Elaine Pagels

I would say less inclined.

I would say less inclined.

Yes. Because, as you know, I'm sure, people who wrote about the Roman emperors, Julius Caesar had an ancestor who was Venus, and Augustus had a divine ancestor. He was called Son of God on the Roman coins. And all great men were somehow also credited to have a divine being somewhere, in their genealogy, which adds a special sauce to their humanity and makes them more than human.

Yes. Because, as you know, I'm sure, people who wrote about the Roman emperors, Julius Caesar had an ancestor who was Venus, and Augustus had a divine ancestor. He was called Son of God on the Roman coins. And all great men were somehow also credited to have a divine being somewhere, in their genealogy, which adds a special sauce to their humanity and makes them more than human.

Yes. Because, as you know, I'm sure, people who wrote about the Roman emperors, Julius Caesar had an ancestor who was Venus, and Augustus had a divine ancestor. He was called Son of God on the Roman coins. And all great men were somehow also credited to have a divine being somewhere, in their genealogy, which adds a special sauce to their humanity and makes them more than human.

Well, yes. It is not what people call organized religion. You don't go to church? I have sometimes, and sometimes I do, because— In what spirit? Well, only if it's powerfully engaging. If the music and the service is powerful, it can be almost any kind of service. Whether a Christian service, it can be a bar mitzvah, it can be a Buddhist ritual.

Well, yes. It is not what people call organized religion. You don't go to church? I have sometimes, and sometimes I do, because— In what spirit? Well, only if it's powerfully engaging. If the music and the service is powerful, it can be almost any kind of service. Whether a Christian service, it can be a bar mitzvah, it can be a Buddhist ritual.

Well, yes. It is not what people call organized religion. You don't go to church? I have sometimes, and sometimes I do, because— In what spirit? Well, only if it's powerfully engaging. If the music and the service is powerful, it can be almost any kind of service. Whether a Christian service, it can be a bar mitzvah, it can be a Buddhist ritual.

There's a quality about sacred time and experience that evokes some element of experience that I can't articulate, really.

There's a quality about sacred time and experience that evokes some element of experience that I can't articulate, really.

There's a quality about sacred time and experience that evokes some element of experience that I can't articulate, really.

It's not belief. Actually, David, I really think belief is far overrated.

It's not belief. Actually, David, I really think belief is far overrated.

It's not belief. Actually, David, I really think belief is far overrated.

Well, after the advent of Christianity, you know, which in the fourth century, as you know, it becomes a code of beliefs, like, I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Maker of... Okay, that's it. And so later, people would talk about different traditions, and they'd say, well, what do Jews believe? And what do Muslims believe? And what do Buddhists believe?

Well, after the advent of Christianity, you know, which in the fourth century, as you know, it becomes a code of beliefs, like, I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Maker of... Okay, that's it. And so later, people would talk about different traditions, and they'd say, well, what do Jews believe? And what do Muslims believe? And what do Buddhists believe?

Well, after the advent of Christianity, you know, which in the fourth century, as you know, it becomes a code of beliefs, like, I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Maker of... Okay, that's it. And so later, people would talk about different traditions, and they'd say, well, what do Jews believe? And what do Muslims believe? And what do Buddhists believe?

Well, belief isn't really the point so much in Judaism. The point is, are you Orthodox? Are you secular? Are you Reform? To what degree do you practice or not? And in Buddhism, it's much the same. It's about the prayers. It's about participation in certain rituals.

Well, belief isn't really the point so much in Judaism. The point is, are you Orthodox? Are you secular? Are you Reform? To what degree do you practice or not? And in Buddhism, it's much the same. It's about the prayers. It's about participation in certain rituals.

Well, belief isn't really the point so much in Judaism. The point is, are you Orthodox? Are you secular? Are you Reform? To what degree do you practice or not? And in Buddhism, it's much the same. It's about the prayers. It's about participation in certain rituals.