The Dead Sea Scrolls - Conspiracy Theories.

Rare interviews and discussions by Father O'Connor and other great Dead Sea Scrolls scholars of the "Conspiracy Theory" surrounding the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The Dead Sea Scrolls Deception, a book by Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh has been the subject of much scrutiny and the sub title is; 'The sensational story behind the religious scandal of the Century.' The book discusses why seventy five percent of the eight hundred Dead Sea Scrolls manuscripts have until recently been concealed from the world. The authors describe how that the scrolls were hidden from public view for some time by a group of scholars who were largely Catholic scholars under the leadership of Dominican Friar, Roland De Vaux 

Baigent and Leigh discuss the struggles between scholars, ownership of the scrolls and how the scrolls themselves, in their existence, challenges the origins of Christianity. The scrolls redefine religion and the nature of Jesus, his followers and disciples and the Bible itself. The authors argue that the Vatican suppressed the scrolls because they contain harmful information regarding the Church. Baigent and Leigh describe a dominating and ruthless Church challenged by one of the major archaeological breakthroughs in all time. The authors describe the Church as not only suppressing information but the possibility of destroying some of the scrolls so as not to incriminate the Church.

In retaliation to 'The Dead Sea Scrolls Deception', author and religious scholar, Hershel Shanks has written a book, 'Is the Vatican Suppressing the Dead Sea Scrolls?'
Hershel dismisses Baigent and Leigh's ideas.  And Rev. Joseph Augustine Fitzmyer, a religious scholar and academic, has described the book as ' a pattern of errors and misinformed statements'.

In the essay, 'The Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament' by Mark M. Mattison, a very learned scholar who has written countless essays on Christianity, the Dead Sea Scrolls and issues of faith, we read more retaliation from the Church. He notes that Baigent and Leigh are 'sensationalists'. Mattison states that Baigent and Leigh state,

'An important strategy created by the editorial team, to suppress the truth, the authors argue, was creating a rigid orthodoxy of interpretation of the scrolls. The linchpin of this interpretation was the dating. The team tried to put as much distance as possible between the Dead Sea Scrolls and early Christianity. Thus, the team claimed that the scrolls belonged to a period long before the Christian era. Anyone who might question the early dating or the team's interpretation, or who would fight for the publication of the secret scrolls, would be treated as a heretic.'

Mattison goes to state;

'Why, then, did the editorial team drag their feet so much in publishing the texts entrusted to them? The answer is a little more boring than Baigent and Leigh's hypothesis but truer to the facts. The bottom line was simply greed. They wanted to be the first to publish the translations and lengthy commentaries on the texts from Cave Four. They were in charge of the manuscripts and they wanted it to stay that way. This is not an isolated problem; many newly-discovered ancient manuscripts have been withheld from the public by greedy scholars over the years. I would add that recently the monopoly on the scrolls has been broken; many more Dead Sea Scrolls are presently available to the general public, and Church doctrine seems to have survived well enough so far.'

Barbara Thiering is another 'sensationalist' as described by Mattison. In, 'Barabara Thiering: a short crtitique', a Dr. Johnathan Sarfati describes her as follows;

'Barbara Thiering is an Australian woman who has written several books attacking orthodox Christianity. Her basic thesis is that the New Testament was written in a code which only she has discovered. Although her outlandish ideas have absolutely no support in the scholarly world. She is unique in dating the Dead Sea Scrolls to the time of Christianity, although radiocarbon and handwriting tests put them mostly in the 1^st and 2^nd centuries bc.'

This is all very interesting to review. I like to respect the find of the Dead Sea Scrolls, they are already shrouded in mystery. The views of Baigent and Leigh are viable, maybe not reputable, but they have the right to discuss if not challenge the orthodox Church and the scholars findings.Likewise, Barbara Thiering, although disrespected by religious scholars, has a voice and the Dead Sea Scrolls discovery should be questioned to provide answers for many that waited many years. Now that they are so easily accessible, popular beliefs are inevitable.


RESEARCH FINDINGS:

To source information for this blog, I searched on the Internet for Dead Sea Scrolls Conspiracy, conspiracy theories. On the Internet, I was led from site to site, clicking on hyperlinks and such. I have cited relevant links that I used in my bibliography.  I visited the Melbourne Library and the State Library and found books on the topic. I also had a brief phone interview with my Auntie who had good suggestions. One of them being the book, 'The Dead Sea Scrolls Deception' I also visited the Theosophical Society Library and Bookshop which proved to be good as there were many books to choose from on the topic. I decided not to go to the Makor Library as planned as I was aware of having too much information.

