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Loading... Revelations : visions, prophecy, and politics in the book of Revelation (original 2012; edition 2012)by Elaine H. Pagels
Work detailsRevelations: Visions, Prophecy, and Politics in the Book of Revelation by Elaine Pagels (2012)
 jarvenpa | Mar 31, 2013 |  Many may not care for Pagels' all-encompassing interest in the Kumran scrolls, and should therefore not attempt this book. But in my opinion, there can not be too many books explaining the inexplicable book of Revelation. Pagels, true to form, explains John's psychotrophic visions and goes on to put him in his time and place. She also throws in a vast amount of history of the very early Christian Church. Definietly worth the read...or listen, as was my case! (  ) kaulsu | Jan 18, 2013 | As other reviewers have noted, this one's not specifically about that most ancient of awesome horror flicks, the Book of Revelations. Pagels's focus is on the now-hidden history of Christianity, and how a small Jewish sect with a wide spectrum of often contradictory beliefs became the relatively uniform world-spanning religion we know today. People researching the history of Christianity, seeking new perspectives on Christian belief, or wanting to know more about how the ancients saw their own world will likely find this one extremely useful. People seeking to understand why this one particular book has exercised such a fascination in so many people for the better part of two millennia should probably start elsewhere, though it is, in a sense, an entertaining look back to an era where Christians (or at least Christ-oriented Jews) believed all sorts of odd-sounding stuff and "prophet" was a full-time gig for a surprisingly large number of people. "Revelations: Visions, Prophecy, and Politics in the Book of Revelation" is well written and assiduously researched, and it'll likely challenge the long-held assumptions of both the faithful and the merely curious. (  ) TheAmpersand | Dec 3, 2012 | In her newest book, Pagels explores the history of John of Patmos' Book of Revelation. She outlines what we know about John of Patmos, what he was trying to say with his preaching, and how contemporaries may have responded. The second half of the book covers the history of Christianity in the first two centuries C.E., with emphasis on Pagels' favorite topic of disparate beliefs among early groups. She completes the book with a description of how the Bible Cannon was chosen, with some suggestions about why John of Patmos' Book of Revelation was the only apocalyptic literature included. Pagels' writing is clear and interesting, though a bit repetitive--especially if you've read some of her earlier works. If you're interested in early church history, especially the disparate groups of Christians, then this is the book for you. If you're interested in apocalyptic literature in early Christian history, then the first half of this book, and the tail end, is for you. (  )1  The_Hibernator | Jun 17, 2012 | This book focuses on presenting the historical context for the "Revelations". The most fascinating aspect was how a group of people decided which gospels were to be considered as authentic and included as Christian canon while other writings were rejected. There were many books of prophesy and only John's was accepted. It really demonstrates how arbitrary the version of Christianity we are accustomed to actually is. Pagel's book is very readable, albeit a little repetitive. I'm sure it will be ignored by the evangelical community because it introduces quite a bit of uncertainty into what is now dogma ( ) theageofsilt | May 26, 2012 | no reviews | add a review
Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0670023345, Hardcover)A startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the Bible, by the bestselling author of Beyond Belief. Through the bestselling books of Elaine Pagels, thousands of readers have come to know and treasure the suppressed biblical texts known as the Gnostic Gospels. As one of the world's foremost religion scholars, she has been a pioneer in interpreting these books and illuminating their place in the early history of Christianity. Her new book, however, tackles a text that is firmly, dramatically within the New Testament canon: The Book of Revelation, the surreal apocalyptic vision of the end of the world . . . or is it? In this startling and timely book, Pagels returns The Book of Revelation to its historical origin, written as its author John of Patmos took aim at the Roman Empire after what is now known as "the Jewish War," in 66 CE. Militant Jews in Jerusalem, fired with religious fervor, waged an all-out war against Rome's occupation of Judea and their defeat resulted in the desecration of Jerusalem and its Great Temple. Pagels persuasively interprets Revelation as a scathing attack on the decadence of Rome. Soon after, however, a new sect known as "Christians" seized on John's text as a weapon against heresy and infidels of all kinds-Jews, even Christians who dissented from their increasingly rigid doctrines and hierarchies. In a time when global religious violence surges, Revelations explores how often those in power throughout history have sought to force "God's enemies" to submit or be killed. It is sure to appeal to Pagels's committed readers and bring her a whole new audience who want to understand the roots of dissent, violence, and division in the world's religions, and to appreciate the lasting appeal of this extraordinary text. (retrieved from Amazon Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:40:22 -0500) Explores the New Testament book of Revelation in a historical first-century context, reinterpreting the book as a scathing attack on the decadence of Rome that was subsequently adopted by early Christians as a weapon against heresy. (summary from another edition) |
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Since I love Pagel's Chalice and the Blade and other writings, I was very eager to see her take upon the book that had so puzzled me. (oops. Sharon has correctly informed me that of course the Chalice and Blade is by Riane Eisler). Which Pagels so caught my heart I eagerly rushed for this one? Perhaps the Gnostic Gospels.
Pagel's book reads a bit like a paper for a graduate school class on a particularly period of Roman (and other) history. As such it was hard going for me, but I did learn a bit more than I knew before. The actual book is 177 pages; all else is notes and footnotes, and I confess I merely glanced at those.
It's a book that fails to go deep, I think. But..interesting nonetheless. (