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Quote by Elaine Pagels

“We can see, then, how conflicts arose in the formation of Christianity between those restless, inquiring people who marked out a solitary path to self-discovery and the institutional framework that gave to the great majority of people religious sanction and ethical direction for their daily lives. Adapting for its own purposes the model of Roman political and military organization, and gaining, in the fourth century, imperial support, orthodox Christianity grew increasingly stable and enduring. Gnostic Christianity proved no match for the orthodox faith, either in terms of orthodoxy's wide popular appeal...or in terms of its effective organization. To the impoverishment of Christian tradition, gnosticism, which offered alternatives to what became the main thrust of Christian orthodoxy, was forced outside.”

Quote by Elaine Pagels

Book:The Gnostic Gospels
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Work

The Gnostic Gospels

This book compiles various Gnostic texts, offering insights into the early Christian movement known for its esoteric teachings and mystical beliefs. more

Author

Elaine Pagels
Elaine Pagels

Elaine Pagels is a renowned American religious historian and professor. Born on February 13, 1943, she is known for her research on ancient religious texts, particularly those of early Christianity and Gnosticism. more

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