Breaking news! Christianity is a cover-up

Breaking news! Christianity is a cover-up

Elaine Pagels is at it again, finding the “true,” gnostic Christianity (each of us carries the light within us) buried and hidden beneath the “false,” institutional Christianity (the oppressive belief in God, Christ, salvation and so on) that has actually existed for the last 2000 years. Naturally the liberals are gaga over it. Here’s a glowing review reprinted at Amazon.com:

From Publishers Weekly
In this majestic new book, Pagels (The Gnostic Gospels) ranges panoramically over the history of early Christianity, demonstrating the religion’s initial tremendous diversity and its narrowing to include only certain texts supporting certain beliefs. At the center of her book is the conflict between the gospels of John and Thomas. Reading these gospels closely, she shows that Thomas offered readers a message of spiritual enlightenment. Rather than promoting Jesus as the only light of the world, Thomas taught individuals that “there is a light within each person, and it lights up the whole universe. If it does not shine, there is darkness.” As she eloquently and provocatively argues, the author of John wrote his gospel as a refutation of Thomas, portraying the disciple Thomas as a fool when he doubts Jesus, and Jesus as the only true light of the world. Pagels goes on to demonstrate that the early Christian writer Irenaeus promoted John as the true gospel while he excluded Thomas, and a host of other early gospels, from the list of those texts that he considered authoritative. His list became the basis for the New Testament canon when it was fixed in 357. Pagels suggests that we recover Thomas as a way of embracing the glorious diversity of religious tradition. As she elegantly contends, religion is not merely an assent to a set of beliefs, but a rich, multifaceted fabric of teachings and experiences that connect us with the divine. Exhilarating reading, Pagels’s book offers a model of careful and thoughtful scholarship in the lively and exciting prose of a good mystery writer.

And here’s a somewhat more critical reader’s review:

In this book, Elaine Pagels once again attempts to debunk traditional Christianity by selectively using Gnostic texts—in this case the Gospel of Thomas (hereafter, “GThom”)- as her ammunition. Rather than presenting a new, scholarly engagement of the Gospel of John and the Gospel of Thomas, Pagels scatters heavy doses of her own personal beliefs between her rehashing of previously developed theses. Simply put, she has nothing new to say on a scholarly level, but plenty to say autobiographically.
Dr. Pagels seems to be someone who is thoroughly disenchanted with Christianity, particularly of the evangelical persuasion. In this book proposes that if GThom had been included in the canon of the New Testament, then Christianity would have been “nicer”: it would have allowed for more individuality, promoted women more, and been less “oppressive”. Such an argument reads like an exercise in creative writing; it is, indeed, imaginative. However, such an argument is nothing more than speculation—how could such an argument be proven? It can’t be. But, this semi-scholarly work by Pagels doesn’t rely on the concreteness of its thought or the use of its sources.
In fact, it is downright bizarre that GThom and Gnosticism are used as sources for her own personal vendetta against Christianity when GThom says that women cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven unless they make themselves male. Having heard her speak on this particular saying several months ago at the University of Florida, it is clear to me that her selective use of Gnostic texts to support a de-centered, feminist Christianity cannot really stand on its own when left to face its Gnostic sources.
If you are interested in learning about Dr. Pagels’ personal life, personal gripes, tragedies, and spiritual path, this is a great book to start out with. However, if you are looking to really learn about the Gospel of Thomas, look elsewhere. Reading Richard Valantasis’ translation of the Gospel of Thomas would be a good place to start.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at September 15, 2003 06:43 PM | Send

Comments

The Gospel of Thomas is a rather short document. Here is an online translation that may add to the discussion here: http://www.westarinstitute.org/Polebridge/Title/Complete/Thomas/thomas.html

Whether the document is inspired or not is a separate discussion from the question of the historical accuracy of the text in regards to Jesus actual sayings.

Posted by: Thrasymachus on September 15, 2003 8:26 PM

I read the Gospel of Thomas many years ago and in my opinion the idea that it is of the same spiritual stature (and truthfulness as a record of Jesus’ teachings) as the Gospels is ludicrous. There are very good reasons why some books became canonical and others didn’t. Those who don’t accept those reasons are those who reject Christianity and Western civilization. This is an old, old story. Gnostics have been around since the beginning of Christianity and even before, never being able to accept the basic truths of the multilayered nature of the universe and human existence under God as stated in the Bible.

