Why Religion?
Posted: January 8, 2019 Filed under: Books, Religion 2 Comments
Why Religion?: A Personal Story
Elaine Pagels
Ecco Books (November 6, 2018), 244 pages
Kindle edition $14.99, Amazon hardcover $12.08
I’ve long known about the work of Elaine Pagels and have read some of her books. This book is her autobiography with a few summaries of her work thrown in.
Much of her life and work has been informed by loss. Her son died at age ten as a result of a heart defect that he was born with. Her husband later died in a terrible hiking accident, leaving Elaine to raise two adopted children.
I have always been impressed by Pagels and her work in the area of Gnosticism. She is a capable scholar who knows her field well. The fact that she soldiered on in spite of all the tragedy in her life impresses me all the more.
my point being 
I’m reading her Gospel of Thomas right now – that’s not exactly the name. Fascinating reading.
For sure. The whole world of Gnosticism is fascinating stuff.