Rating: 
Summary: Very Informative
Review: Ms. Pagels discusses the history of the early gnostic christians in the light of the recent(1946) evidence of the Nag Hammandi find. In illuminating the gnostic texts found there, she compares and contrasts them to the extant texts which expressed its early "orthodox" opponents, such as Iraneous. In doing so she stylistically intersperses some of more interesting gnostic stories relevant to the issue at hand, making it a much more pleasant read than the stuffshirt de facto standard of other academic authors. She foot notes (many primary sources) supporting her relevent facts, providing in the appendix the references and sometimes a short survey literature used for each issue.
A good read for those interested in early Christian history.
Rating: 
Summary: A respectful overview of both sides of the issue
Review: Elaine Pagels has written a scholarly, lucid and unbiased account of early Christianity, Catholicism, how they perceived each other and why orthodox Catholicism ruled the masses for centuries thereafter. What I particularly like about Elaine's books arethat she reports and analyzes; she doesn't editorialize or proseletyze, unlike many other authors on this subject who attempt to force the historical data into a preconceived dogmatic square hole and then imply that you're either an idiot or worse if you don't agree with them.
This book is astonishing to me at least insofar how it revealed just how many preconceived notions I had as to just exactly why Christianity is the way it is today. What surprised me the most however was the degree of double standards and secular/temporal/mundane/blunt-force trauma methods the bishops and Constantine used to consolidate the disparate Christianities into a cohesive Catholic "orthodox" whole. While the orthodox often accused the Gnostics of pure subjectivism, the Gnostics accused the orthodox of having a "faith of fools," i.e. mindless belief, spiritual learned helplessness and knee-jerk intolerance. Yet when factions within the orthodoxy were at odds with each other, it was not uncommon for schisms to appear, and for orthodox factions to accuse each other similarly as they had the Gnostics.
It is also interesting to note that Bishop Irenaeus and the orthodox never seemed to give the Gnostics a fair hearing or attempt to replicate their methods to prove them right or wrong. Rather as one reads the accounts it seems that the orthodoxy condemned Gnosticism, not so much because of its nature, but primarily because it threatened orthodoxy's vested interests in a united Christendom, and later the vast vested interest in the purely pyramid-style authority that required a hierarchy of countless intercessors and ceremonies between God and mankind in order to justify its power and existence.
Mystical Gnosticism undermined all of this this simply because it sidestepped all middlemen (intercessors) and empowered each person to seek and discover God on their own.
The fact that Jesus wasn't considered equal to God until 400 years after the crucifixion by vote, a non unanimous vote for that matter, at the council of Nicea is quite telling. The fact that the majority voted to alter the canon to say as such goes to show just how far they were willing to go to make ends justify the means in order to empower the orthodoxy against Gnosticism and other "heresies." But then again "heresy" is in the eye of the beholder, and the victors write the history books and burn those of their enemies.
Rating:
Summary: Thought Provoking
Review: Elaine Pagels' excellent book titled "The Gnostic Gospels" is about the works of a Christian Coptic Sect discovered at Nag Hammadi, Egypt in 1945. Although the Gnostic Gospels were compiled in 140 A.D., scholars say their traditions may be older than the gospels in the New Testament.
It was interesting to read the manuscript with 118 sayings of Christ gathered by St. Thomas known as the Gospel of St. Thomas. Although many of Christ's sayings are already in the New Testament there is one big difference: Jesus emphasizes salvation through self-knowledge and faith. Salvation through self-knowledge and faith makes more sense to me as salvation without self-knowledge would make us vulnerable to manipulation while salvation without faith could lead grandiosity and isolation.
"The Gnostic Gospels" invites the reader to deal with the old controversy-was the Bible divinely inspired or did it evolve at the hands of churchmen with various political, social and religious purposes? Why is the Gospel of St. Thomas not included, what constitutes being "divinely inspired" and is the Bible the only book God has written through humankind?
Solomon Schepps wrote in "The Lost Books of the Bible" that the official Biblical text was completed by two major counsels, in North Africa in Hippo (Augustine Bishopric) in 393, and in Carthage in 397. He said that there had been great difficulty in choosing the Gospels and after much debate, only four were chosen. The Gospel of St. Thomas was rejected as it opened by saying the he who understands the words of Jesus will be saved which is in direct contradiction to the chosen Gospels and Paul's Epistles, which says he who believes will be saved. Schepps said all texts not adhering to the official viewpoint of the churchmen were denounced as heretical and destroyed.
Pagels' and Schepps' books show what we identify as Christain tradition actually represents a small selection of sources. Thanks to them for the first time we can look at other early Christian writing and determine their value for ourselves.
Also of interest is how the Gospel of St. Thomas elaborates on Jesus teachings in the Bible. For example, Jesus said in Luke, "For behold, the kingdom of God is within you," indicating to me that heaven is not a place but a state of being. In the Gospel of St. Thomas Jesus goes further and says, "See, if the Kingdom is in heaven, then the birds of heaven will be there before you." Also, "But the Kingdom is within you and it is outside you. The kingdom of the father is spread over the earth and men do not see it."