Posted by: Lawrence Auster on September 15, 2003 9:05 PM

This is an old, old story.
Posted by: Lawrence Auster on September 15, 2003 09:05 PM

yup, there is nothing new under the sun.

Posted by: abby on September 15, 2003 9:32 PM

That is also my impression from the text, Mr. Auster. On the other hand, I meant to leave open the possibility that it may have some small use as a historical document, written as it was by early Christians. (I do use the term “Christians” advisedly.)

Posted by: Thrasymachus on September 15, 2003 9:35 PM

My hometown paper, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, took up the cause of Gnosticism some months ago in a prominent review of Pagels book; and it took it up quite as if it (and she) had discovered some grand new theory, rather then an ancient heresy.

I wrote a long blog about it, linked below:

http://cellasreview.blogspot.com/2003_07_13_cellasreview_archive.html#105833992119024061

Posted by: Paul Cella on September 16, 2003 8:29 AM

Are you familiar with the second-century “Infancy Gospel of Thomas”?

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/infancythomas.html

It describes the activities of Jesus as a boy, smiting his teachers for disciplining him in school and so on. If you want to make a lot of money, why not write a book which attributes “child liberation” and “progressive education” to the early Christians?

Posted by: Agricola on September 16, 2003 9:59 AM

“demonstrating the religion’s initial tremendous diversity”

“embracing the glorious diversity of religious tradition”

“a rich, multifaceted fabric of teachings”

Ooh, three paeans to “diversity” in one gushing promo of a book undermining true Christianity and promoting the Gnostic heresy! Congratulations, Publishers Weekly, in reaching new heights in P.C./leftist meta-propagandization!

Posted by: Will S. on September 16, 2003 10:15 PM

New Age Christianity is rampant and its in Catholic circles. Ive been told by Catholics on MBs to read the Gospel of Thomas. And today I found out The Pope supports a meeting by this group called MID, for monks of all religions to meet together in Assisi. MID (google it using “Monastic Interreligious Dialogue” has lovely essays where Weakland says “The exsistence of monasticism…is a bridge connecting all religions” As much as everyone wants to point to fundamentalists like Cumbey who wrote the Hidden Danger of the Rainbow as looney-toons, she is being proven more right everyday. The New Age God/Jesus is one of every religion—-Universalistic Cosmic Christ and this is a lie of Satan. Sadly this is the Jesus the Magisterium of the Catholic church has gone toward. This is the gnostic Christianity and the counterfeit form I believe will usher in the Anti-Christ.

Posted by: Victoria on September 17, 2003 12:49 PM

I think the Gospel of Thomas is extremely heretical. I am only 16 years old, but the spirit of truth still discerns. The Gospel of Thomas says to look within yourself to find the light. Well if that were true, we would all be perfect since we are the light; there would be no darkness. No sin!. Well, guess what? Who has not experienced guilt? Who? For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. You true Christians out there proclaiming the truth, God Bless You! I agree Satan is using this New-found propaganda junk to trick people into thinking they are God. That’s what he has always done and promised to people. If the Gospel of Thomas were true, Elaine Pagels would be a freckin Transexual to make it to Heaven, correct? I mean, if I’m wrong; someone please correct me. All these rising femine groups agree with the “sacred feminine” The Gnostics destroy any value given to the woman. The early Christians may have understood Eve to be “easy to fall into temptation” but that was a mistake. She never knew of the command. Adam forgot to tell her. He was supposed to watch over her. In the new testament all the feminists say that Paul was anti-woman, but that is wrong as well. He gave men a huge burden to bear-to love their wives as CHRIST LOVED THEM. That’s the best love there is! THose feminists are absolutely wrong, and I thank God for those “flaming” fundamentalists who are led by the spirit to proclaim the TRUTHS of God. The bibical canon as the protestants know it today presents the truth. Jesus the Christ was the only light of the world. When I asked him to dwell in me, he came. And any light that I shine is Him, not ME! Jesus Saves. I pray for the protection of the saints who read this junk about the Gospels. Thank you Jesus, You saved my LIFE!

Posted by: Wes Skolits on May 9, 2004 9:39 PM