YouTube. 🌹

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• NE

  @neilmarsh1904 · 2 months ago

  No wonder they lumped Thomas in with the Apocrypha.  It's a long, long way from "Pray, Pay, and Obey."

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• GR

  @Gryphon999 · 2 months ago

  At <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWdv_Ib_JMo&amp;t=729">12:09</a> the cigarette smoldering cigarette dangling over the precious find gives me the willies🥺

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• CA

  @Carl-t8p · 2 months ago

  Thank-you for this, I have been reading the Bible for 50 yrs and have always pushed back on&quot;literally&quot; trying to understand scripture.

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• CH

  @chriswilliams5982 · 3 months ago

  Thomas makes it clear you don’t need institutions. That was the threat to the church.

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• HU

  @HumboldtHunny · 3 months ago

  This philosophy is in the Bhagavad Gita by Sri Krishna chapter 3.

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• CH

  @ChristopherKitMarlowe · 2 months ago

  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWdv_Ib_JMo&amp;t=1623">27:03</a> Gnosis is the ancient Greek noun for &quot;knowledge.&quot; In Hellenistic philosophy and early Christian theology, it specifically denotes intuitive, experiential insight into spiritual mysteries, rather than analytical or factual knowledge.

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• OM

  @Oma_Susan · 3 months ago

  Pagels just broke this info? Hasn&apos;t she been saying this since 1989?

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• BR

  @briancoyne9920 · 3 months ago

  Yes, the Nag Hamadi texts showed wide diversity of beliefs among early Christians. Yes, people were shocked to learn this. But, by now this is hardly new. &nbsp;We have known this for decades.

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• HO

  @hollandanish5557 · 2 months ago

  The &nbsp;greatest transformation of the Christianity &nbsp;that we in the West are familiar with is the institutionalisation and militarisation &nbsp;created by its fusion under the Roman Empire and Constantine.<br>It is this blending that gives rise to &quot;Christian Nationalism&quot; and the dissonance of armies, each bearing the cross before them, claiming to do God&apos;s will as they slaughter one another.

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• GD

  @gdp3rd · 2 months ago

  I read &quot;The Gnostic Gospels&quot; back when it first came out; still have my copy somewhere.

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