“Christians who remain faithful to their baptismal vows can expect the same heavenly reward: heaven is not arranged in first-class, second-class, and third-class compartments, according to the degree of renunciation one has practiced in this life.” — Elaine Pagels Copy Share Image
“Only the Jews, of all the nations under Roman rule, had won the right to separate their political obligations from religious ones, to obey… — Elaine Pagels Copy Share
“Even Tacitus admitted that “whatever their origin, [the Jews’] observances are sanctioned by their antiquity,”64 and the Romans respected tradition. Christians, however, had no… — Elaine Pagels Copy Share
There's practically no religion that I know of that sees other people in a way that affirms the others' choices. But in our century… — Elaine Pagels Copy Share
He's an intimate betrayer. That's what's so troubling. Judas turned in his own teacher. — Elaine Pagels Copy Share
The Antichrist is often identified with the second beast in the Book of Revelation that arises from the land, the beast that tries to… — Elaine Pagels Copy Share
“Jesus—for example, his categorical rejection of divorce, or his statement that “if anyone does not hate his own father and mother and wife and… — Elaine Pagels Copy Share
The Gospel of Thomas claims to be the secret sayings of Jesus. There are 114 of them, so it says many things, but the… — Elaine Pagels Copy Share
I just have a sense that, you know, I'm curious about what is religion about, you know? Why do some of us still engage… — Elaine Pagels Copy Share
“Augustine reflects that “what made me a slave to it was the habit [consuetudo] of satisfying an insatiable lust.”31” — Elaine Pagels Copy Share
Contemporary Christianity, diverse and complex as we find it, actually may show more unanimity than the Christian churches of the first and second centuries.… — Elaine Pagels Copy Share
“I beseech you, my lord, why have I been endowed with the power of understanding? For I did not want to ask about heavenly… — Elaine Pagels Copy Share
The author of the Gospel of Judas wasn't against martyrdom, and he didn't ever insult the martyrs. He said it's one thing to die… — Elaine Pagels Copy Share
“gnostics celebrated as proof of spiritual maturity, the orthodox denounced as “deviation” — Elaine Pagels Copy Share
Startling as the Gospel of Judas sounds, it amplifies hints we have long read in the Gospels of Mark and John that Jesus knew… — Elaine Pagels Copy Share
