The Secret Revelation of John: Not without Controversy
For those who want to hold power and authority over others, the value of this ancient text remains controversial, because it discusses the kind of freedom that offends authoritarian control.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2022-05-15T08:05:03-04:00May 18th, 2022|Tags: Christian Heresies, Empowerment, Gnosticism, Nag Hammadi, Secret Revelation of John|
For those who want to hold power and authority over others, the value of this ancient text remains controversial, because it discusses the kind of freedom that offends authoritarian control.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2022-05-14T23:54:55-04:00April 13th, 2022|Tags: Book of Wisdom, Savior, Secret Revelation of John, Sophia, Wisdom|
Wisdom is ideally prepared to save humanity from its sinful ways precisely because she is wise enough and experienced enough to understand all the tempting ways of the devil.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2022-02-01T17:34:06-05:00February 2nd, 2022|Tags: Christianity, Jesus, Noncanonical Texts, Secret Revelation of John, Thecla|
"This is the biggest thrust from After Jesus Before Christianity. How will we end up talking about those first two centuries, now that you’ve exposed that these words don’t work right?" An interview with Dr. Shirley Paulson.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2021-12-06T06:46:02-05:00October 13th, 2021|Tags: Concepts of God, Demiurge, Marcion, Secret Revelation of John|
Using the myth of the demiurge, the author of the Secret Revelation of John shows why humans feel the kind of pain and sorrow that God never inflicted on them.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2021-08-24T08:18:08-04:00August 25th, 2021|Tags: COVID-19, Fear and Protection, Gospel of Mary, Secret Revelation of John|
We might discover a greater healing power in our conversations when we consider the means of becoming part of the "immovable generation."
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2021-07-14T00:27:04-04:00July 14th, 2021|Tags: Eternal Life, Heaven, Salvation, Secret Revelation of John, Theology|
Surprisingly, even this description of torture and eternal punishment offers no hint of punishment due to a flawed, sinful nature. . . . People suffer from their own choices, not from an almighty judge.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2021-05-12T00:18:23-04:00May 12th, 2021|Tags: Fear and Protection, Salvation, Secret Revelation of John, Violence|
‘Safety’—as it was understood among the early Jesus followers—was neither escape from sin and punishment, nor technological advances… It was a better understanding of our relationship to the divine power.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2021-01-25T04:21:48-05:00August 13th, 2020|Tags: Compassion, Early Christian Texts, Secret Revelation of John|
I feel the tears in my city and from people everywhere who have become untethered from the promise of security. … a voice is speaking. “It is I, the compassionate.”
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2021-01-25T04:15:15-05:00June 11th, 2020|Tags: Early Christian Texts, Immovable Race, Injustice, Racial Justice, Secret Revelation of John|
But it’s neither a form of escapism, nor privilege for a favored few. It requires faithful living with the gifts of the spirit, not the alluring attractions of materialism.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2020-03-05T01:41:44-05:00March 5th, 2020|Tags: Celene Lillie, Early Christian Texts, Genesis, On the Origin of the World, Reality of the Rulers, Savior, Secret Revelation of John|
I might actually call her [Eve] a female Christ figure. She’s violated like Christ on the cross. There is a healing or a resurrection that happens. An interview with Dr. Celene Lillie.