Elaine Pagels

born California, February 13, 1943

maiden name Elaine Hiesey

married Heinz Pagels, theoretical physicist, 1969

Stanford University B.A., 1964; M.A., 1965

studied dance at Martha Graham's studio

Harvard University, Ph.D., 1970

was part of a team studying the Nag Hammadi scrolls, documents found in 1945 that shed light on early Christian debates on theology and practice. Elaine Pagels received her Ph.D. from Harvard in 1970, went to teach at

professor Barnard College from 1970, head of the religion department 1974

teaches at Princeton University

her book based on her work with the Nag Hammadi scrolls, The Gnostic Gospels, 1979

child Mark, died 1987

husband Heinz, died 1988


Elaine Pagels, The Gnostic Gospels Scholar

at About.com

agony of Elaine Pagels profiled on PBS

more of this same interview

Allan Callahan review of Beyond Belief

Bill Moyers interview

critique of Bush's rhetoric


Tom Bolling's home page