false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255942429m/110763.jpg 110763 23 Gnosticism's Christian form grew to prominence in the 2nd century A.D. Ultimately denounced as heretical by the early church, Gnosticism proposed a revealed knowledge of God ("gnosis" meaning "knowledge" in Greek), held as a secret tradition of the apostles. In <I>The Gnostic Gospels</I>, author 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." <I>The Gnostic Gospels</I> provides engaging reading for those seeking a broader perspective on the early development of Christianity. <I>--F. Hall</I> 1167079 book 1979 The Gnostic Gospels total:1222|5:338|4:511|3:290|2:69|1:14| 1222 4756 1808 120 4 3 true false Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 -0800 1980 Sat Jan 17 11:20:18 -0800 2009 Sat Jan 17 11:49:44 -0800 2009 1 more...]]> 5 2 false false Fri Dec 07 00:01:22 -0800 2007 Sat Dec 15 13:33:50 -0800 2007 more...]]> 5 2 false false Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Fri Oct 05 20:22:16 -0700 2007 Sat Oct 06 16:52:57 -0700 2007 more...]]> 5 2 false false Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2002 Tue May 22 16:18:06 -0700 2007 Tue May 22 16:30:48 -0700 2007 more...]]> 4 1 false false Sat Jan 03 14:22:04 -0800 2009 Sat Jan 03 14:33:38 -0800 2009 more...]]> 3 1 false false Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Fri Jan 02 04:01:44 -0800 2009 Fri Jan 02 04:04:07 -0800 2009 5 0 false false Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Fri Jan 09 15:14:27 -0800 2009 Sat Jan 10 09:12:53 -0800 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sat Aug 08 14:45:18 -0700 2009 Sat Aug 08 14:45:43 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Sun Jun 21 10:25:49 -0700 2009 Sun Jun 21 10:27:27 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Fri May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sat Jun 20 07:00:52 -0700 2009 Sat Jun 20 07:40:52 -0700 2009 more...]]> 1 0 false false Tue May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri May 08 18:26:58 -0700 2009 Fri May 08 18:26:58 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Tue Mar 03 18:49:07 -0800 2009 Thu Mar 12 07:00:32 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Fri Mar 06 12:41:07 -0800 2009 Fri Mar 06 12:47:27 -0800 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Nov 01 18:39:08 -0800 2009 Sun Nov 01 18:45:51 -0800 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2006 Wed Aug 19 12:03:25 -0700 2009 Wed Aug 19 12:20:32 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 1 false false Mon Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Sep 06 20:39:54 -0700 2009 Mon Sep 28 22:11:11 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sun Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Feb 24 20:20:33 -0800 2009 Sun Mar 22 09:12:57 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Sun Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Mar 08 17:48:34 -0700 2009 Sun Apr 12 18:52:16 -0700 2009 1 more...]]> 4 0 false false Thu May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri May 01 13:39:46 -0700 2009 Thu May 14 07:55:05 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Thu May 29 10:34:52 -0700 2008 Tue Apr 01 09:31:35 -0700 2008 Thu May 29 10:34:52 -0700 2008 more...]]> http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=110763