• Princeton University
  • OIT Help Desk
  • Blackboard
  • Emergency Contacts
  • Facebook
Department of Religion
Department of Religion
Navigate
  • Courses
    • Current Courses
      • Graduate Courses Fall 2022
      • Undergraduate Courses Fall 2022
      • Graduate Courses Spring 2022
      • Undergraduate Courses Spring 2022
    • Graduate Courses
      • Graduate Courses Fall 2022
      • Graduate Courses Spring 2022
      • Graduate Courses Fall 2021
      • Graduate Courses Spring 2021
      • Graduate Course Archive
    • Undergraduate Courses
      • Undergraduate Courses Fall 2022
      • Undergraduate Courses Spring 2022
      • Undergraduate Courses Fall 2021
      • Undergraduate Courses Spring 2021
      • Undergraduate Course Archive
  • Graduate
    • Academic Fields
      • Asian Religions
      • Islam
      • Religions of Mediterranean Antiquity
      • Philosophy and Religion
      • Religion, Ethics, and Politics
      • Religion in America
    • Graduate Program
      • Prospective Graduate Students
      • Degree Requirements
      • Language Requirements
      • Teaching Requirements
      • Graduate Student Handbook
      • Forms and Guidelines
      • Placement Record
      • Pre-Doctoral Fellowship Initiative
      • Ad Hoc Joint Ph.D. in Religion and Philosophy
    • Admission Information
      • Applicants
      • Graduate FAQs
      • Finance and Fellowship
      • Housing
      • Overview
  • Undergraduate
    • Independent Work
      • Independent Work Guidelines
      • Preparing To Submit Independent Work
      • Format For Junior Papers
      • Format For Senior Theses
      • Citations
      • Junior Title Page Sample
      • Senior Title Page Sample
      • Authorization Page Sample
      • Table of Contents Sample
      • Protection of Human Subjects
    • Undergraduate Program
      • Major Requirements
      • Junior Year Major Requirements
      • Senior Year Major Requirements
      • Studying Abroad
      • Religion And Special Programs
      • Class of 2024
      • Deadlines Juniors
      • Deadlines Seniors
      • Career Paths
      • Undergraduate Forms
    • Information & Resources
      • Undergraduate FAQs
      • More Information
      • Undergraduate Announcement
  • Events & News
    • News
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
  • Projects
    • The Crossroads Project
    • Princeton Project in Philosophy and Religion
  • Diversity
    • Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee
    • Resources
  • People
    • Faculty
      • Core Faculty
      • Emeriti Faculty
      • Associated Faculty
      • Visiting Faculty
      • Lecturers
    • Students
      • Graduate Students
      • Undergraduate Students
      • Job Market Candidates
    • Academic Visitors
      • Postdoctoral Fellows
      • Research Associates
    • Staff
      • Religion Staff
  • Department of Religion Facebook
  • Zoom: Video Conferencing – Get Started
  • Emergency Contacts – Princeton University
Home»People»Faculty»Core Faculty»Elaine Pagels

Elaine Pagels

Harrington Spear Paine Foundation Professor of Religion

Position: Core Faculty

240 - 1879 Hall

(609) 258-4484

epagels@Princeton.edu

Field: Religions of Mediterranean Antiquity

Courses

Publications

Elaine Pagels, a historian of religion, is the Harrington Spear Paine Professor at Princeton University and an Aspen Institute Trustee. Pagels joined the Princeton faculty in 1982, shortly after receiving a MacArthur Fellowship. Perhaps best known as the author of “The Gnostic Gospels,” “The Origin of Satan,” and “Adam, Eve and the Serpent,” she has published widely on Gnosticism and early Christianity, and continues to pursue research interests on topics that include sexuality and politics, visions, and the origins of Christian anti-semitism. Her most recent books include “Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas” (was on The New York Times best-seller list) and “Revelations: Visions, Prophecy, and Politics in the Book of Revelation” (2012). Her most recent book is departure from the others. One in which she tells her own story, and why she loves investigating the history of religion: it’s called “Why Religion? A Personal Story.” In 2013 she received an honorary law degree from her alumni,  Harvard University, and, in 2016, the National Medal for the Arts from President Barack Obama.


Courses – Spring 2022

REL 252/CLA 252/HLS 252: Jesus: How Christianity Began
(EC) Graded A-F, P/D/F, Audit Total Course Enrollment no limit
Professor(s): Elaine Pagels
12:30pm – 1:20pm MW Lecture Precept
Traditions Stream Requirement: Ancient Judaism, Christianity, and Greek and Roman Religions
Who was Jesus of Nazareth, and how do we know about him? Why did some interpretations of truth — and his message — win out over others? How have these particular ways of thinking influenced western culture, shaping our views of politics, race and ethnicity, sexuality and gender, civil and human rights even now? To answer questions like these, we’ll investigate the earliest gospels, letters, Jewish and Roman sources, prison diaries and martyr accounts — as well as how artists, filmmakers, musicians and theologians interpret them. Regardless of religious background, or none, you will learn a lot, and be able to contribute.

REL 526: Religions of Late Antiquity Workshop
Graded */aud Total Enrollment 15
Professor(s): Elaine Pagels
12:00pm – 1:30pm T
A weekly, year-long workshop providing students in the Religions of Late Antiquity with the opportunity to present their current research for discussion. Note: REL 525 (fall) and REL 526 (spring) constitute this year-long workshop. In order to receive credit and/or a grade, students must take the course both semesters.

 


Publications

Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas (2003) 2. Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity -co-authored w Karen L. King (2007)


  • Faculty

    • Core Faculty
    • Emeriti Faculty
    • Associated Faculty
    • Visiting Faculty
    • Lecturers
  • Job Market Candidates

    • View All Candidates
  • Students

    • Graduate Students
    • Undergraduate Students
  • Academic Visitors

    • Postdoctoral Fellows
    • Research Associates
  • Administrative

    • Religion Staff
    • Religion Librarian
  • Mailing Address

    Department of Religion
    1879 Hall Washington Road
    Princeton, NJ 08544

© 2020 The Trustees of Princeton University | Department of Religion | Accessibility | Privacy Notice