Jesus' teachings in the Gnostic Gospels and the Bible are similar concerning how we treat our fellow man: Love your neighbor as yourself, judge not, love your enemies, bless them that curse you and turn the other cheek.
The Gnostic Gospels makes us question even more how Jesus' message of love and forgiveness has been used to rationalize wars, witch-hunts, murders, and exploitation.
Rating:
Summary: Elaine Rules
Review: I have yet to read all of her works, but I have read Elaine Pagels Gnostic Gospels. Quite simply put, she knows what she is talking about.
She sets the background on the Nag Hamaddi discovery, and then from introduction to conclusion, she lays a solid foundation of good research. This is more of an intellectual scholarly research, but her writing style fascinates, unlike some similar works that are pretty sterile. Also, Pagels doesn't beat around the bush as much. She asks interesting questions and lays out well researched and documented evidences for some even more interesting conclusions. Although, she does this in a very clear, concise, and convincing manner, it is not written in a dull report style or manner.
She ties in a great deal of quotes from Biblical and the Gospel of Thomas and others and comes up with some pretty intriguing and reasonable deductions.
It will make you think, and may make you believe, or slightly alter your beliefs.
Contents;
Intro
I. The Contraversy over Christs Resurrection: Historical Event or Symbol?
II. One God, One Bishop: The Politics of Monotheism
III. God the Father/God the Mother
IV. The Passion of Christ and the Persecution of Christians
V. Whose Church is the True Church?
VI. Gnosis: Self-Knowledge as Knowledge of God
Conclusion
Notes
Index
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing Profound
Review: I think most of the reviews are correct in their analysis of this book. I was expecting a lot more. I was very dissapointed that Elaine Pagels didnt deconstruct the Gnostic Gospels at a level on par with other historicist when analyzing the documents. It is absolutely rediculous to lump all of these Gospels together assuming they all form a ubiquitous worldview / belief. This is totally untrue. There is more diversity among these Gospels (say for instance between the Gospel of Thomas and Clement) than there is between modern Christian demominations. Some of these gospels veiw the actions of matter (i.e. sex) as an evil in this world which Pagels fails to condend or explain. Atleast Pagals does openly admit her biases.. and I think she deserves credit for this. Too many academics want to be portayed as 'objective', but I think we can all atest that untrue of everything in reality.
Rating: 
Summary: It's a fiction work, but selling itself as true.
Review: It's all fiction, and nothing from here is remotely true or can be proven, it's fiction, but when I bought this book, it was sold in the religion section of the library. Ba warned !
Rating:
Summary: An Interesting Study
Review: Pagels' book is an interesting study, a fairly easy read, just enough for some, and just wets the appetite for others. I don't agree with everything in The Gnostics Gospels, but these ideas should be considered by all thinking Christians. I found it to have integrity and purpose which is a rare find these days. Much like another book I just read called The Book of Thomas By Daniel Aber and Gabreael. The entire gamut of metaphysics are covered in their book.on accounts to secure their own authority in the church.3) We cannot reduce the early Christian debate over God's nature and characteristics to mere political maneuvering between the church and its opponents. 4) The Gnostic rejection of God as supreme creator and of the Virgin birth of Christ, among their other heresies, moves them completely out of the sphere of Christian thought. 5) Pagels scandalously asserts that the early church fathers had a hidden agenda when they urged Christians to martyr themselves-their desire that the organized church might prosper. 6) Gnosticism was more likely eastern religious though and practice garbed in Christian language than any serious contender to the claim of orthodoxy.
Rating: 
Summary: A good introduction!
Review: The best advertisement for this book is the mass of vituperative polemic directed against it. The sheer number of vehement reviews shows just how afraid people become when the pillars of their temple are nudged a bit. And Pagels attempts to do just that with her groundbreaking, 'The Gnostic Gospels.' By no means an exhaustive, nor particularly academic account of the 'missing Gospels' from the Nag Hammadi find in 1945, 'The Gnostic Gospels' offers a solid and plausible explanation on how and why Orthodox Christianity evolved the way it did.
The strongest part of the work is the historical background it gives to the early years of Christianity. The cryptic gospels of Thomas, James and Philip all point to other possible interpretations of the Christian message, interpretations that differed in style, if not always in content, from those found in the traditional gospels. These intrepretations stressed a more reflective and personal message...'the answer is within.' God is within. Or as the traditional gospels have it, 'The Kingdom is within you.' Same message, yet very different language with very different consequences. Pagels argues that the Gnostic's subjective approach to faith led to their persecution (i.e. Cathars, Bogomils etc..) and eventual disintegration as a possible alternative to Orthodox Christian interpretation. Without recognizing the need for a 'worldly' authority and structure, the Gnostics were doomed to an insignicant and mostly undergound existence. Only a well-oiled hierachical organization like that of the Medieval Church could and did survive the ugly vagaries of life in this world. As a result, the Church became Ecclesiates Triumphant, an institution that tolerated no dissent. A militant structure designed to quell all questionning, especially that directed towards itself. Pagels convincingly shows how two drill sergeants of the early Church, Tertullian and Irenaeus, successfully amputated any dissenting limbs in the creation of 'their' monolithic canon. What would have happened had these 'missing gospels' been allowed a place within this canon? Pagels doesn't really give us much detail. Speculation is left to the reader.