MY REFLECTION:

I am enjoying this blog process and am finding that I will keep reading information about this topic after I have finished this project. As suspected I am finding the world of the Dead Sea Scrolls a great topic to explore. There is a wealth of information which is good but narrowing this down in the research process can be challenging. I have found that I have been discerning with what content to read and include in the project.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

israelarchaeology 2010, The dead sea scrolls conspiracy theories, 24 October, viewed 26 May 2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-GYnl6nfoo

Wikipedia 2012, The dead sea scrolls deception, 9 May, viewed 26 May 2012, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dead_Sea_Scrolls_Deception


Biblicalarchaelogicalreview, ,Is the vattican suppressing the dead sea scrolls? , viewed 26 May 2012, http://members.bib-arch.org/search.asp?PubID=BSBA&Volume=17&Issue=6&ArticleID=11&UserID=0&,


Google 2012, http://books.google.com.au/books?id=9d6gq_bR1AIC&redir_esc=y, viewed 26 May 2012

MarkM.Mattison, The dead sea scrolls and the new testament, viewed 28 May 2012, http://www.auburn.edu/~allenkc/openhse/deadsea.html 


Creationministriesinternational, Barbara Thiering: a short critique, viewed 28 May 2012,  http://creation.com/barbara-thiering-a-short-critique


Creationministriesinternational, Dr. Jonathon Sarfati, viewed 28 May 2012, http://creation.com/dr-jonathan-sarfati

The Dead Sea Scrolls: Relevance today.

Importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Randall Niles explains what this discovery really means to the integrity of the ancient scriptures.

What is the relevance of the Dead Sea Scrolls today? 

The relevance of the scrolls in many ways is up to the indiviual. It cannot be denied that the discovery of the scrolls are fascinating to most people. They are relevant in the way that they encourage us to believe in mystery, even real treasure as the copper scroll indicates. We are mesmerised by the ancient wisdom whether or not we are believers. And for believers or people in the Church, people of faith, this is indeed a breakthrough discovery defining the life of those that conributed to the texts and scriptures. Some believe that it also defines Jesus.

The scrolls give a new beginning to the Bible. Christianity and Judaism are not so far apart it seems. Also the relationship between the discovery and the western world is great. The fact that many mainstream writers choose this topic to explore, academics alike publishing on the internet and also books, proves that the Dead Sea Scrolls are not only popular history but relevant to our sense of wonder today.

Naturally, being so old, the scrolls have generated a lot of response. They are unique discoveries and shrouded by mystique. There are many theories and talk of conspiracy, cover ups and the juicy fact that the scrolls were passed from dealer to dealer in the black market all those years ago, gives a modern perspective. This, and the actual scrolls are intriuging to us.

Many scientists, scholars and people of faith are still digging in the Qumran region, trying to find answers. It will be many years before there is actual evidence to support theories. The scrolls and their story remain somewhat of a mystery still. They are now testing certain ink pots found in the region to verify the origin of the scrolls and to determine the actual residence of the Essenes. Although we have many theories, and to many concrete archeological evidence, we have methods now that that can delve further. Our testing methods are more mature and high tech. The scrolls are now digitised and easily accessible. 

After being hidden away, whilst being pieced together, the scrolls generated immense curiosity. Now they are published and on display, we can actually see them. But the process of preserving the scrolls is difficult. They remained untouched in the desert for 2000 years. In a climate that preserved them. Now they are disintegrating. They may be all of disappeared in the future and their relevance, a historical discovery now recorded digitally.  

The Dead Sea Scrolls discovery not only provides more insight into religion but also faith. Perhaps the discovery has breathed new life into the Bible, for the scrolls certainly seem to have a life force. Whether or not the scrolls were intended to be found by a shepherd boy, 2000 years after being hidden away, is unknown. Indeed the whereabouts, or the disppearance of the Essenes are another mystery. As to, is Jesus' relationship to the Essenes and whether or not he had involvement in the scrolls.

It is fathomable that as a society we now believe in the Dead Sea Scrolls as we have believed in the Bible. Of course it is all a matter of individual interpretation, but it is inspring to witness the belief in the scrolls and their mystery. Religious people have always beleived in the Bible and until now it has not been too encouraged to question faith. Perhaps it has been the correct time for the discovery. A time when 'sensationalists', scholars and the Church can all research the same discovery. We are allowed to question. We are open minded and the scrolls in some way bring us back to history reminding us of greater things and indeed the respect for the faith of others and the faith of those who wrote the scrolls.

RESEARCH FINDINGS:

For this blog, I found a relevant video on the internet. I did want to post a National Geographic documentary that I saw but it is no longer available on you tube. I reflected on the information that I have found and summarised this.

MY RELECTIONS:

This process has been a very insightful time. I have learnt a great deal about a topic that I have always been intruiged by. The Dead Sea Scrolls can be researched for a long time. One of my challenges was to summarise my findings and not to be too specific or to go off on a tangent.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Niles, R 2007, Importance of the dead sea scrolls, 12 October, viewed 2 June 2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxdoJJhVsEA

The Dead Sea Scrolls - Exhibit

The following videos and podcasts and images provide a deeper understanding of the Dead Sea Scrolls. They are all informative, thorough and enjoyable presentations.

