And you can have a wonderful life again, which didn't seem possible to me then.

This is not a sad story.

This is a story about coming back to life.

— Elaine Pagels

83, NYTimes Bestselling author, mother, & historian

A beautiful, searching film that reflects on faith not as certainty,
but as an expression of our deep human longing for meaning.

— Ken Burns

For an About the Film / About Elaine page, where someone's already invested and wants the fuller picture, the actual book list earns its space:

YearBookRecognition1979The Gnostic GospelsNational Book Award, National Book Critics Circle Award2003Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of ThomasNew York Times Bestseller2018Why Religion? A Personal StoryNew York Times Bestseller2025Miracles and Wonder: The Historical Mystery of JesusNew York Times Bestseller

Plus a line underneath: 1981 MacArthur Fellowship · 2015 National Humanities Medal, awarded by President Obama