Whether or not you agree with Pagel's central thesis that the Christian Church was the result of a political power struggle, this work at least deserves a serious read. Where it is lacking is in its analysis of the Gnostic texts themselves. Pagels throws in a lot of quotes from a variety of Gnostic sources without any obvious method to her madness. Moreover, I would have a liked a more in-depth exegesis of each quote. Yet, history, not theology, was her goal and 'The Gnostic Gospels' offers a solid introduction to a world many a resurrected Tertullian wished were still buried amongst the sands of Sinai.
Rating:
Summary: A Question of Religious Authority
Review: The book, The Gnostic Gospels, by Elaine Pagels presents an easy-reading historical document that reveals the fundamental and theoretical similarities and differences of gnostic and orthodox Christians of the early Christian movement. According to Pagels, the finding of the 52 Coptic texts at Nad Hammadi in 1945, has seemingly shifted our very thoughts about Christianity as a traditional religious movement. Interpretation of the gospels reveals that historically, various diverse forms of Christianity flourished during Christianity's early formative years. Probably the single most threatening movement of the time was a group known as the Gnostics who formed from a variety of sources and traditions and who were often referred to as a heretical movement by the Christian church forefathers. The strength of Pagels work shows that although Gnostic and orthodox Christians believed in God and the value of sharing a relationship with God, they differed greatly in their approach to knowing and understanding God. Gnostics believed that one could know God by gaining insight into oneself, and that by knowing oneself, one might understand human nature and destiny. In general, Gnostics maintained an equality amongst individuals and established no fixed orders of clergy. They allowed all individuals to seek to know God through their own experience and to achieve personal enlightenment through rigorous spiritual discipline and self-discovery. Unlike the Gnostics, the Christian church developed as a religious structure to encourage social interaction amongst individuals and required only that individuals accept the simplest essentials of faith and a variety of celebrated church rituals. Pagels work also succinctly shows the interaction between the two forms of Christianity and challenges the reader to explore the very meanings of the movements on the Christian tradition of today. The essence of the book reveals that the survival of the Christian tradition was dependent on the organizational and theological structure of the emerging church and that the emergence of the religious hierarchical structure of the church seemed to mirror the difficult times of the growing social and political forces of the governing body of that time. Furthermore, the movement to institutionalize Christianity, created a leadership structure that consisted of a small band of persons (bishop and priests) who stood in a position of incontestable authority to define how individuals could know God. Pagels postulates that mounting alienation from the world in which the individuals lived combined with a longing for a miraculous salvation as an escape from the constraints of political and social existence of the time, gave the necessary strength and power to create the burgeoning orthodox Christian church. A shortcoming of the book concerns Pagels personal indifference in the final chapter of the very core truths of Gnosticism that she so vividly and explicitly sought to describe in her book. Certainly, Pagels gave a strong voice of support for the movement in terms of it's early beginnings with orthodox Christians and it's impact on Christianity today. Surprisingly, however, she chose to leave the reader hanging by failing to embrace the concepts of Gnosticism that she asked the reader to re-visit regarding some of the major debates surrounding issues of religious authority and God. Despite this shortcoming, the author highly recommends Pagels engaging, richly evocative, well-written, historical text that introduces the amazingly paradoxical development of the early Christian movement.
Rating:
Summary: Don't go there
Review: This book basically says the following: early Christianity was chaotic (period). Although it does provide some insight to the Nag Hammadi findings, it doesn't go where I hoped it would go. But it does tickle me to keep searching. When Pagel tries to summarize why orthodox christianity won over "gnostic" Christianity there isn't really any insight as to why -- other than the way she begins the conclusion: "It is the winners who write history -- their way."
This book is academia pure. It's a shame because I was hoping to get a bit more spice out of it. Of course, Pagels does her job extremely well. I don't feel that she goes in the right direction though. I wish she would have taken a leap with her research. Instead, the way she writes, the way she formulates, the way she goes around in circles, I can't help but think she's trying to protect something. Like, maybe, her own faith.
Ok. I came to this book via Holy Blood, Holy Grail (HBHG) and after that I read The Woman with the Alabaster Jar. It seems that HBHG was a pig in mud with it's conspiracy stuff, Alabaster was an interesting take on why men don't let the feminine in, but Gnostic just seems to hang in a void of... academia. After reading the previous two books I felt both inspired and informed.
If you want a superficial and somewhat biased approach to the Nag Hammadi texts then this might be your book. If you want to know what is in those texts then, like me, it's probably best to read them.
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