Princeton University faculty member Elaine Pagels, an authority on the religions of late antiquity and the author of “The Gnostic Gospels” and “Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas,” has been named a recipient of the 2015 National Humanities Medal. The announcement was made today by the White House. The medal will be conferred by President Barack Obama at a ceremony at the White House on Sept. 22, which will be webcast live.