·         The Dead Sea Scrolls are now online; a project of The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, powered by Google technology.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rYj_0foJYA

·         Curious about the Dead Sea Scrolls and what makes them so special? Scroll experts and exhibition advisors Dr. Michael Wise and Dr. Alex Jassen give a glimpse into the scrolls and The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition, on display at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul through October 24, 2010.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nny8honNK6k

·         On display until Jan. 7, 2007 at Pacific Science Center in Seattle. The Dead Sea scrolls have awed audiences everywhere they have been exhibited. Discovering the Dead Sea Scrolls is an original exhibition exploring both the context of the scrolls and the science and scholarship associated with their discovery and interpretation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAi7ZDY2q4s&feature=related

·         How can we be so sure that the prophecies in the Bible we read today match the prophecies as they were initially received? In this episode of The Prophetic Connection, Dr. John Tweedie takes you deep into Israel's desert where a revolutionary archaeological discovery was made. Here, near the ruins of the ancient Jewish community of Qumran, the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. The scrolls reveal the accuracy of the Bible we read today while bearing witness to a strong Jewish presence in the Land over 2000 years ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpTSjTLWcwM&feature=related

4Q162, pesher Isaiah.

A Pesher is a type of Hebrew manuscript. The number for denotes cave four and the letter Q denotes Qumran. This delicate manuscript was found in cave number four and refers to the Books of Isaiah.

                                    4Q175, testimonia.

Testimonia are strings of prooftexts on a particular theme. The theme of the testimonia in this document is the time of the end, including the coming of a prophet like Moses, and the oracle of Balaam son of Beor.

                                1QS, community rule.

The community rule here describes the lifestyles and behaviours of the monk like people that lived in the Qumran region.

The following links are links to podcasts regarding the Dead Sea Scrolls. They are academic lectures and are informative and fascinating.

The first podcast is spoken by David B. Levy.

As well as a brief general overview of the DSS library, the differences revelaed by the contents of DSS texts in theology between Essenes, Sadducess and Pharisees is illustrated by looking at the topics of predestination, immortality, dualism, apocalyptic messianism, and angelology. Differences in halakhah are illustrated by touching on the laws regarding halah, peru u-revu, pikuah nefesh, li-fenim mi-shurat ha-din, oils, mikvaot immersions, harvesting the omer, tevel yom relating to the parah adumah, and some differences in Shabbat observances. The method of approach is to compare DSS theology, politics and halakhah with the evolution of mainstream Rabbinic traditions across history in order to illuminate, enhance, and increase our knowledge about Rabbinic observances, history and practices.

http://www.jewishlibraries.org/main/Portals/0/AJL_Assets/Podcast/Essenes%20vs%20Sadducees.mp3

The second podcast is spoken by Dr. John Kampen.

The field of Qumran Studies underwent a dramatic shift in 1990 with the expansion of access to the thousands of fragments previously unavailable to the majority of scholars. This talk summarizes the developments in our understanding of the meaning and significance of these materials for the study of Second Temple Judaism and identifies important issues in the ongoing academic work of Qumran scholars.

http://www.jewishlibraries.org/main/Portals/0/AJL_Assets/Podcast/John%20Kampen.mp3

RESEARCH FINDINGS:

I enjoyed searching for videos and podcasts, images on the Internet. The Jewish library has proved to be very valuable. Likewise, the Science Museum. I am thoroughly intrigued by this topic. I feel it resonates with anyone interested in discovery. To find the media for this blog, I searched on youtube for videos and then a Google search for podcasts Dead Sea Scrolls. I also searched for Dead Sea Scroll images.

MY REFLECTION:

I am happy with my work and finding this project enthralling. I enjoy the videos and podcasts as they give more information and introduce new ideas and a new perspective.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Google 2011, The dead sea scrolls online, 23 September, viewed 19 May 2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rYj_0foJYA

sciencemuseum 2010, Inside the dead sea scrolls, 15 July, viewed 19 May 2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nny8honNK6k

Stanorchard 2006, Discovering the dead seas scrolls, 1 December, viewed 19 May 2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAi7ZDY2q4s&feature=related

C41Canada 2011, The dead sea scrolls: the bible and jewish history confirmed, 13 September, viewed 19 May 2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpTSjTLWcwM&feature=related

Textexcavation, Photos of the dead sea scrolls, viewed 19 May 2012, http://www.textexcavation.com/dssphotos.html

Estrin Heidi 2009, The Theology, Halakhah, Politics and Esotericism of the DSS Essene Sect Compared with Normative Rabbinic Practices and that of the Second Temple Sadducees, 21 April, viewed 19 May 2012, http://www.jewishlibraries.org/main/Resources/Podcast/tabid/89/articletype/tagview/tag/dead-sea-scrolls/Default.aspx

Estrin Heidi 2008, The Changing Face of the Study of the Qumran Texts, 26 September, viewed 19 May 2012, http://www.jewishlibraries.org/main/Resources/Podcast/tabid/89/articletype/tagview/tag/dead-sea-scrolls/Default.aspx