The Core of Early Christian Spirituality: Its Relevance to the World Today

The Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge (ISHK) sponsored A one-day symposium on April 8, 2006 at the First Parish Church Meetinghouse in Cambridge, MA.

In the past 60 years, more has been revealed about the origins of Christianity than perhaps in any other period. This one-day symposium presented leading academic scholars and researchers who spoke on some of the latest discoveries and their implications for contemporary spirituality.

“Beyond Belief: A Different View of Christianity”
Elaine Pagels

Elaine Pagels is a preeminent figure in the theological community and a Rockefeller, Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellow. As a young researcher, she changed forever the historical landscape of the Christian religion by exploding the myth of the early Christian Church as a unified movement. Her findings were published in the bestselling book, The Gnostic Gospels.

“Jesus and the Apocalyptic Vision”
Bart Ehrman

Bart Ehrman is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has written or edited 19 books on early Christianity, including a college-level textbook on the New Testament, two anthologies of early Christian writings, and a study of the historical Jesus as an apocalyptic prophet.

“Magdalene in the Gnostic Gospels: From the Gospel of Mary to the DaVinci Code, Mary Magdalene in History and Culture”
Marvin Meyer

Marvin Meyer was Griset Professor of Bible and Christian Studies and Director of the Albert Schweitzer Institute, Chapman University, and the author of numerous books, including The Gnostic Discoveries, The Gnostic Gospels of Jesus, The Gospels of Mary, and Secret Gospels: Essays on Thomas and the Secret Gospel of Mark.

The Moderator at this event

Robert Ornstein, President of ISHK (1969-2018).