Elaine Pagels, 'Why Religion?'

Elaine Pagels discusses her book, "Why Religion?", at Politics and Prose on 11/30/18.

When Pagels, author of groundbreaking studies of the Gnostic Gospels, was asked, “Why religion?" she found that her own life illuminates both why she’s made a career of studying religious texts as well as why religion itself still exists in the supposedly secular 21st-century. The daughter and wife of scientists, Pagels was taught to trust the rational, but she found herself attracted to religious music and rituals for how they engaged the imagination. After the loss of her five-year-old son in 1987, followed by her husband’s death in an accident in 1988, Pagels turned to religion for help in facing her grief and anger. Interweaving the fascinating scholarship behind books such The Origin of Satan and Revelations with her own experiences, Pagels’s memoir is as emotionally affecting as it is thought-provoking.

Pagels is in conversation with Dr. Eric Motley, executive vice president at the Aspen Institute and author of the memoir Madison Park.

Elaine Pagels is a preeminent academic whose impressive scholarship has earned her international respect. The Harrington Spear Paine Professor of Religion at Princeton University, Pagels was awarded the Rockefeller, Guggenheim, and MacArthur Fellowships in three consecutive years. She is the author of The Gnostic Gospels, Beyond Belief, and Revelations.

Produced by Tom Warren

[JoePalau]

Thank You, Elaine for your honest witness and testimony on matters we call spiritual. Your search is honest, disclosing and free of the intellectual clap-trap we call creed, doctrine and theology. Your harkening back to Wm James and his struggle with matters spiritual along with his commitment to intellectual honesty provides a “way” for us to continue our search for meaning - apart from the very creeds, doctrines and theology that divides us. Thank you 🙏 🙏 🙏

[reidwhitton]

Jerry Garcia and Elaine are only a year apart in age. Jerry just looked a lot older. But thanks to Elaine Pagels for her courage in writing this wonderful book. As well as all of her other amazing books.

[bradrandel]

This is so amazing thank you Elaine can’t wait to see you and ASPEN peace be with you no matter the circumstances

[yukiueda_]

God, your ways are so mysterious, yet I still find myself bewildered and faithful to your will, for I know they are greater than mine. At times I see you, at times I don't, but every time I know you're in my heart. Those who have ears will listen, those who do not, will wither. Let your light into my eye, and your warmth into my hand, for I have seen the dark at my own house, and a troubled spirit standing by.

[valeriebrodie]

I so enjoyed this post..thanks so much.

[veramann]

It's natural for the human beings to experience pain when the mind thinks there's a loss such as:
1. a relationship
2. a job
3. material things
4. health

[rkrw]

We have little agency in what happens because there is no cosmic meaning or force behind why we suffer - if there were, we could appeal to it effectively. We can't.

[peopleunite]

The moderator needs to let Elaine speak without interrupting.

[Achrononmaster]

Religion is fine. Just... why Christianity? What’s wrong with the other world religions? They have as much validity as Christianity on the basis of all the reasons given which justify Christianity.

[bwashburnb]

Elaine, i dont understand how you say we can get to God or be saved without Jesus?
He did say i am the only way to God